Sakumono outclasses Accra Lawn Tennis Club

Accra, Sept 21, GNA - Sakumono Tennis Club on Saturday shook off their underdog status to outclass high flying Accra Lawn Tennis Club (ALTC) 6-4 in a Ladies friendly duel at Sakumono near Tema. Playing their first ladies competitive game, the victors proved too good for the visitors who had stormed the arena brimming with confidence to send their host to the sacrificial alter.

The confidence of the visitors was telling when they suggested Sakumono team lacked experience and must only engage in a non-scoring competition in their supposed ego bid to "impart" some of their knowledge to the host.

Sakumono might have initially cursed their stars for rejecting the offer after their top seed, Tina Yamak lost 1-7 to Bernice Taylor in the first singles game of the day.

As if that was not humiliating enough, second seed, Gabriella Eshun also fell to veteran Zenabu Akotoh 2-7 in a manner that raised the Accra Lawn Tennis Club's false sense of hope.

Sakumono's Louisa Davis however was to initiate a turn around for her side when she stayed in her element to beat Saoli Mizutani 7-5 to begin the long journey of silencing the visitors. The last of the singles game begun on a wrong footing for Sakumono when Mavis Mathias was twice broken while her opponent Elizabeth Olympio held on to her first two to lead 4-0.

With composure as her hallmark, Mathias won her serve for the first time, broke Olympio to take the game to 4-2. Olympio soon broke back and held on to her serve to stretch the lead once more but that marked the beginning of Mathias magic. Flying high on the wings of home cheers orchestrated by former captain of the side, Sam Ewool and his deputy, Eric Owusu, Mathias took the next six games with such fighting spirit spiced with an impeccable class that left the visitors stunned but realistically appreciative. With the game tied two all, the visitors again stepped on the accelerator when Vicky Murray and Kate Coleman dominated the first doubles game to defeat Sabina Ackah and Doris Anane 9-1.

Bernice Taylor and Frema followed suit with a 9-4 win over Doris Kwaukumey and Nuya to keep the visitors hold intact. With expectation weighing on Veronica Commey and Mathias to find the magic to keep Sakumono in the game, the pair stepped on the court charged to turn things around and did so in style. Commey and Mathias flogged Florence Larkin and Junko Izumi Yama 9-0 to begin the much awaited ascendancy.

Inspired by the pair's results, fellow compatriots Yamak and Mimi Asmah played the match of their lives to defeat Akotoh and Barbara Murray 9-8 on tie break to tie the game at four all. Eshun and Davis were later to put Sakumono in the lead for the first time on the afternoon when they replicated Commey and Mathias demolishing feat in their tie against Dorcas Sonah and Saoli Mizutani. In search of a win that could at least give them an away draw, ALTC assembled Olympio and Irene Aryee against Commey and Mathias who had another bite at the cherry.

Aryee started well to understandably give her cheering crowd some form of hope that travelled until Commey and Mathias got into their groove after seven games.

The duo shook off an initial nervousness to carry the game to 8-5 before Commey served for the game 40-0 to wrap up the tie 9-5 and send the host chanting with joy.