DAY 3 – Fri 23rd April

The full Bajan contingent had now arrived and the vets 40+ category would also get underway today. Simpson and Meakins would play their first round matches to get the ball rolling and some exciting quarter-final matches would soon follow. This is the stage of the tournament where players must begin to shine or get left behind... and boy, did some players shine!
KNAGGS AND BONES UPSET THE RANKS

Knaggs vs Scott

In the first major quarter-final match of the day, National girls under-19 champion, Jessica Scott was favoured to win against National under-15 under-17 champ, Charlotte Knaggs. However, Knaggs had other plans. The 14-yr-old started the match aggressively from the first point with a high-paced game and Scott was not prepared, going down 11/3 in the 1st game. Scott slowly got into the match in the second, but was still on constant defence. Scott was doing a lot of good retrieving but was unable to take charge as Knaggs attacked from everywhere. Knaggs took the second game 11/8.

The third game was closer but still seemed to be going in Knaggs favour when she went up 10/8 to earn 2 match balls... but the match was only just getting started. Some long rallies ensued in which Scott used her retrieval game to force Knaggs into some impatient errors. Suddenly, Scott was up 11/10 and won the game by another unforced tin from Knaggs.

As Knaggs seemed to lose her way a bit, Scott took advantage in the 4th and stormed ahead early to eventually take the 4th game 11/5. At the start of the 5th it would come down to who had more “bad mind” (as we say in T & T), who had the stronger will to win. Knaggs clearly found her form again and just keeped pressing Scott to the back with hard pace. Scott was still able to play some good drops and use her short game, but Knaggs is a lot quicker than last year, and was getting to every ball. Knaggs then opened the gap and shot up to a 10/6 lead and two points later, sealed the first major upset 11/7 in the 5th.

Knaggs is the youngest female to make the semi finals of a T & T Open since former National champion, Rhea Khan. Ironically enough, this is Knaggs’ next opponent as she earns a spot in the semis.

Bones vs Lutchmeesingh

In the other much-anticipated quarter-final, National senior player, Karina Lutchmeesingh was ready to battle it out with #2 under 19 player, Emily Bones. These two have had some close games in the past but Bones has yet to beat her in a tournament. Having recently lost their last meeting in 3 close games, Bones was ready to make a stand.

The first game set the tone for the match. Both players meant business and were putting everything into their shots. However, young Bones seemed to go the extra inch when stretching for balls, not because her stature required to, but because her heart desired it. It paid off in the first game as she won it 13/11 in extra points. The tone was set, and the roller-coaster ride had been switched on.

Lutchmeesingh fought back with experience to take the second 11/7, but only to set Bones’ 3rd gear into motion. Bones raised the bar yet again forcing Lutchmeesingh to play her best shots in order to stay in the game. Lutchemeesingh would lose this game 11/5 and find herself down 2-1. As expected, she would not give in yet, taking the 4th in a tight 11/9 game. Once again, the spectator’s were getting what they came for as a 5th game was about to get underway. Bones wouldn’t dare turn off that switch though, and instead geared up one final time. Bones would eventually break away in the middle of the 5th and despite some comeback attempts by the #4 seed, the junior would prevail 11/8 to earn herself a semi final berth against top seed, Karen Meakins.

Other results

The other two quarter-final matches went smoothly enough as expected. Meakins cruised past Johanna Augustus and Khan would get past Cathy Martin without much effort. Although there were glimmers of shot-making ability by the opponents, the top two seeds were never really tested.

Mens Quarters

The top 4 seeds advance to the semi finals as expected. Ramasra was made to work in the first against Goodridge, but quickly raised his game to win in 3.

Simpson also had a close first game but then upped the tempo against veteran coach, Glanfield to win in straight games.

Young Cumberbatch was just too much to handle for experienced local player, Pontifex, who was never really let into the match as it also ended in 3 games.

Abraham was the only player to slip up after comfortably taking the first two games against top Caribbean female player, Meakins. He seemed to lose focus in the 3rd losing a streak of points and allowing Meakins to find her form. He let the 3rd go eventually at 11/3, and then picked up his game again to take the 4th game 11/4.

The veteran seeds all made it through to the semi finals as well.

Summary of results


Mens Vets

Quarter Finals

#1 Richard Glanfield def Harry Laughlin 11/2, 11/2, 11/9
#3 Brian Philips def Raymond Patrick 7/11, 11/5, 11/3, 11/8
#4 Duncan Smart def Brent Augustus 11/3, 11/9, 11/5
#2 Brian Jackson def Godfrey Wei 11/7, 11/2, 11/7

Ladies Open Main Draw

Quarter Finals

#1 Karen Meakins def #8 Johanna Augustus 11/4, 11/3, 11/3
#5 Emily Bones def #4 Karina Lutchmeesingh 13/11, 7/11, 11/5, 9/11, 11/8
#6 Charlotte Knaggs #3 def Jessica Scott 11/3, 11/8, 11/13, 5/11, 11/7
#2 Rhea Khan def #7 Cathy deGannes-Martin 11/6, 11/4, 11/7

Ladies Open Plate

Megan Fojo def Cathy deGannes-Martin 11/3, 8/11, 11/7, 7/11, 11/6
Johanna Augustus def Angelique Jackson 6/11, 11/6, 8/11, 12/10, 11/6

Mens Open Main Draw

1st Round

#8 Karen Meakins def Mandela Patrick 11/2, 11/5, 11/5
#2 Shawn Simpson def Brandon DeMontrichard 11/5, 11/1, 11/5

Quarter Finals

#1 Colin Ramasra def #5 Fabian Goodridge 13/11, 11/8, 11/6
#3 Bryant Cumberbatch def #7 Marc Pontifex 11/2, 11/5, 11/5
#4 Ryan Abraham def #8 Karen Meakins 11/4, 11/9, 3/11, 11/4
#2 Shawn Simpson def #6 Richard Glanfield 11/9, 11/6, 11/3
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TODAYS SEMIS

MENS

#1 Colin Ramasra vs #3 Bryant Cumberbatch
#2 Shawn Simpson vs #4 Ryan Abraham

LADIES

#1 Karen Meakins vs #5 Emily Bones
#2 Rhea Khan vs #6 Charlotte Knaggs

VETS

#1 Richard Glanfield vs #3 Brian Philips
#2 Brian Jackson vs #4 Duncan Smart