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Top seeds advance

Published:Saturday | November 19, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Jamaica's Dominic Pagon returns a shot to Haiti's Olivier Sajous (not in photo), during their men's singles quarter-final encounter at the NCB Capital Markets Tennis Open quarter-final at Liguanea Club, New Kingston, yesterday. Sajous won 6-4, 6-1. - Ian Allen/Photographer

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer


The top seeds on both the men's and women's side booked their places in the semi-finals of the NCB Capital Markets Tennis Open after registering straight set wins on yesterday's third day of the five-day tournament being staged at the Liguanea Club.

Women's top seed Michaele Boev of Belgium cruised past Jamaica's Lisa Chin 6-0, 6-0 in a match which lasted a mere 44 minutes, to set up a semi-final meeting with Jamaica's Ffion Fletcher.

Boev, who is the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 839-ranked player, is pleased to have got her first match in the tournament under her belt and is now looking forward to the others, which could include a meeting with good friend and doubles partner Simone Vranov-Brown in the final.

Happy about the match

"I had to get used to the lights, the court and everything, so I am happy about today's (yesterday's) match and I am looking forward to the next match already," Boev shared.

"It is going to be a special match if I play against Simone, but that is part of the game; you can always play against one of your best friends," the 20-year-old added.

The eventual women's singles champion will pocket US$1,000.

Men's top seed, Haitian Olivier Sajous, had to work a bit harder to get the better of Jamaica's Dominic Pagon in a duel which lasted for one hour and 16 minutes. Sajous emerged 6-4, 6-1 to set up a semi-inal meeting with third seed Nikita Kryvonos out of the United States.

Kryvonos defeated Canadian George Jecminek 6-3, 7-5 in a match which lasted for two hours and 10 minutes.

"Tomorrow is going to be a tough match, I am going to play Nikita (Kryvonos), so that will be a very interesting match," Sajous, who is the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) 512-ranked player, expressed.

"If I wasn't the one playing and I knew this match was going to happen I would want to see it, because I know it is going to be a good match and it is going to be a tough one too," the 24-year-old added.

Today's action is set to serve off at 5 p.m. when Sajous will continue his quest for the US$6,000 on offer for the men's singles champion.