Defending champ motors on at Downy Tennis Classic

DEFENDING CHAMPION Macoy Malcolm is on the verge of defending his Men’s Open title at the Downy Tennis Classic following day two action at the Half Moon tennis courts in Montego Bay yesterday.

The Montego Bay native Malcolm looked comfortable in Round Two, easily getting by Kristoff Grizzle 6-1, 6-2 in the morning session.

The number-two seed returned late in the afternoon to see off number seven seed Davian Burrell 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Malcolm was in control of the opening set going 4-0 up before Burrell secured a point to make it 4-1. Malcolm went 5-1 up then dropped another point to Burrell before closing out the set 6-2.

It was the reverse in the second set as Burrell jumped out to a 3-1 lead after Malcolm was slow to get out of the blocks. The champion pulled things back at 4-all before pulling off the break and ultimately sealing the set 6-4.

Malcolm will face number-three seed Dwayne Pagon in the semi-finals, this after Pagon got by number-six seed Matthew Rodriquez, who retired in the second set after being down 6-1.

For Malcolm, a title repeat is on the cards, but he is well aware of some of the big names left in the draw.

“I know it won’t be easy because we have Dwayne Pagon next and players like the number-one seed Randy Phillips still in the draw. They are hungry, and I am hungry, so let’s have a feast.”

Up to press time, number-five seed David Goldsmith and number-four seed Jeremy Miller were battling in their quarterfinal.

Phillips got the better of number-eight seed Yussuf Migoko, 6-3, 6-0.

Men’s Class Two quarterfinals

Over in the Men’s Class Two section, number-one seed Richard Denah booked his place in the final four after defeating Gavin Hall 6-0, 6-1 in their quarterfinal.

Number-three seed Seretse Bell will also feature in the final four after he got by Chris Whitfield, who retired with the score 4-6, 2-2.

Bell will next face Michael Sutherland, who got by Brian Robinson 6-2, 6-0.

On the women’s side, the number-one seed, Chandie James, defeated Rasheda Blake 6-2, 6-1 to book her place in the semi-finals. She will next face Marie Imbault, who took care of Latoya Facey, who retired with the score 7-5, 4-2.

The other semi-final will feature number-four seed Kimloy Wint, who will take on Shamika Anglin. Wint turned back Helena Parkinson 6-3, 6-3 while Anglin stopped Kemi Richardson 6-3, 1-6, 10-7.