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Bicknell, Kepple top All Jamaica champs

Published:Tuesday | July 10, 2012 | 12:00 AM
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Phadria Kepple plays a shot on her way to defeating Shaddae Findlay in the final of the PanCaribbeanBank All Jamaica Junior girls' Under-18 singles championships at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre on Sunday.
Andrew Bicknell plays a cross court shot on his way to defeating William Berry 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 in the final of the PanCaribbean-Bank All Jamaica Junior boys Under-18 singles championships at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre on Sunday.
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Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Andrew Bicknell and Phadria Kepple, the 2012 PanCaribbeanBank All Jamaica Junior boys and girls' Under-18 singles champions, said hard work and dedication were key factors to their success this season.

Both players secured their respective titles following thrilling three-set victories over William Berry and Shaddae Findlay on Sunday's final day of the five-day championships, which was held at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre.

The 13-year-old Bicknell, who was the top seed in the championships, recorded an exciting 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 win over Berry, in a game that lasted for over three hours.

Bicknell, who was recording his third-straight win over Berry, was delighted with his performance.

"I feel great because it was an amazing match," said Bicknell, after Sunday's victory. "This was a three-hour match and so I had to play my best tennis to win it."

Bicknell added: "William is a good player and he has improved a lot, but I was confident that I would have beaten him."

Surprised many

On the other hand, the unseeded Kepple surprised many when she recorded a pulsating 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Findlay.

Kepple, who recently completed sixth form at Wolmer's Girls' School, was also very happy with her achievement.

"I feel really good," said Kepple. "This is just an encouragement for me to continue working hard for the ITF Championships later this month."

Meanwhile, Berry defeated Roger Lyn 2-6, 3-3 to capture the boys' Under-16 title. Lyn, who won the first set, was forced to retire hurt. He was suffering from dehydration midway the second set. However, Lyn, did not leave the championships empty-handed as he had earlier won the boys' Under-14 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Didier Trail.

Top seed Michaelann Denton won the girls' Under-16 trophy when she beat second-seeded Shaeda Nickle 6-1, 6-4 in the final. However, Nickle won the girls' Under-14 title earlier in the day when she defeated Shae-Ann Kameka 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) in the super tiebreaker. John Azar captured the boys' Under-12 trophy when he defeated Ruben Pinchas 6-0, 7-5.

While Emnauelle Mottley won the girls' equivalent with a come-from-behind 3-6, 7-5 (10-7) super tiebreaker win over Jenna Harrison.