Tennis: Cable & Wireless Open Tournament-Knowles and Delpeche winners |13 September 2007

After eliminating Ronny Ah-Shung on a 2-0 (6-0, 6-3) score in the quarterfinal, Knowles cruised to the final by registering a semifinal victory over Nico Lewinga after the latter abandoned the match in the second set.

In the men’s singles final, Knowles met young Trevor Camille who eliminated Mervin Laporte 2-0 (6-0, 6-3) in the quarterfinal and Stefan Romain by walkover in the semifinal.

More experienced than 17-year-old Camille, 46-year-old Knowles started the match as favorite, thus displaying some good techniques although his opponent tried his best to contain him.

Knowles won the match 2-0 (6-4, 7-6) to win his second title of the year after claiming victory in the Seychelles Tennis Association (STA) Open Tournament to retain his title won last year.

“I did not impose my game on Trevor as he is still a young player. Instead, I wanted him to have a good game and to enjoy the match rather than playing under pressure,” said Knowles.

In the women’s singles final, Clyvie Delpeche qualified for the semifinal after her win by walkover on Una Charles in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, she defeated Gloria Lauro 2-0 (6-3, 6-3) to qualify for the final were she met Marie-May Isnard who had defeated Julie Fayon 2-0 (6-0, 6-0) in the quarterfinal and Linda Samson 2-(6-1, 6-0) in the semifinal.

Delpeche inflicted a rare defeat on Isnard, claiming the Cable & Wireless title with a 2-0 (6-2, 6-3) win.
It is to note that Isnard was the women’s singles of the STA Open Tournament played earlier in the season.
In the men’s doubles, the duo of Nico Lewinga and Kevin Romain was the grand winner.

In the semifinal they eliminated Selwyn Knowles and Antoine Hip-Waye 2-0 (7-5, 7-5) and in the other semifinal Steven Rideau-Mein and Harold Stravens eliminated the pair of Sylvester Delpeche and Stefan Romain 2-1 (7-5, 2-6, 6-5).
In the final, Lewinga and Romain played better and won the match 2-1 (6-0, 4-6, 6-3).

In the women’s doubles, Marie-May Isnard avenged her defeat in the singles against Clyvie Delpeche. She paired up with Chloé Romain while Delpeche played alongside Nathanielle Morel.

In the semifinal, Isnard and Romain defeated Linda Samson and Peggy Chang-Tave while Delpeche and Morel eliminated Gloria Lauro and Stephanie Ah-Shung.

Isanard and Romain won the final 2-1(5-7, 6-3, 6-4) to clinch the doubles’ title.

R. D.