Bailey

President of Tennis Jamaica, John Bailey, has hailed the return of the All-Jamaica Tennis Championships as a success.

The national tennis championships had not been held for about two decades because of the lack of funding, but returned this year backed by title sponsors Hi-Pro Feeds.

"We are happy to have it back. We are happy to have Hi-Pro as a sponsor and we are hoping that this will grow from strength to strength," Bailey said as the finals were being decided under cloudy skies Saturday evening. "We recognise that it has been too long that we have had this absence of the All-Jamaica tennis championships and we are happy with how it's gone."

Losing men's finalist Daniel Harris endorsed Bailey's comments saying Jamaica needs the tournament to get bigger and better every year.

"This is the biggest tournament I have seen since I have been in Jamaica, so I am really hoping they do this every year because it's good for tennis when you make an event like this for people to come out and really have fun. I really hope they continue it every year," he said.

Bailey said the show put on by Harris and 2014 champion Damion Johnson was an indication of what is possible should the tournament be able to continue on from this year. "I thought the play was excellent. Just a few points could have changed the complexion of the game," he said of the men's final.

He hailed Johnson's consistency and described Harris as a bright spark in Jamaica's future.

The women's final, however, between Phadria Kepple and Selena Blythe was not of the quality befitting of a major tournament, but Bailey believes that the return of the tournament will also help the women's game.

Tennis Jamaica, Bailey said, plans to build on the momentum by announcing the dates of next year's competition earlier than ever before.

In the men's Over 45, Stephen Todd defeated Luke Bucknor 4-6, 6-3, 10-5, while in the Men's Over 35, Alan McNab prevailed over Leighton Burton 6-2, 6-1. Leighton Burton and Garth Darby claimed the Men's Doubles title with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Luke Bucknor and Peter Berry.