Sharon Donaldson (fourth left), managing director of General Accident Insurance Company Limited, poses with finalists after presenting them with their trophies and cash awards at the 2017 General Accident Open Tennis Championships which ended at the Liguanea Club on Monday night. At left is Rory Shepherd, general manager of Liguanea Club in New Kingston.
MARCUS Malcolm and Michaela Stephens captured the men’s and women’s singles titles, respectively, at the fifth staging of the 2017 General Accident Open Tennis Championships, which ended at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston on Monday night.
Malcolm, the fourth seed, was also winning this championship for the first time after defeating third seed Jeremy Miller in straight sets 7-5, 6-4. Malcolm collected $150,000 for his victory, while Miller earned $70,000 as the runner-up.
In the semi-finals played on Sunday, Malcolm defeated Matthew Rodriquez, who retired after losing the first set 7-5, while Miller pulled off a fighting win over second seed Dwayne Pagon 6-4, 7-6 (7-5 tiebreaker).
Meanwhile, Stephens, the top seed in women’s singles, was stretched to three sets before getting the better of second seed Jenna Harrison 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 to win the title.
Prior to the final, Stephens had beaten third-seeded Shea-Ann Kameka in straight sets 7-5, 6-1, while Harrison swept past fourth seed Kailey Chin in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, in their respective semi-finals.
The 29-year-old Malcolm said it was a very tough match, especially in the first set.
“The second set was another hard one as I had to come from 0-2 down to win the next two games to level at 2-2 before taking the lead in the fifth game 3-2,” Malcolm said.
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