Mohammed wins women’s singles crown in Shell Tennis

CARLISTA Mohammed won the women’s singles crown in the Shell Tranquillity Open Tennis tournament at the Tranquillity Courts, Victoria Avenue, Port of Spain, on Monday.

Mohammed found herself in a deep hole as she trailed 5-2 in the opening set to junior player Ella Carrington. However, Mohammed fought back to win the match 7-5, 6-3 to claim the title.

Mohammed had a strong start to the match utilising a solid backhand to take a 1-0 lead in the opening set.

The match was hanging in the balance with Carrington leading the opening set 3-2.

Carrington broke Mohammed’s serve as the latter double faulted more than once. Carrington then held serve to open up a 5-2 lead.

Mohammed then started to grow in confidence as she won the next two games as Carrington held on to a narrow 5-4 advantage.

Mohammed started to shout “come on” as she began to deliver the goods to grab the opening set 7-5.

After Carrington held her serve in the opening game of the second set Mohammed won back-to-back games to take a 2-1 lead.

Both players tried not to give anything to their opponents as the second set had long rallies.

Mohammed tried to stay motivated during the contest by continuously speaking to herself. It worked as she was now one game away from sealing the match with a 5-3 advantage in the second set.

Carrington could not hold serve as Mohammed clinched the match with a 6-3 win in the second set.

The men’s singles semifinals were also played. It will be a match-up between two Tobago players on Tuesday from 3 pm as Vaughn Wilson and Akiel Duke advanced to the final.

Wilson outlasted Nabeel Mohammed 6-1, 6-0 to book his place in the final and Duke recorded a similar result when he whipped Luca Shamsi 6-0, 6-1.