Guyana’s hope of capturing an individual title at the 14th Annual Mount Gay Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships were shattered on Sunday night when the country’s final hope, Nicolette Fernandes bowed out to her Jamaican nemsis, Merlene West in three straight games at the Barbados Squash Club, Marine Gardens, Hastings .

National men’s champion Shawn Badrinauth who was beaten by number two seed Nick Kyne of Bermuda in a men’s semi-final fixture on Saturday night, defeated Trinidad’s Paul DeVerteuil 9-11, 9-3, 9-4, 9-6 on Sunday night in the men’s third place play-off, while Canadian based Guyanese Max Weithers defeated Barbados’ Gavin Cumberbatch in the men’s fifth place play-off.

Fernandes fought gamely for 22 minutes in game one, but eventually went down 10-8 to the Jamaican and now four-time ladies champion. Game two however only lasted 10 minutes and ended 9-6 in West’s favour, while in game three which ended 9-2, it took West a mere six minutes to dispose of her rival.

When it was over, West jumped off the ground in jubilation and became visibly emotional, while Fernandes who was emotional also, stood on court in utter disbelief. On coming to herself, Fernandes went to her parents, relatives and friends who were present and was comforted.

Asked by Stabroek Sport what went wrong with her game, where she thinks she faltered, Fernandes, still in disbelief, could only muster, “I don’t know.”

The local squash ‘Queen’ however promised to give Stabroek Sport a comment on her game yesterday. West said she is overjoyed at successfully defending her title, and agreed that Fernandes has improved tremendously.

She said she was a bit worried during the first two games, especially the second when Fernandes had a 6-2 lead on her, but she said when she broke Fernandes’ serve and levelled the score at 6-6, she knew she could have pulled it off.

In the first game, West went ahead after the two players changed serve on a number of occasions, but Fernandes held her own and after 15 minutes of play, the score read 6-4 for West.

The two players continued some long rallies with Fernandes using lots of power in her shots while West was content on staying at the back and return the relatively easy balls.

There were a few occasions when West was drawn to the front court, and when she countered with drop shots, she caught Fernandes sleeping at the back court.

Game two saw Fernandes opening the account first and taking the score to 6-2 in her favour, but thereafter, her game blew up and she looked lost on court.

At times, after losing a point, she looked in the direction of her parents, probably for support.

West, sensing what was happening, turned on the heat, drew level; at 6-6 and went on to win. In game three, West led 6-0 before Fernandes won a point, but with the pressure of wanting to win foremost for Guyana, then her parents and herself, it was too much to do and she folded.

In other results that featured Guyanese players, Canadian based Julian Chin beat Trinidad’s Ryan Abraham 7-9, 9-3, 9-4, 9-3 to place third in the men’s plate.

The team championships got underway yesterday at the same venue and will end on Saturday.