Simon Levy returns a shot to Andrew Bicknell in the final of the Boys' 12 and Under singles, during the Juciful-sponsored Jamaica Juniors Invitational Tennis Tournament at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre on Sunday. Levy won 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

Simon Levy got the better of Andrew Bicknell in a spirited Boys' 12-and-Under final during the Juciful-sponsored Jamaica Juniors Invitational Tennis Tournament, which took place at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre on Saturday and Sunday.

In the only final that went into three sets, Levy prevailed 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 to secure his age group title at the competition that brought together 120 juniors participating in 40 matches.

Tournament director Arthur Phillpotts had high praises for the competitors, who were both awarded certificates for sportsmanship.

In the Under-16 boys' final, Rowland Phillips emerged victorious in the final against Jordan Harris, winning 6-1, 7-6, while in the boys Under-14 doubles encounter, Nicholas Chung and Ryan Simms prevailed over the pair of Adam Henriques and Noah Stewart 7-5, 7-5.

Shantal Blackwood took the girls under-14 final with an easy 6-3, 6-0 win over Sheleta Haughton of Montego Bay.

The tournament also saw the introduciton of umpires and according to Rae Barrett, they assisted the players in raising their level of discipline and becoming accustomed to an umpire calling the game.

The series continues this weekend, February 2-3, with singles matches in the boys Under-14, girls and boys under 18 and doubles action in the boys Under-18.

Match experience

The tournament provides Jamaica's junior tennis players with match experience playing full sets as required by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

In addition to the major sponsor Citrus Growers Company Limited, through its Juciful brand, other sponsors for the event include RBTT Bank Limited, Advanced Integrated Systems Limited, Guardsman Group of Companies and the National Health Fund.

- K.H.