GUYANA’S international female squash player Nicolette Fernandes claimed a 2-1 win against Caribbean Under-17 champion Damien Da Silva in an exhibition match at the Georgetown Club on Monday.
In the other exhibition match, Caribbean Under-19 Andrea King also had a 2-1 victory over baby sister Kristina, who is the Caribbean Under-17 champion.
Playing on court one, Fernandes and Da Silva gave the spectators a good show in their best-of-three match.
Da Silva who celebrated his birthday on the said day, opened with a 9-4 victory in the first game, but the 20-year-old Fernandes rebounded after the break to claim the final two games.
Fernandes opened the second set with a number of creative shots that had Da Silva in a mad scramble to get the ball, but he failed on most occasions, losing 9-0 to Fernandes. She claimed the third game by a 9-2 margin after breaking for a three-love score in the opening minute.
A number of powerful backhand and forehand shots ensured her victory. She also displayed incredible speed, agility, flexibility and endurance, some of the characteristics that the big built Da Silva lacked.
Earlier, Kristina claimed a narrow 10-9 victory over Andrea in the first game, but the latter showed her worth and claimed the two games that followed. Andrea won 9-5 in the second and 9-1 in the third.
The exhibition encounters billed as the ‘Clash of Champions’ was organised by Demerara Distillers Limited, sponsors of Fernandes, and manager/coach Bobby Fernandes.
Fernandes landed the sponsorship after being very impressive over the year and sports the Diamond Mineral Water logo.
The match was a warm-up for Nicolette who left today for Barbados to take part in the Senior Caribbean Squash Championships from August 21 to 30.