The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALL of the country’s elite players are expected to be home next week to compete in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s Giorgio Baldacci Battle of the Elite Players Open Nationals Challenge.

The event is scheduled to be held at the National Tennis Center December 15-22 with a total of $500.00 in prize money being offered.

BLTA president Derron Donaldson said they are so excited about the tournament because there won’t be any exemption for players.

“It’s mandatory that any player who is on subvention, seeking subvention or seeking to be on any of our national teams that will travel next year, they have to participate in this tournament, so I expect for everybody to be participating,” Donaldson said.

“We have already seen some of the entries and from what we have gotten so far, all of the top players will be participating.

“We have over 15 players either on the elite or developmental subventions and so we expect that all of them will be participating. There will be no exception. We expect to see a lot of the top juniors trying to knock off the big heads like Kevin Major and Shaquille Taylor playing against players like Devin Munnings and Marvin Rolle and Danielle Thompson and Simone Pratt will be playing against senior players like Larikah Russell and Nikkita Fountain.”

Donaldson said based on the way the juniors have been performing, he anticipates that it will be a battle, as coined by their theme for the tournament, which is being held in memory of Baldacci, who was a major benefactor financially and as a coach for many of the players.

“The tournament is being held in memory of Giorgio, who helped and worked with many of the players,” Donaldson said. “So we know that a lot of the players are eager to come home and participate, if only to show their respect to him. So we know that it’s going to be an exciting tournament to watch.”

The deadline for entry into the tournament is set for 6pm Friday.

Entries can be hand delivered to the NTC or emailed to bltasecretary@hotmail.com.

The draw will take place during a players meeting on Sunday, December 16. Depending on whether or not there will be a need for a qualifying round, it will take place on Monday-Tuesday, December 17-18. If there is no qualifying round, the main draw will begin on Monday, December 17.

“We know the girls draw won’t exceed the 16 player field that we want.” Donaldson said. “We have a feeling that the girls will be a straight main draw. But we know the boys might exceed the field of 16, so if it does, we will take the top eight and put them in the main draw and the remaining eight will come out of the qualifying round that will be played on Monday and Tuesday.”

There will be doubles played for the first time in both divisions which, according to Donaldson, will only enhance the level of participation as the players will have something additional to look forward to.