In a couple of days, the National Tennis Center will be buzzing as top ranked junior players prepare to compete in the Goombay Splash Bowl of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
The grade five tournament will be hosted by the local governing body for the sport - the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) - starting Friday, November 22. Some international players are expected to arrive in the capital today, with the others coming in between Wednesday and Thursday. During the two-week tournament, players will compete in either the under 14 or under 18 divisions for boys and girls. The qualifying rounds will start on Friday and the main draw swings into action on Monday. Bahamian players will have first preference to the wild card spots in both the under 14 and under 18 divisions.
There are four wild cards slots in the main draw and six in the qualifying rounds. According to BLTA President Derron Donaldson, requests for wild cards from international players are coming in. Donaldson said the BLTA will make a final decision by Tuesday. Bahamians not making the first cut for the main draw will be entered into the qualifying rounds. The main draw selections are based on international rankings as well as points earned at high level ITF tournaments. Points on the local end will also be considered, Donaldson noted.
"We have gotten a number of calls and emails from international players asking to be entered into the draw. These are quality and high ranking players, but we must give our players the opportunity to compete in this tournament," said Donaldson.
"This is a big tournament, being a grade five and sanctioned by the ITF. A lot of
juniors are excited to be a part of the tournament and are looking forward to playing here in The Bahamas. Bahamians will get first preference as far as the wild cards go. Our local players will also be among those entered into the qualifying rounds, trying to play their way into the main draw.
"The draw is going to be filled with top players all looking to earn more points. This tournament usually attracts the best junior players who are ranked high on the international level. We have players coming from as far as China, the United States of America, the Caribbean and other places, including Puerto Rico.
"The official draw will not be revealed until late Sunday. But the next couple days will be challenging ones for the executives in the BLTA as we will be very busy preparing, making sure that we are ready to show off our players and our ability to host high international tournaments."
Last year's winner and runner-up in the boys under 18 division, Bahamians Kevin Major Jr. and Shaquille Taylor, will return, according to Donaldson, who said Major Jr. is playing great tennis. Mikey Williams is the chief official, and Bradley Bain is tournament director.
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