Tennis Jamaica has big plans for this year

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

National tennis director, Douglas Burke, is looking forward to a productive 2010 from the country's top junior players in ITF international team competitions.

Speaking at a press briefing at the offices of Tennis Jamaica on Piccadilly Road on Friday, Burke said the country will be participating in two major world junior championships and he is expecting strong performances from his Under-14 team.

"I think we can be competitive, as we have competed in these events in the past with mixed results, and we have a number of talented youngsters," said an optimistic Burke.

"It's a tall order, but we will be taking part with the aim of putting our best foot forward and getting the results desired to continue moving the sport forward," he added.

The country's leading juniors are Roger Lyn and Olivia Chin in the 12 and under category, Alex Anderson and Shadae Findlay in the 14 and under, and Daniel Harris and Shellita Haughton in the 16 and under section.

individual competition

Camash Crumbie and Sicquena Sinclair, the nation's top 18 and under players, will compete in junior circuit individual competitions given that the age limits for the junior tournaments are 16 and under.

The first major regional junior competition will be the world junior 14 and under championship in Trinidad and Tobago, which will be held from March 29 to April 4.

They will then turn their attention to the more prestigious Junior Davis and Federation Cup tournaments in El Salvador from April 12-18.

"We will be back in the Under-14 competition, which we have not competed in for a while and for this we are particularly pleased," Burke said. He added that they are currently seeking funding for their projects.