12 hours ago
1
AFTER HIS confidence-boosting win in the ITF World Tennis Tour M25 in Laval, Quebec, on Sunday, top Jamaican tennis player Blaise Bicknell is looking to climb his way back up the international ranking.
Bicknell, who came from a set down on Sunday to defeat the higher ranked and more fancied Justin Boulais (483), 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, spent eight months off the circuit nursing a hip injury before undergoing operation and recovery.
Although he has been back playing for more than four months, the 23-year-old said he only recently started feeling back to his best.
“I was injured for a long time. For about eight months with no tournaments. I had hip surgery, but it feels good that I am finally back on top of my game.
“I have been back on the tour for about four months, and it has been tough, and this has been my first big result since I’ve been back.
“But my body finally felt fully fit again. So I felt I could compete with those tough players. And I am really happy to get the win. It feels good,” he said.
Hometown favourite Boulais won the first set 6-3, but Bicknell rallied in the second, digging deep in a tense tiebreak to win the set 7-6.
The third set was another close battle throughout, but Bicknell held his nerve in the crucial moments to clinch the final-set tiebreak 7-5 and take the final set 7-6 for his second hold on the title, which he first won in 2023.
“It (match) was tough. I was losing most of the match, but I saved three match points, where I played three very good games, which was huge for me to get back in the match and get the win.
“When I won the second set, I knew I was back in the match. I played a very good tiebreaker, and that propelled me to get the win. It’s really special to get this win. For my confidence, it has been really great. It’s a really special win,” he said.
Bicknell’s injury layoff resulted in his ranking plummeting outside the top 1,000. However, since his return, he has steadily climbed back, reaching 922 heading into the tournament.
However, the player who was once ranked 306 in the world, said that with the win and greater confidence, he is now looking to rebuild his ranking in the second half of the year.
“I am going to keep playing on the circuit and try to build back up. I am hoping to use this win to build me up to start competing at a high level again.
“I will return to the court in about two or three weeks and look to continue on from here,” he added.
English (US) ·