The Tribune

THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation’s 2018 Goombay Splash Bowl will get underway today at the National Tennis Centre.

Match play begins at 9am daily with both boys and girls’ doubles finals played on Friday and boys and girls’ singles finals on Saturday.

There will be international players from approximately twenty (20) nations expected to converge at the National Tennis Centre this coming week. Nations being represented are: USA, Japan, China, Canada, Egypt, Jamaica, Poland, India, Mexico, Barbados, Russia, India, Peru, Mexico, Turkey, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Estonia , Monaco and Spain.

Organisers have made the necessary preparations for this event and are ready to host and welcome participants for the 32-draw event for both boys and girls.

Amongst players participating is our very own top ranked female player (18U), both nationally and internationally, Sydney Clarke, who is currently ranked No. 324 on the ITF junior circuit.

Clarke is “fresh” off a trip to Antigua and Barbuda for an ITF Junior Tournament held this past week, where she emerged as a finalist in both the singles and doubles events.

Clarke also produced her best results ever this past summer on the ITF junior circuit with two singles wins, a singles finalist position, a doubles win and two doubles finalist positions. Clarke is ranked No. 1 in this Tournament.

On the boys’ side, our top ranked male player (18U), both nationally and internationally, Donte Armbrister is ranked 833 on the circuit and is the No. 3 seed in this tournament. He also had great results this past summer with two doubles finalists position on the ITF junior circuit.

Also participating in this tournament is another top male player Jacobi Bain, who was very successful this year in capturing both the singles and doubles win at the JITIC Championships (a top ITF tournament featuring players from the Caribbean and Central American region) held in El Salvador.

Other juniors participating in the main draw are: Elana Mackey, Sydni Kerr, Kori Bowe (Grand Bahama), Gabrielle Simms (Grand Bahama), Abigail Simms (Grand Bahama), Perjae Major, Kinza Johnson and newcomer Anthony Burrows.

The BLTA looks forward to an epic display of talent from the Bahamian juniors and extends to all of its participants best wishes as they continue to promote good sportsmanship and professionalism in junior tennis.

The tournament director is Wesley Rolle. The ITF Supervisor/Referee is Mickey Williams, assisted by George Baxter.

BLTA president Darnette Weir looks forward to another successful ITF 18-under event and thanks all those who have supported to make the tournament possible thus far and also to all those who will be working to ensure a smooth and successful tournament this coming week.