Bahamian junior tennis players were back in action, competing in the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) J30 Junkanoo Bowl at the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association's (BLTA) National Tennis Centre yesterday.

Jackson Mactaggart played in the quarterfinals against American Alexander Farias. The Bahamian struggled in this match and lost in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-0.

Mactaggart was in action in the boys round of 16 earlier in the day against American Ayden Fraire. Mactaggart got the victory in that match, winning 6-2 and 6-5. In the round of 32, Mactaggart took care of American Fox Rogers in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-2.

On the girls side, the unseeded Sierra Rodgers went up against Dain Lee from the Korean Republic in the quarterfinals. Rodgers lost the match in straight sets 6-3 and 6-2.

Earlier in the day, the Bahamian got a three-set victory over fifth seeded Sophie Alarcon, of the United States, in the round of 16. Rodgers opened the first set with a 6-2 victory. Alarcon won the second set in a close 7-5 victory. The Bahamian responded with a dominating third set, winning 6-0.

Sarai Clarke, who won the 14-and-under title at the AID Junior National Championships last week, was in a tough quarterfinals match against American Natalie Oliver. The Bahamian was no match for Oliver as she lost 6-0 and 6-1.

On Tuesday, Clarke won a three-setter against fourth-seeded Kattie Valdes, of the United States, in the round of 16. She won 4-6, 6-1 and 6-4.

Clarke, who was playing in her first ITF tournament, said the match against Oliver was a learning experience for her.

Michael Major Jr., who is seeded third, looked like he was going to win comfortably on the stadium court in his round 16 matchup. He was up against American Ezequiel De La Plaza. Major won the first set 6-3 and looked comfortable. The 17-year-old went up 5-1 in the second set and it looked like he was going to move on to the quarterfinals. However, De La Plaza went into another gear. He came back to win the second set 7-6. In the third set, Major fell 3-6.

Major dominated American Felix Puyplat, 6-1 and 6-0, to win his round of 32 match.

Jerald Caroll, who was coming off three national titles here last week, was in action under the United States flag in the round of 16. He went up against the seventh-seed Connor Plunkett. Carroll won the highly contested first set 7-6. Plunkett went on to win the next two sets 6-3 and 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Carroll faced Bahamian Dentry Mortimer for a second time within a week in the round of 16 and won 6-3 and 7-5.

Action continues today and the tournament wraps up tomorrow. The tournament features players from over 10 countries including host country The Bahamas, China, Australia, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, the US Virgin Islands and Canada.

The post Bahamians experience action in Junkanoo Bowl appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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