Bruce takes Over-35 singles title
Guyana Chronicle
April 5, 2004
NATIONAL coach John Bruce and convener of the Pegasus Open tennis tournament claimed a two-set victory over Godfrey Lowden to take the Men’s Over-35 years singles title on Saturday.
Bruce won 6-2, 6-4 in the match that took approximately one hour to complete.
Though not at fast-paced action in front of the scanty spectators, and interrupted by the constant booming of the sound system, screaming by the rum drinkers at the back of the hotel and screams by the children on the seawall, Bruce held his nerves, though sometimes faltering.
Bruce had taken a simple 6-2 first set victory with easy returns that baffled Lowden.
Lowden then took the first point in the second set, but Bruce levelled the score at one-all, then broke for two straight points, to go up 3-1.
Lowden, however, broke and took the second point at 2-3 then Bruce, not to be outdone went up 4-2, but Lowden broke back 3-4. Bruce then claimed the other point to go up 5-3.
The see-saw battle saw Lowden moving up to 4-5, but Bruce eventually came out victorious to take the game and the title.
Lowden’s failure was largely due to his first serve, which he often faulted on, thus forcing him to give a simple second service, not to squander any more points.