- Junior Dowie photosScott Willinsky connects with a backhand on his way to a tough three-set victory over Nicholas Malcolm yesterday.
Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport
JERMAINE 'Giant' Smith will chase his fourth straight Heineken All Jamaica Championships men's title today at the Liguanea Club, New Kingston.
Playing well within himself, Smith had little trouble dispensing with No. 4 seed Elvis Henry 6-3, 6-4 in yesterday's semis to set up what has appeared to be - from the start of the event - an inevitable date with No. 2 seed Scott Willinsky.
Smith was never seriously troubled by Florida-based Henry and on several occasions forsook his string-stretching power game for drop shots; a deft stroke which is usually employed when you are way down or way up - in this case it was patently the latter.
Smith broke Henry twice in the first set and then struck again in the third game of the second on his way to victory, but expects a tougher challenge from the much-improved Willinsky today.
"He's serving well and returning well so it's going to be a tough match but I'm looking forward to it," Smith said. "I'm expecting it to be at a higher standard than the matches so far."
Willinsky's semi date was far less pleasant than Smith's as he was forced to three sets by thrice national champion Nicholas Malcolm. The left-hander's loud self-motivational outbursts upset Willinsky in the first set, which he dropped 5-7, but the former University of Southern California player regrouped and clinched the final two sets of the tense encounter 6-2, 6-2.
"I was annoyed with his behaviour," said Willinsky. "Every basic error or double fault I did he was giving a preacher ceremony in the first set ... he's a leftie so I was also having trouble with the spin on his serve and getting hold of it but once I got used to it, I returned well and was fine."
Willinsky is now confident of clearing the final 'Giant' hurdle.
"We have only played once before and he beat me in three," the 25-year-old said.
"He's got a big serve but I plan to return well and dictate every point."
The women's semis yesterday were stark in contrast.
In the first, 13-year-old Sheriffa Johnson took more than three hours to defeat No. 1 seed Tamara Davis 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a match which could be best described as the equivalent of boxing without punches. In the second, former champion Diana Goldsmith, estranged from the local circuit, made short work of Ariel Von Strolley 6-0, 6-1.
