By Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - SportJAMAICAN HOPES of a strong showing at the Capital and Credit/Magil Construction ITF Futures tennis tournament at the Liguanea Club, New Kingston, were snuffed out yesterday.
On an extremely hot and humid afternoon, the island's final three entrants bowed out in the opening round.
Lanky Scott Willinsky fought Hungarian Sebo Kiss all the way but was unable to claim key points in the match - particularly in a close fought second set - as he went down 6-3, 7-5 to the solid lefty.
Montego Bay-based left-hander Ryan Russell's primary problem was the impressive serve of tall Swede Jacob Adaktusson as he was accounted for 6-2, 6-3. Blond Adaktusson, brimming with confidence after winning the most recent Jamaican Futures event in Montego Bay, bailed himself out of trouble with a hefty serve which also, at times, had prodigious kick.
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Teenage wildcard entrant Jermaine Meikle was no match for Hungarian Zsolt Tatar in a 6-1, 6-1 rout but national coach Douglas Burke said the 17-year-old would benefit from the experience.
"It's good exposure for them," Burke said of teenagers Meikle, Eldad Campbell, 15, and Richard Dickenson, 17; the latter two were bundled out on Tuesday.
Burke was also impressed by the efforts of the more seasoned campaigners, Willinsky and - although still a teenager - Russell.
"I thought they both played well," he said.
"After the first set, Scott was right in the match and had his chances. Ryan had his problems from the start with Adaktusson who's a strong guy with a big serve but he also had his chances in the second set and it could have gone either way," Burke said.
The second round gets under way today at the same venue at 10:00 a.m.
