James’ Pan Am qualifying charge ends in final-four defeat

Jamaica’s Declan James enjoyed a strong run at the Pan American Games Qualifiers, winning all his matches leading up to the semi-final.

James received a bye into the round of 32, where he defeated Guyana’s Daniel Carl Ince in straight sets, 11-7, 11-1, 11-3, in 25 minutes and three seconds.

The round-of-16 encounter proved more competitive, but James got the better of United States player Shahjahan Khan in four games. The scores were 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7. The match lasted 55 minutes and 34 seconds, with the longest game taking 14 minutes and 59 seconds.

James also advanced from the quarterfinal after defeating Guatemala’s Josue Enriquez in straight sets in 39 minutes and 19 seconds. He won 12-10, 11-2, 11-6, with the opening game providing his stiffest challenge as it lasted 18 minutes and 10 seconds.

His run came to an end in the semi-final, where he lost in straight sets to Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3, in 38 minutes and 32 seconds.

Cardenas entered the tournament ranked No. 12 in the world and second seed for the qualifier while James was ranked No. 23 in the world and third seed.

Jamaica’s Tahjia Lumley won his opening-round match in the round of 64, defeating Bermuda’s D’Vario Thompson 11-5, 11-6, 11-4. However, he exited in the round of 32 after a straight-sets defeat to Brazil’s Diego T. Gobbi, 11-7, 11-4, 11-3.

Chris Binnie did not complete his opening-round match in the round of 64.

Today marks the final day of the Pan American Games Qualifiers in Asuncion, Paraguay.