Johnson takes on Angus in men’s Open Tennis Champs
TOP-SEEDED Damion Johnson go up against unseeded Orick Angus in the second round singles of the 2012 Jamaica National (JN) Men’s Tennis Open Championships today at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, starting at 6:30 pm.
The Jamaica number one player is confident that things will work his way, and is looking forward to reaching Sunday’s final, despite expecting much tougher opponents as he progresses towards winning the men’s singles title.
Johnson said he wants to take his revenge as defending champion and second-seed Dominic Pagon had beaten him in the final last year in straight sets and hopes to face him once again in the final.
“I have beaten Pagon twice this year in two tournaments in the semi-finals of the Hi-Pro Men’s Tennis Open and the Iberostar Men’s Open held in Montego Bay. These were two back-to-back tournaments,” Johnson said.
“Today, I am taking this first match easy and try to work out some strategy, as my opponent is not as challenging as the seeded players who are more competitive. I am just going to take it as a work out,” Johnson said.
The 27-year-old Johnson added that he has not been able to practise as a result of the rain, but nevertheless should easily beat Angus. “He has not played in any international tournaments to be that competitive and I have more experience and should come out an easy winner.”
Meanwhile, defending men’s open singles champion Pagon will be in action tomorrow.
Results of other singles matches played last Tuesday in the Men’s Open are: Alan McNab whipped Shavti Pichas in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0; Andre Spence defeated Brandon Azar 6-2; 6-3; Dane Vernon crushed Gordon McFarlane 6-0, 6-1; Ryan Simms brushed aside Stefan Wilson 6-2, 6-1 and Daniel Gyles defeated Akeem Hinds 6-3, 6-1.
Also on show today in the Men’s Open singles, playing their second round matches are Simms vs the winner of the Jacob Bicknell and Richard Blake encounter played yesterday, and Vernon against Gyles.
Matches scheduled today in the Men’s 3 singles are: Clement Greenwood vs Fabian Vassell; Norman Marshall vs Linden Neil; Lenworth Murray vs Garen Williams at 5:30.
Donovan Reid vs Richard Nevers; Michael Lyncook vs Sean Scott at 6:30; Alric Sproul vs Nelton Forsythe; Junior Hardware vs Mark Gibbs at 7:30.
In Men’s Class two singles Joseph Dibbs vs Neil Daley at 7:30; women’s singles open Racquel Bryan vs Leah Smythe at 6:30.
