CLIFF Dwyer and Michaela Stephens of Jamaica crowned themselves boys’ and girls’ 18 and under singles champions at the 2017 Touch Tuina Blue Mountain Caribbean Junior Tennis Singles Championships at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston yesterday.

Dwyer, the second seed, came from a set down before defeating unseeded Zachary Phillips in three sets 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. In his semi-finals on Thursday, Dwyer beat Myles Harrison of Jamaica 6-2, 4-6, 10-3 (super tie-breaker set), while Phillips had knocked out top seed Callum Theaker of St Vincent and the Grenadines in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (8-6 tie-breaker).

Meanwhile Stephens, seeded at number two, defeated her compatriot, third-seeded Jenna Harrison, in straight sets 7-5, 6-4. In their semi-finals, Stephens eliminated fourth-seeded Hayley McNair 6-1, 6-2, while Harrison crushed unseeded Aanchal Khemlani 6-0, 6-0.

Dwyer said his victory came from belief in self.

“Everyone said I didn’t have a chance against Theaker as he had won several junior tournaments in Europe. However, I believed in myself that I can beat my opponent, as I played very solidly and kept him running all over the court,” he said.

Meanwhile, Theaker said the hot temperatures and an in-form Dwyer were too much for him.

“Dwyer played well and I think that this was also the best he ever has played,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Stephens said her win over Harrison was not easy.

“She played very well and I had to lift my game, especially in the first set with the scores locked at 5-5 before I went on to win,” the Jamaican said.

Harrison, who is yet to defeat Stephens in any competition, said: “Stephens is a very tough player and she never stopped running to retrieve returns. She is hard to beat, (but) one day I will as I am getting closer and closer to defeating her.”

Meanwhile, the girls 16 and under final was won by defending champions Stephens beating Harrison in straight sets 6-3, 7-5, as both crossed swords a second time in the championships.

The boys’ 16 and under final was won by second seed Damani Cain of Jamaica, who beat Carlos Wilson of Jamaica in straight sets 6-2, 6-2.

Unseeded Alex Claybourn of the Cayman Islands won the boys’ 14 and under singles title by defeating third-seed Keyondre Clarke of Jamaica 3-6, 6-0, 10-4 in the super tie-breaker set.

The girls’ 14 and under singles final was won by unseeded Valaine Clarke of the USA, who defeated fourth-seed Abigail Peru of Jamaica in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

Oskar Bjuro of the Cayman Islands defeated his compatriot Jack Lomax 6-2, 6-3 to capture the boys’ 12 and under singles title.

Mario Campbell and Michaela Stephens of Jamaica were both named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the championships.