WESTERN SPORTS - Dibbs overpowers Franz for title

Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Emma Dibbs defeated Stephanie Franz in straight sets to win the Montego Bay Junior Tennis Championship Under-16 girls title, 7-5, 6-3, at Hilton Rose Hall.

In the boys' category, Didier Traile was too strong for Aman Chatani, defeating him, also in straight sets, to claim his first title.

Chatani, who breezed through the preliminary rounds, found the going tough against Traile, who allowed him little chance of stamping his authority on the match, to eventually prevail in easy fashion. He won the first set, 6-2, without breaking a sweat and was even less troubled in the second, losing just one game before reeling off four straight to win 6-1.

Justin MacLean won a straight-sets match against Tariq Simons, 6-0, 6-4, to win the boys' Under-14 crown. The girls' equivalent went to Peta-Gaye Graham, who stopped Sanne Van Dam 7-5, 6-1.

GRAND DAY

It was a grand day for the Traile brothers, as Dimitri, the younger of the two, was dismissive in his match against Mathew Graham, winning an easy contest 6-0, 6-0.

All the excitement, though, was reserved for the Dibbs-Franz clash, and it delivered, as the two found winners on the forehand as easy as slicing butter with a hot knife. When Dibbs broke in the third game, it left Franz chasing a chance to return the favour. However, she fell short as Dibbs held on for a 7-5 victory.

The first-set loss took the bite out of Franz's challenge and she had less answers to Dibbs' strong forehand and groundstrokes in the second set.

Dibbs, sensing her opponent hanging on, took control midway the set and went on to win the match, taking the second set 6-3.

Meanwhile, Keyon'dre Clarke won the Under-10 mixed title, defeating Selena Bird in the final.