Carter, Chung move into round two

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Aidan Carter and former national champion Richard Chung took a big step toward earning a national team spot for the Davis Cup when they won their two first round round-robin matches on the opening day of the First round, round-robin matches of the trial tournament, at the National Racquet Centre, Tacarigua, yesterday.

The National Championships/Davis Cup men's trial event was split into four groups, two of which included two players and two comprised three players.

The two-man Group One saw Tobago's talented left-hander Akiel Duke come up with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win over Nkrumah Patrick – a result which saw him move automatically into the next round which starts today.

In Group Two, Chung first got past Jerome Ward 7-6 (4), 6-3, before Scott Hackshaw handed Ward his second defeat with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 result.

Chung and Hackshaw then met in the last match of the day. Chung sealed an early victory after Hackshaw retired while trailing 7-6 (7) by the end of the first set.

Group Three saw Carter secure back-to-back wins over Keshan Moonasar (6-3, 6-3) and Adam Ramkissoon (6-3, 6-4) for an easy berth into the second round. Carter has been an impressive performer at youth tournaments but is looking to show his worth against the top senior players.

The second spot in the group went to Ramkissoon who went the distance in a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Moonasar. Finally in Group Four, which comprised two players, former TT Davis Cup representative Dexter Mahase sealed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Nabeel Mohammed.

The top three male players along with two reserves will be selected for the Davis Cup at the completion of the second round of play. The Fed Cup women's trials, also featuring a round-robin format, will result in one top player and a reserve player earning national team selection. The players carded to challenge the Women's Championship/Fed Cup trials are Anya King, Yin Lee Assang, Abigail Jones, Victoria Koylass and Soizette Simmons. The National Championships will run until Sunday.