The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Eight of the top women and 16 men are expected to participate in the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association's annual Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tennis Tournament at the National Tennis Centre next week.

The event, which is scheduled to run from Wednesday to Saturday, will be used by the BLTA to determine some of the players that will be selected to represent the Bahamas on the ladies' Fed Cup and the men's Davis Cup teams that will both play in June.

"I think it's going to be very competitive," said BLTA president Darnette Weir. "We have Baker Newman, Kevin Major Jr, Philip Major Jr, and Justin Lunn as our top four seeds, providing that they sign up to compete.

"Our criteria for the main draw started with the top ATP points ranking, then the ITF world-tour ranking and then the national rankings for the players as it pertains to the Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams. So it's going to be very competitive."

Based on the format, Weir said any player could suffer an upset from some of the other male players expected to participate like Rodney Carey Jr, Spencer Newman, Armbrister and junior sensation Jacobi Bain.

Collegian Justin Roberts, who has the highest Bahamian ranking at 757 in the ITF, will not be participating. According to Weir, Roberts will be exempted from participating in the tournament, but will automatically be named to the Davis Cup team based on his ranking, which is in the top 800.

As for the ladies' division, Kerrie Cartwright will be seeded No.1 having secured the top spot on the Fed Cup team this year.

She will be followed by Clarke, who was seeded No.3 on the team.

Danielle Thompson, who was the No.2 seeded player on the Fed Cup team, is not expected to participate this year.

But Weir said they are looking forward to the return of Grand Bahamian Simone Pratt, a former national champion.

Last year's tournament ended up with some controversy as players objected to the manner in which the main draw was staged and some of the top players opted not to continue playing.

Donte Armbrister went on to win the men's title over Justin Lunn, while Sydney Clarke claimed the ladies' crown over Sierra Donaldson.

Players will have until Tuesday to complete the mandatory signing process in order for the draw to be completed in time for the main draw play for the men on Wednesday.

There will only be a qualifying round for four players on the ladies' side.

"We want to avoid any problems with players not showing up, which affects the draw," Weir said. "So we have put in a mandatory signing process. Only players who sign up will play."

The men's 16-man draw will be single elimination and the ladies will play an eight-draw single elimination.

While the Fed Cup is scheduled for Panama in June, there is no venue set for the Davis Cup that will also take place in June.

The Bahamas will be playing in Group Two in the Fed Cup and Zone III in the men's Davis Cup.

"From this tournament, the men will be playing for the top two spots to join Justin Roberts on the Davis Cup team," Weir said.

"We would have another trial before June to select the other player.

"As it relates to the Fed Cup team, they will have a better advantage as the maximum we can send is five. For the men's team, we can only send four players."

The Giorgio Baldacci tourney will run from Wednesday to Saturday when the finals in both the ladies and men's divisions will take place.