Barbados Road Tennis Open Quarter-Finals Set to Begin on New Wildey Gym Court

The stage is literally and figuratively set for the quarter-finals of the Barbados Road Tennis Open, with the action serving off from 7 p.m. on the spanking new court in the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.

Yesterday, the finishing touches were being made on the court where two men’s and two women’s matches will whet the appetites of fans looking to see who will make a step closer to the top prize of $20 000.

While all of the matches will generate keen interest the night cap clash between defending champion Mark “Venom” Griffith and Emar Edwards could indicate who will be the champion for 2023.

The action begins with schoolteacher Gale Ann Edwards clashing with former Barbados netballer Marvalene Neblett in a contest that could go either way.

Last year’s losing finalist Sheldene Walrond is expected to easily win her game against 13-year-old Springer Memorial schoolgirl Kezia Blunt.

The first men’s game pits 6ft 4in Mosai Williams against last year’s losing finalist Shakeem Nurse. Williams looks a potential threat to Nurse, who does not look as sharp as last year but who has the skills to stop Williams, who lacks the experience at this level.

After some concern expressed by the players, the organisers agreed to allow the players who took part in this year’s competition to pay an entrance fee of $5. That is the same fee being charged to children under 12 while the general public will pay $10 tonight and tomorrow night when the second set of quarter-final matches will be played. (KB)

National Sports Council assistant director of sports Adrian Donovan (left) and marketing supervisor Colvin Small examining the newly laid road tennis court in the Wildey Gym for tonight’s quarter-final clashes of the Road Tennis Open. (Picture by Kenmore Bynoe.)