T&T boys, girls advance to ITF/COTECC U-12 semis

Host Trinidad and Tobago will be represented in both the Boys’ and Girls’ Team semifinals when the Central American and Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC) and World Tennis (formally known as the International Tennis Federation ITF) 2026 ITF/COTECC Under-12 Team Competition Sub Region 4 Tournament continues from 9 am Wednesday at the National Racquet Center in Tacarigua.

In the boys’ team competition, T&T ‘A’ defeated Barbados 2-1 to secure the top spot in Group B thanks to wins from Nicholas McLetchie over Dominic Cadogan 6-2, 6-4 and the doubles pairing of McLetchie and Austin Ward over Aiden Bridgeman and Giovanni Weir 6-2, 4-6, 10-3.

Weir had given Barbados the 1-0 lead in the best-of-three tie when he whipped Hadeed 6-1, 6-2 in the opening tie.

With the win, T&T ‘A’ ended their three-team round-robin series with a 2-0 record after they swept Grenada 3-0 on Monday, setting up a semifinal against St. Kitts/Nevis, who won Group A after a 2-1 triumph against Curacao to add to their similar margin of victory over Suriname.

Aruba is through to the final after they topped the lone four-team Group C series by beating T&T ‘B’ in a clash of unbeaten teams 3-0.

For Aruba, Adam Oehlers beat Liam Singh 6-2, 6-2; Gian Pero Donaod defeated Zachary Anthony 6-1, 6-1; and Donaod and Oehlers humbled Anthony and Daniel Ward in the doubles 6-0, 6-2.

As runners-up in Group C, the T&T ‘B’ boys’ team will face off with the winner of the fourth to sixth semifinal between Barbados and Suriname for the fourth spot.

In the seventh to tenth semifinals, St. Vincent and the Grenadines face Grenada while Curaçao meets Guyana.

In the girls’ team semifinal, T&T ‘A’ will face T&T ‘B’ after finishing as winners and runners-up of their respective round-robin pools.

In Group B, T&T ‘A’ brushed aside Suriname 3-0 in their group decider, with Teijha Wellington beating Xamae Ooft 6-0, 6-0.

Anaya Roberts easing past Dominique Tjon Akiet 6-4, 6-1, and the duo of Wellington and Roberts topping Shalomi Jodhabier and Ooft 6-2, 6-3 to end with a 3-0 record.

However, in Group A, St. Kitts/Nevis beat TTO ‘B’ 2-1 in their pool decider and will meet Suriname in the other semifinal.

Amelia Wood had set T&T off on a positive start by beating Cherika Flemming 6-0, 6-1.

However, Briella Lake drew St. Kitts/Nevis level at 1-1 by whipping Suriya Ramdath 6-1, 6-1 before Flemming and Skyler Rowe won the deciding doubles clash over Ramdath and Woo 7-5, 1-6, 10-8 to seal the top spot.