Sensational Phillips cops Downy Tennis Classic

A WEEKEND of scintillating tennis ended on Sunday evening with one of the island’s top players capping off the Downy Tennis Classic with a win at the Half Moon Tennis Courts in Montego Bay.

Randy Phillips was just too good for his opponents, and comfortably sealed the men’s open title following the 6-1, 6-1 domination of Dwayne Pagon in the final on court one.

After getting by David Goldsmith 6-1, 6-4 earlier in the semifinal, Phillips was in a dominant mood and jumped out to a commanding 4-1 lead, before closing out the set 6-1.

It was much of the same in the second set for the diminutive Phillips, who used his backhand perfectly with some exquisite cross-court shots, which wore down the veteran Pagon.

With a 5-0 lead, Phillips wasted little time in closing out the contest, to claim his maiden Downy Tennis Classic title.

“I played well because once I am hitting my backhand well, you know it is a good day. From the start, I was hitting it pretty clean, so it was a tough one for him, and I just took care of business,” said Phillips.

Phillips took home the first prize trophy and $150,000 while Pagon copped the runner-up trophy and $70,000.

In the meantime, number-one seed Richard Denah battled hard to see off number-two seed Michael Sutherland in the men’s Class Two final 6-1, 2-6, 10-6.

The men’s Class Three event went to Jason Baker who turned back Ricardo Clarke 6-3, 6-4.

Meanwhile, number-one-seed Chandie James secured the ladies’ amateur singles title following a 6-2, 2-0 win over number-four-seed Kimloy Wint, who retired.

For James, claiming the title was just reward for the work that she has been putting in throughout the season.

“I love this tournament as I love a hard-court surface, which is fast for me. I am glad that I was able to win a trophy on this court for the first time.”

The inaugural Pro-Am doubles title went to Troy Gichie and Michael Sutherland, who defeated David Goldsmith and Courtney Kasambe.

Title sponsor Downy presented the 2024 Downy Tennis Classic along with associate sponsors, Half Moon Resort, Secrets, Ward’s Power Tools, ATL Automotive, Fairview Texaco, Caribbean Storm Protection, Steve Nolan Tennis LLC, Cover Me Up Events, Oneness Health Centre, CPJ, Deja Resort, Royalton Resorts, Pier 1 at Doctors Cave Beach, WATA, Tru-Shake, Powerade, My Motto, Bounty, Charmin, Ariel, Febreze, StoffinJa, Jamaica Social and The Gleaner Company (Media) Ltd.