Top players advance in BK tennis

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Leading players Shantal Blackwood, Shelita Haughton and Michealann Denton secured their spots in the quarter-finals of the Inter-scholastic Burger King Under-18 singles championships at the Eric Bell Centre yesterday.

Blackwood thrashed Christina Benjamin 6-1, 6-1, to set up an intriguing clash with Nicholene Bryan, who defeated Brittanae Reid, 6-2, 6-0. Denton received a walk over and will face Monique Hanson who beat Kerrisha Buckley 6-1, 6-1.

Haughton defeated Kasheena 6-1, 6-0 and awaits the winner of the match between Phadria Kepple and Vanessa Cox.

On the boys' side, number one seed, Sheldon McIntosh, who received a bye in the second round will face the winner of the match between Jared Wright and Horatio Ludford. The remaining second-round matches will be played today.

Second round

In the girls' Under-16 category, number one seed Shaddae Findlay will face Shavvonne Henry in second round, this after both players received byes in the first round. Also advancing to the second round are second seed Phadria Kepple, Sreyneang Phon, Sherida Brown Kimberly Barnett, Milan Carter, Shannon Chensee, Shaniel Lafayette, Tanice Fogarthy, Givelle Williams, Michaelann Denton, Kristina Godfrey and Samantha Summerbell.

In the boys' section, Horatio Ludford, Chad Foreman, Michael Bennett, Chevaughn Crawford, Dylan Levy, Sean Redwood, Jared Morgan, James Cruze, Kamua Walker, Jovaughn Mullings and Kareem Marshall have all advanced to the second round of the competition.