Tennis players aim for ITF ranking

The long anticipated 2009 DIGICEL International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Tournament has begun to showcase Vincentian, regional and international tennis talent during the first four days of competition.{{more}}

Hosted by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association (SVGTA), the 2009 DIGICEL ITF represents the largest Tennis event in SVG for the calendar year. Over ninety international and over forty national players are competing for valuable international ranking points.

This year represents a significant milestone for junior Tennis in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as more Vincentian players will participate in the 2009 DIGICEL ITF than any other single ITF event ever, and will have the opportunity to become internationally ranked by the ITF.

An unprecedented eleven Vincentian junior Tennis players achieved placement in the Boys Under-18 Main Draw and five players in the Girls Under-18 Main Draw. The Boys U18 Main Draw players are Jon-Francis Clifton, Myles Dalrymple, Fabrice George, Kevin Huggins, Shane Huggins, Felipe King, Shane Latchman, Daryl McLeish, Dujoh Ollivierre, Johnathan Perry, and Luc Velox.

The girls Main Draw players include Rhiana Bruce-Lyle, Danielle Cupid, Siara Sibblies-Goodluck, Michelle Gun-Munro and Symich Ollivierre. Seven Vincentians earned positions in the Boys Under-14 Main Draw after two days of round robin play. These players include Brandon Benn, Cortland Bunyan, Julio Francis, J’rai Joyette DaSilva, Anton Lewis, Zachary Williams and Marley Young.

The Boys Under-14 Consolation Draw includes Vincentians Troy Bullock, Kasani Culzac, Jymann Deroche, Chad Francis, Kyle Hall, Alex Harry, Leopold Joyette, I-mani King, John Richards and Justin Robinson. In the Girls Under-14, Daneya Charles and Halima Michael earned positions in the Main Draw after round-robin play while Kentasha Bullock, Sashaw Dublin, Roberta Haslam, Samesha St. Hillaire and Paige Veira will play in the Consolation Draw.

The National Tennis Centre in Villa, venue for this DIGICEL international event, was donated by the Taiwanese government in 2000. Spectators have been treated to the highest levels of international junior Tennis each day. The tournament will conclude on Saturday, August 15th.