Heartbreak for Bicknell brothers

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Host Jamaica suffered heartbreak on yesterday's fourth day of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Tournament, as the Bicknell brothers, Andrew and Jacob, missed out on the Under-14 boys' doubles crown, as they went down 7-6 (5), 6-2, (10-7) to the Costa Rican pair of Alberto De Mendiola and Daniel Gonzalez at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre.

Andrew will have a chance to bounce back today when he meets compatriot James Cruce in the under-14 boys' final, which is not set to serve off before 10:30 a.m. at the same venue.

Andrew, who is the top seed, booked his place in the final with an easy 6-2, 6-1 win over St Lucia's Tjimon Louisy. Cruce had to work much harder to reach the final, but managed to triumph 7-5, 7-5 over Daniel Herman Gonzalez of Costa Rica.

Belgium's Methis Coolman was the consolation winner after getting the better of Jamaica's Kyle Martin 4-1, 4-1.

It will be an all-Jamaican affair in the girls' under-14 singles final as well, as Shaeda Nickle and Ilana Blackwood are down to serve off in the 9:30 a.m. final, which will also be played at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre.

Jamaica's participation in the under-18 category came to an end, as Oshane Trail, who had partnered with Bahamas' Justin Higgs, lost 6-3, 6-1 to the pair of William Albanese and Daniel Gutierrez of United States of America (USA) and Croatia, respectively, in the boy's doubles quarter-finals.

Eliminated

Local boy Ryan Simms and his partner Kyle Joseph of Antigua were also eliminated, as they were beaten 6-2, 6-3 by the team of Panama's Walner Espinoza and Austin Siegel of the USA.

Top-seeded under-18 female Blair Shankle of the USA advanced to the under-18 girls' semi-finals after brushing aside eighth-seed Miranda Rodriguez of Mexico 6-3, 6-0. Shankle and her partner, Johnnise Renaud, who are also the top-ranked duo in the under-18 doubles, progressed to the semi-finals following their 6-1, 6-2 win over the pairing of Croatia's Ariana Rahmanparast and Trinidad and Tobago's Breana Stampeli.

Top male seed Richard Del Nunzio of the USA was pushed all the way by sixth seed Tunisia's Aws Laaribi, but persevered to triumph 6-0, 2-6, 7-6 (5) and advance to the under-18 boys' semi-finals.