By Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway
Jason McPherson and Olivia Freeman
Jason McPherson advanced to face Olivia Freeman in the Battle of the Sexes Tennis Tournament at the Long Look Educational and Tennis Center at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Undefeated McPherson defeated Anthony Glasgow, 4-2, 4-0, after also turning back Christian Wilson, Kemar Greene, Alex Jeffrey and Odane Lennon.
“This was an exciting event for players including me, because they all tried to be the No 1 player who will do battle against each other for battle of the sexes,” Coach Carol Mitchell told Island Sun Sports. “We had six men and three ladies fighting for the No 1 position. In the end, Olivia Freeman and Jason McPherson were the top players for men and women. So, on Wednesday, May 7, they will battle it out to see who reigns supreme.”
While McPherson was unavailable for comment, Freeman said she’s looking for a victory. “I think this year I’m just looking for more wins, showcasing more strategy, focusing on my play and doing my best without letting the nerves get to me,” she said. “Going in humble, but knowing that I’m a strong competitor and doing what I have to do to come out with the win.”
Playing a man, she said, doesn’t faze her as she sees him as another competitor, no matter the gender. “I’m still going in with the same mindset as playing the ladies and I’m hoping to come out with the same result as when I played the ladies,” she said, noting that she’d be happy to win. “I think the last tournament I played in 10 years ago, I didn’t come out with a win and the last tournament I did last year, I came second, so it’s like second place is following me, so I think a first place will make me feel really, really good and all my hard work would have finally paid off and I’ll be just content with myself and my performance.”
Since advancing, Freeman said she had been watching all the players and watching how McPherson plays so that she would know how to counteract his moves and just learning his strategy, in order to defend herself, based on the way he plays and strikes his scores.
“I think that I have a good idea of what to do to win against Jason,” she said.
Micthell said Freeman hits the ball deep and hard, something the McPherson doesn’t like and McPherson spins the ball, something that Freeman doesn’t like. “They each have their own weapon, so it’s really going to be exciting,” she said.
