Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Tasheka Samuels in action against Leanne Spence in the girls' 18 quarterfinals at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre yesterday.Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter
OCHO RIOS High school student Tasheka Samuels is normally shy but her persona will change when she takes to the courts against second seeded Danielle Monteith in the Capital & Credit All Jamaica Junior Tennis girls' 18 semi-finals today.
"I'm shy but it is a different me that you will see tomorrow in the semis," fourth seeded Samuels said shortly after downing Leanne Spence 6-3, 6-3 in the quarter-finals at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre yesterday.
Spence found it especially difficult to return her opponent's serves and was made to run the length of the baseline with each shot.
"She's a very good player. I had to give up because I couldn't handle it. She always sent the ball in the opposite direction that I'm running. She's very good," Spence said of Samuels.
Samuels will have to play even better to get past Monteith in the semi-finals.
"I expected to win my match today. It was not difficult but I think the semi-final game is going to be much harder. I think I can handle her," she said.
The other girls' 18 semi-final pits No. 1 Carolyn Chuck again number three seed Nickesha Brown. Chuck stopped Keniska Bailey 6-3, 6-1 in her match.
Chuck who is also the top seed in the girl's 16 category will also contest that semi-final today against Raquel Robinson.
Second seeded Danielle Monteith will face third seed Euzanne McIntosh in the other game.
Robinson and McIntosh also have double duty. They meet Kacia Riley and Calisia Reid respectively in the girls' 14 semi-finals.
Top seed Brandon Burke features in today's only final. Jordan Senior, who advanced after blanking Zachary Banbury 10-0, will challenge him for the boys' 10 title.
Burke also plays in one boys' 12 semi-final - against Ryan Nembhard. Vincent Williams takes on Mario Downer in the other.
Top boys' 14 seed Kristopher Martin will hope to advance over Max Anguin while second seeded Marlon Downer seeks the edge over Brian Grant.
Semi-final games are also on in the boys' 16 and boys' 18 divisions.
Doubles games are also on. No. 1 Richard Dickenson takes on Peter Miller while Andrew Anguin faces Ricardo Stewart.
In the boys' 18 category Damion Johnson plays Garfield Blagrove while Dickenson takes on Dominic Pagon.
Today's round starts at 8:00 a.m.
Yesterday's results
Girls' 14: Euzanne McIntosh def Leanne Spence 6-1, 6-3; Calisia Reid def Aisha Christie 6-3, 6-0.
Girls' 18: Carolyn Chuck def Keniska Daley 6-3, 6-1.
Boys' 12: Ryan Nembhard def Christian Battaglia 6-4, 6-7, 6-1; Vincent Williams def Philip Bond 10-6; Mario Downer def Lavone Lindo 10-1.
Boys' 14: Kristopher Martin def Mario Downer 6-1, 6-2; Max Anguin def Kevon Bartley 6-1, 6-1.
Boys' 16: Richard Dickenson def Michael Evans 6-1, 6-0; Peter Miller def Christopher Henry 6-0, 6-0; Andrew Anguin def Rashidi Thomas 6-1, 6-3; Ricardo Stewart def Brandon Williams 6-3, 6-3.
Boys' 18: Damion Johnson def Andrew Anguin 6-0, 6-0; Garfield Blagrove def Andrew Wilson 6-2, 6-0.
