UPSET FOR TOP SEEDS IN THE OPEN-NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2020
Joey Angeloni and Alysa Elliott advances to the semi-final in the open.
Last year the young junior did not get passed first round in the open as she got knocked-out by Jorja Mederick in straight sets; Mederick who was forced to pull out this year because of injury.
Alysa Elliott of the VL Tennis Academy and the St. Joseph's Convent has advanced to the semi-final in grand style taking down the top seed in the womens draw Iesha Emile. Elliott swiftly won the first set 6-0; all it took was pivotal sequence, strategic planning and proper execution, while it was Emile's nerves that worsened as the set wore on, Elliott, too, had to deal with her own on court demons but was able to keep it together to win the match.
In a taut second set Emile who seemed more relaxed took the lead going up 3-0 on Elliott. But just like she has done all tournament, Elliott steadied to become the last woman standing making a significant come-back tying the set at 3-3. Emile's serves let her down, as double faults multiplied at crucial junctures in the match. They were head to head with Elliott making an important break at 5-5 and holding her serve.
In the end it was Elliott's serving - her key strength in the first set - that allowed her to capitalize and convert into games to win the match 6-0 7-5. Elliott's victory in her first open represents a growing youth takeover in women's tennis in St. Lucia.
On the men's side top ranked junior player in the 18s category Joey Angeloni also from the VL Tennis Academy made his own history advancing to the semi-final of the draw taking down the top seed Ricardo Francois. Angeloni did not allow the senior player to attain any controls on him as he quickly won the first set 6-0.
In the second set Francois got many opportunities to secure games but Angeloni snatched every chance the senior player could have gotten defeating him with the same score 6-0. Angeloni won in straight sets 6-0 6-0.
In other open matches played Hamlet Phillip who was recently awarded the Arthur Ashe Multi-Cultural Award by the USTA Long Island Association got the best of Ronel Blanchard Junior Coach in the STI Program in straight sets 6-2 6-0. Phillip will be facing Joey Angeloni to adavcne to the final.
Aviona Edmund of the Tigers Inflow Tennis Acdemy and student of the St. Joseph's Convent who is the number two seed in the women's draw got the best of Nadjema Morille in straight sets; she will be facing Netanya Faissal in the semi-final for a chance to win the championship. Iyana Paul 2019 women's champion who was scheduled to play Netanya Faissal was forced to pull out of womens. Faissal and Edmund will be on centre court to claim the finals spot.