X-Cel Tennis players get more regional exposure

The X-Cel Tennis Academy continues to ensure that its young players get as much exposure as possible on the regional circuit.

Last week Friday, the Academy sent off seven young players to be part of the St. Maarten Juniors Open, which completes this Sunday, July 12.{{more}}

Shane Latchman headed the team, which also included Julio Francis, Zachary Williams, J’ rai Joyette- Da Silva, Siara Goodluck, Dakota Goodluck and Khamisi Bascombe.

Latchman, Francis, Williams, and Joyette-Da Silva are fresh from the Bank of Bermuda tournament last month, in which all were able to enhance their rankings.

Latchman, the lone member of the team with an International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranking, has moved up to 1329 from 1471 prior to the Bermuda experience.

Latchman, playing in the Under-18 category, in reviewing the Bermuda outing, told SEARCHLIGHT that he was able to learn a lot, and facing the tournament’s number one seed helped in developing several aspects of his game, including his mental ability.

Francis, now has a Caribbean and Central America Tennis Confederation (COTEC) ranking, which was non-existent before the Bank of Bermuda tournament. He is ranked 51st in Under-14 age group.

He is using this tournament to make an upward movement.

Williams, who entered the Bank of Bermuda at number 36 has moved up to 29, and looked forward to even go further up the ladder.

Also out to move even further up the COTEC ranking is Joyette-Da Silva. The tall 14-year-old enhanced his status by nine places to 21, up from 30, after participating in the Bank of Bermuda tournament which ran from June 13 to 20, last.

But for Siara Goodluck , who also entered the Under-14 Girls play, she is on her first major tournament which she wants to use to garner experience. She is the St. Vincent and Grenadines number one at the Under-18 level.

The petite Bascombe and the Dakota Goodluck are mere camp followers, who are using the trip to get the feel of competitive tennis at a higher level.

Another Vincentian, Daneya Charles, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Girls Under-14 number one, but a member of another tennis school here, the Bonan Tennis School, left with the X- Cel contingent to be part of the Dutch Caribbean end of the ITF sanctioned tournament. Charles, the 2008 Junior Sportswoman, is 17th among the Under-14’s in the COTEC Rankings.

X- Cel Tennis has as its chief administrators Samantha Goodluck and Kebajah King. Goodluck accompanied the local squad as team Manager and Coach. (RT)