NICHOLAS Malcolm dipped into his repertoire of serves and volleys to overturn top seed Cadrin Todd 7-6 (5), 6-3 to clinch the Top-16 Professional title at the Jamaica National Open Tennis Championships Saturday night at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.

The 35-year-old Malcolm, an outstanding national player who gave up the sport after a falling-out with the governing body then called the Jamaica Lawn Tennis Association.

Malcolm, seeded at number two in the competition, spoke after the match.

“I started off very aggressive, went up early… it was back and forth break, to and from, but when the tie-breaker started and he went up 4-2, I came back and found some confidence after the first set.

“I started dominating the second set, but he’s a real fighter and at 5-1 when I was serving there was a critical call that I allowed to throw me off a bit.

“Eventually… not intending to spend all night on the court, I pulled off something very good. He is a very competitive player and have played good matches against him,” he added.

Todd, who has great admiration for his opponent, noted: “I had some close calls on vital points. I thought I had a winner which changed the game for him to get that first set.

“In the second set, same thing, and it happened again. It’s tennis, that’s not a fault. You are supposed to be a little more focused and continue to play the match.

“Nicky came out on top and he was the better player,” explained Todd.

Apart from the winners, cash awards were handed to the semi-finalists David Goldsmith and Dwayne Pagon, and quarter-finalists Demar Harrison, Dane Vernon, and Kirk Boland.

Meanwhile in Men’s Class 2, Gordon Chuck defeated Carlos Blissett 6-3, 6-1 while in the Men’s Class 3, the final was abandoned.