Defending men’s Barbados  Road Tennis Open Champion, Mark “Venom” Griffith is through to the quarter finals of this year’s tournament.

Playing before a large crowd at Gall Hill St John last night, Griffith dismissed Kirt “Bruce Lee” Alleyne in straight sets 21-6 21-10.

Even though the match only started at ten minutes to eleven the crowd stayed for the much hyped up encounter, as Alleyne signalled his intention beforehand to dethrone the champion through media interviews and posters.

But try as he might he never came close to entertaining the idea, or laying a glove on the champ, as “Venom” inflicted some poisonous tennis on him from which he was unable to recover.

In a match that lasted for 24 minutes, the issue was never in doubt as Griffith sauntered home in a canter without hardly breaking a sweat, as he demonstrated to all and sundry that a third BRTO championship is within his reach in 2024.

In more men’s action Davien “Force Ripe” Taylor had to dig deep to defeat Antonio Yearwood after dropping the second game.

In easily the most entertaining and enthralling match-up of the night, with an exhibition of high quality tennis, Taylor won the first game 21-17, only for Yearwood to roar right back and win the second 23-21, after that match see-sawed throughout.

In the decisive third game, Taylor held his nerve to seal the victory,  21-17,  to record a 21-17, 21-23, 21-17 victory over Yearwood.

Curtis Jones proved his upset of second seeded Shakeem Nurse was no fluke as he recovered from losing the first game to Shawn Spencer to prevail 17-21, 21-16, 21-19, in 55 minutes of absorbing tennis action.

Antonio “Lil Man ” Daniel was simply too classy for Dwaine Hope as he outpointed him in straight sets 21-19, 21-14 to also move through to the quarter finals of the BRTO 2024.

Defending women’s BRTO champion, Sheldene Walrond never appeared in any danger as she outbattled Asabi Downey 21-11, 21-11, whilst Gail-Ann Edwards outclassed Kezia Blunt to record a convincing 21-7, 21-16 victory.

There were also victories for Marvalene Neblett who defeated Margo Lorde 21-16, 21-15, whilst Maria Cumberbatch bounced back after dropping the first game to defeat Angela Burrowes 16-21, 21-6, 21-13.

The action in the BRTO continues next weekend with quarterfinal matches carded at the Dover Courts, Dover, Christ Church. Games are scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm on Saturday, September 14, 2024.

All told the tennis at Gall Hill, St John lasted for almost five hours on Saturday night, much to the delight of M.P for the area, Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, who stayed on his feet throughout the proceedings.