Giorgio Baldacci tennis nationals come to a close; spots booked on national teams
- Simba French
- Dec 22, 2023 Updated Dec 22, 2023
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Simone Pratt won the ladies title at the Giorgio Baldacci Open National Tennis Championships, at the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) National Tennis Centre on Thursday.
Baker Newman won the men’s title at the Giorgio Baldacci Open National Tennis Championships, at the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) National Tennis Centre on Thursday.
After four days of intense competition, seasoned players Baker Newman and Simone Pratt came out on top at the Giorgio Baldacci Open National Tennis Championships, winning in three sets each at the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) National Tennis Centre yesterday.
Newman got the best of Rodney Carey Jr. for the men’s title. On the women’s side, Pratt won against last year’s runner-up Sydney Clarke to lift that title.
“When you lose the first set, you want to change so you could do better. I just started to play a little more loose and free and it worked,” Newman said.
Playing to a third set meant a new can of balls was needed. That means the balls had more bounce to them.
“It is a little tricky starting with new balls and these balls have been giving me a little challenge this week. When they are new, they are bouncier. I was not upset that the first three games were long because the balls got worn out more which helped me out more with my game. I knew Carey was going to come out after losing the second set 6-0 but I was ready,” Newman said.
The two veteran players had some great rallies, putting on a show for the spectators. Newman said he was happy to win the title as he has not been playing much tennis this year.
Like Newman, Pratt had to overcome a first set loss, rallying to win, 6-7(5), 6-3 and 6-1.
“It was a great match. I feel that we both came out playing and it was windy conditions. I just had to go out there and face the wind, but I feel I played my game and was able to come out with the win,” said Pratt.
Pratt committed some unforced errors early in the tiebreaker set as Clarke went up 5-1. Pratt managed to come close to Clarke, winning four of the next five points before Clarke finished it off to win 7-5 in that tiebreaker. Pratt got a 6-3 victory in the second set to tie the match at 1-1. She reached another gear in the third set.
“In the third set, I looked to get a strong start and not make too many mistakes and errors. I played more aggressively, opened up the court and that is what helped me get the win,” she said.
Pratt, who was one of the country’s top junior players during her teenage years, said she was shocked that she won. She last won a national title in 2012.
Newman and Carey secured two of the four available spots on the men’s national team for the 2024 Davis Cup Tournament. Clarke and Pratt secured two of the four available sports on the women’s national team for the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Tournament. The location and date of both tournaments will be announced later.
The four qualifiers are looking forward to representing the country at the regional tennis tournaments next year.