St Vincent and the Grenadines has stepped up to the challenge of meeting the International Tennis Federation’s demand for eight courts for the upcoming junior tournament to be held here from this Friday.{{more}}

And, with the host venue for the Vincentians’ leg of the junior circuit being the six-court National Tennis Centre at Villa over the years, the Grassroot Tennis Club at Murray’s Road will pick up the slack and provide their two distinctive blue courts and other amenities for the week-long tournament.

Making this announcement was President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association Anthony Mc Kenzie, at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Milo Grassroot Tennis Centre Junior Tennis Tournament, last Saturday.

A relieved Mc Kenzie said: “We are proud to announce that Grassroot will be helping us with that tournament, as the requirement now stipulates that we need an additional two courts to handle the Under-14’s and Grassroot will be stepping in and this will in part be the home of the St Vincent (and the Grenadines) ITF tournament.”

The local tennis head also complimented the GTC for its continued progress in ensuring that the junior tennis programme stays on course.

Mc Kenzie’s announcement delighted head of the GTC Grant Connell, who stated, “It is great news to hear from the president that the Grassroot Tennis Club will rise to the occasion.”

Connell disclosed that the GTC immediately will be working feverishly to have their courts spruced up in time for the tournament.

The GTC head used the occasion to have a presentation of six footballs to Maxwell Bennett, to assist him in the Max Strikers football programme, which has been taking place in Calliaqua for the past twelve years.

The ITF tournament will see about 100 participants from around the world, along with approximately 30 locals, competing for honours in both the Under-14 and Under-18 categories, for both males and females. (RT)