TOP seeds Damion Johnson and Michaela Stephens crowned themselves men’s and women’s singles champions, respectively, at the 2016 Jamaica National (JN) Open Tennis Championships, which ended at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston on Saturday night.

Johnson, who is the coach of fifth-seeded Jacob Bicknell, was in devastating form as he outclassed his student in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. In the semi-finals played on Friday, Johnson beat third seed Marcus Malcolm 6-4, 7-6, while Bicknell produced a major upset of second seed Dwayne Pagon 6-4, 6-1.

Stephens, who has been dispatching all her opponents this year, defeated second seed Pauline Hylton comfortably in straight sets 6-1, 6-3. In the semi-finals Stephens defeated Shea-Ann Kameka 6-2, 6-3, while Hylton beat Emma Dibbs 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Johnson, who was winning the JN Open Men’s Singles for the fourth time in its sixth year, said he was confident going into the final.

“I had to step up my game and distance myself very early from Bicknell, although he played well and produced some good shots that the score does not reflect… his performance was pretty good,” Johnson said.

“I really wanted to show the spectators that I can produce top-class playing and also proved that I am the number one player in the country. It was also a very good year for me, by winning all the tournaments,” he added.

He lauded Bicknell as a promising player and one to watch in the future, but warned: “I will be looking to continue this form next year.”

Meanwhile, Bicknell congratulated his coach on his victory and said he is a very tough player to beat as he does not give many chances to get on top of him.

“His serves were really good and his movements are also very quick in returns, along with good court placements in retrieving the balls. However, I played well, but I could not have done much to contain his brilliant performance — serves and powerful stroke plays,” noted Bicknell.

Stephens said she played extremely well as she tried to keep her composure with a steady game and accurately placing her shots.

“I went into the final very confident as I know that Hylton would not give me any real challenge as a result of the way she tried to use too many slicing shots, and they do not work all the time,” Stephens said.

She noted that Hylton has a good serve but she does not work the ball to any great extent, and that she needs to be more aggressive and work the ball around to the left and right corners of the court. “That’s what she needs to produce, as it is very important playing against good opponents.”

Johnson captured a second title when he partnered with Blaise Bicknell to beat the pair of Marcus Malcolm and Gawayne Cox 2-4, 5-3, 4-0 in the Men’s Open Doubles final.

The Women’s Open Doubles final was won by Shea-Ann Kameka and Emma Dibbs, who defeated Pauline Hylton and Hayley McNair 2-4, 4-1, 4-0.

Top seed Leighton Burton turned the table on defending champion Stephen Shirley to capture the Men’s Class Two title 6-3, 7-5. Shirley had beaten Burton in last year’s final.

Ricardo Livingston, top seed in the Men’s Class Three, defeated second-seeded Major Warrenton Dixon 6-4, 6-4 to win the final.

And Michael Collins, Jamaica National Building Society sales development and training specialist said it was a very successful tournament and he congratulated the winners and runners-up and all who participated.

He said next year the tournament will have an international flavour, and his company will continue its development of the sport in Jamaica.