ROWLAND “Randy” Phillips and Pauline Hylton captured the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the 11th staging of the 2018 JN Bank Open Tennis Championships which ended at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston on Saturday.

Phillips, the top seed playing in this tournament for the first time, defeated a spirited John Chin in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. For his victory, Phillips collected $200,000 and the championship trophy, whilst Chin received the runner-up trophy.

Hylton, the second seed in the women’s singles, pulled off an upset when she defeated top seed and favourite Micheala Stephens in three thrilling sets 7-5, 1-6, 6-2. Hylton walked away with $70,000 and the winner’s trophy with Stephens picking up $35,000 and the runner-up trophy.

The performance of the tournament by far was produced by 15-year-old Chin, who stormed past his higher-seeded professionals in reaching the final in his first attempt.

Phillips said that he was always confident going into the final against his young opponent.

“I gave him little opportunity to get on even terms as he was playing some good tennis,” Phillips said.

The 24-year-old Phillips, who plays on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Futures circuits, won all his matches, dropping only one set, and that was in the quarter-finals where he came from a set down to beat eighth-seeded Blaise Bicknell 3-6, 6-2, 10-8 in the super tie-breaker.

Phillips beat sixth-seed Dimitri Bird 6-1, 6-4 in the semi-finals in a rain interrupted encounter that was postponed from Friday to Saturday morning.

Chin said it was a good match, and he was very pleased with his performance, despite not winning, as he gained experience playing against the senior professional players.

“I was confident going into the final, but I know that it would have been my toughest match, and I am very satisfied with my overall performance throughout the tournament,” Chin said.

He said one of his big victories was against defending champion and second seed Damion Johnson, when he came from a set down to carve out a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6 tie breaker) result. He also beat fifth-seeded Yussuf Migoko in the quarter-finals 6-2, 7-5 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Hylton said she was very pleased with her victory as she played extremely well.

“I am really happy to win, because it is the third-consecutive year I have been in the final, and it’s also a long time trying. There are some areas where I need to improve on and more training to make it much easier the next time,” Hylton said.

It was a tough match for Hylton, who trailed 3-5 in the first set with Stephens serving, but rallied well to break serve before rain halted play. When they returned Hylton won the next three games to win 7-5.

Stephens took no chance in the second set and got more aggressive with her shots and easily won 6-1 to level the match at 1-1. However, things changed dramatically in the final set as Hylton took control. And although Stephens tried desperately to stay in contention, Hylton proved too strong and went on to win won 6-2 and clinch the match 2-1.

In the semi-finals that were delayed due to rain on Friday and played on Saturday, Hylton defeated fourth seed Brigitte Foster-Hylton in straight sets 6-2, 6-1, while Stephens beat third-seeded Shea-Ann Kameka 6-3, 6-1.

Meanwhile, third-seeded Ricardo Chambers defeated fourth-seeded Rudolph Jackson Jr 6-2, 6-4 to capture the Men’s Class Two singles. Chambers had beaten second seed Barry Hazel 6-3, 6-4 in his semi-final, while Jackson Jr knocked out top-seeded Leighton Burton 6-3, 6-2 in his semi-final.

Top-seeded Ricardo Livingston won the Men’s Class Three singles title when he beat second-seeded Stuart Allen 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Although John Chin finished second to Rowland Phillips in the men’s singles final he did not receive the $100,000 prize money for the runner-up, as it would violate his amateur status and the International Tennis Federation rules governing junior players. The Jamaica Observer regrets the error and any inconvenience caused.