Bicknell, Kameka triumph at Damion Johnson Professional Tennis Series
BLAISE Bicknell and Shea-Ann Kameka captured the men’s and women’s finals at the 2017 Damion Johnson Professional Tennis Series which ended at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre on Sunday.
Bicknell, seeded at five, defeated unseeded Damar Johnson in three sets, 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the men’s final, while third-seeded Kameka beat unseeded Sheada Nickle in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
For their victory, Bicknell won the winner’s cheque of $150,000 and a trophy, while Kameka collected $70,000 and a trophy.
Both finals produced exciting play, especially the pulsating men’s match between 15-year-old Bicknell and the 33-year-old former Jamaica number one player Damar Johnson.
Bicknell, who was winning his first major title, was the most outstanding player of the tournament, as he not only knocked out Jamaica’s number one player Damion Johnson, who was the top seed, but also defeated his brother in the men’s final.
Bicknell had defeated Damion Johnson 6-1, 7-6 (8-6 tie-breaker), while Damar Johnson eliminated second seed Dwayne Pagon also in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 in their respective semi-finals.
Bicknell said he was extremely elated with the win, but most of all, was equally pleased with his brilliant triumph against Damion Johnson in the men’s semis. “I was really surprised to have won, especially in the first set which I won easily, but had to battle very hard in the second set to overcome him in the tie-breaker.
“The final, however, was much harder as Damar Johnson is a very good player, and after going down 0-6 in the first set I was determined to fight harder in the second set, which was closely fought to win 6-4 after it was locked at 4-4, and I went on to win the next two games to draw level at 1-1,” Bicknell said.
He said his game lifted from then onwards and he took control of the match and raced to a 4-0 lead. “I however, missed out from blanking him 6-0 when I was up 40-15 in the fifth game that deuced on four occasions.”
Meanwhile, Damar Johnson, who was playing a tournament for the first time since leaving Jamaica in 2009, said the two stoppages for rain hampered his form and his momentum.
“I changed my game somewhat and he took control and played some great shots. I should have continued my aggressive playing, but it was too late as he kept plugging away with some brilliant shots and I congratulate him on his victory,” Johnson said.
Kameka said she was very happy for the victory despite it being a very tough match against her Montego Bay High school opponent and training partner.
“It was a very good and closely contested match that could have gone either way with the third set locked at 4-4. I am very proud of my achievement as I played extremely well throughout the tournament, as I was confident coming into the final,” Kameka said.
Nickle congratulated Kameka on her victory and said it was a very good match. “I made too many errors in the third and final set, especially with my serves where I doubled-faulted too many times, as I had a good chance of winning,”
In the women’s semi-final played on Sunday morning, Kameka toppled top seed Fffion Fletcher in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, while Nickle defeated unseeded Selena Bird in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.