Junior tennis to get $4M facility

This was announced during the launch of the 13th annual IBM/ITF International Junior Circuit Tennis Tournament at Tranquillity Tennis Club, Victoria Avenue, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.

And Anthony Agostini, secretary of the Tennis Patrons Association (TPA) said the six-court facility to be built at a cost of approximately $3 million to $4 million will be built in North Trinidad

According to Agostini, the TPA has suggested five locations in the North at which construction of the facility can take place.

But he noted however government will make the final decision on any of the proposed venues, or whether they will have the six-court Junior Tennis Club built on a location of their choice.

The TPA secretary said government are yet to decide on whether they will sponsor or fund the entire project, which will determine the amount of control they will have on the facility.

The new set of courts are being erected for the juniors to make up for the loss of two facilities at PSA grounds, Long Circular Road, St James, and at the Princes Building grounds.

Agostini said disappointingly, in addition to their removal from the PSA facility, the junior tennis players are often pushed aside by older members of clubs in order “to get a sweat.”

Meanwhile, the country’s top players including number one seed Yolande Leacock will square-off with participants worldwide when the IBM-sponsored Junior Tennis Circuit serves off on Monday at two venues, Trinidad Country Club, Maraval, and Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Mucurapo.

Agostini said the Under-14s will compete at the Country Club, and the Under -18s will do battle at the complex.

Approximately 63 boys from 32 countries have already registered in the Under-18 category while 48 girls will contest the girls series in that age group.

Leacock a finalist last year, will team up with number two ranked Olivia Bennett in the Under-18 girls.

This year’s the tournament will be the second leg of a three-part Caribbean Circuit, the first of which will be played in neighbouring Barbados later this week.

It begins with the qualifying series on Saturday and Sunday to be followed by the main draw on Monday, featuring 23 boys and 22 girls.

IBM general manager Clyde Alleyne said his company has increased their sponsorship by $10,000 this year from $40,000 last year.

But he struck a sad note when he said he was not sure about future funding and said his company has been happy to have been the sponsors of the competition for the past years.

ITF development officer for the Caribbean Anthony Jeremiah said, tournaments like the IBM/ITF Tennis Circuit has helped to improve the ranking of players in the region and therefore it was important that the competition continues.

Players expected at the tourrnament will come from Portugal, Switzerland, USA, Venezuela, Brazil, Belgium and Canada.