Burke wins doubles in Santo Domingo

Saturday, November 21, 2009 6:05 AM

LATEST NEWS:

Sport

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Brandon Burke, the ITF Jamaica junior champion, has continued the fine form by teaming up with customary partner Darian King of Barbados to clinch the doubles crown at the JITIC (Central American & Caribbean Junior Tennis Championships) which ended at the Santo Domingo Tennis Club in the Dominican Republic on Sunday.

The 16-year-old Burke and King, who have proven that they are the top junior doubles combination in the Caribbean by winning the titles at the ITF Aruba and St Maarten Tournaments in July, did not have an easy road to this title.

They started off with an easy 6-4, 7-6 victory over R Irigoyen and E Lopez of Mexico and in the quarter-finals another 6-2, 6-3 straight set victory over Mexican Juan Pebb Murra and M Porter.

In the semi-finals the pair of D Cathalina and A Carlos from Netherland Antilles and Mexico proved to be hard work, but the Caribbean duo overcame in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, (10-8). In the final the West Indian warriors overcame R Flores and J Sierra-Short of Puerto Rico 7-6, 7-5.

In the singles action Brandon moved into the quarter-finals by beating Mexican Jolio Vasques Bonilla in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 and Netherland Antilles Gino Meeuwsen 7-6, 6-3, but fell to Gabriel Flores Ruiz of Puerto Rico in the quarter-finals.

Brandon's performance has moved him up four places in the ITF World Junior Ranking to 154.