The Tribune

By AMAJAHL KNOWLES

THE BLTA Junior National Championships got underway yesterday at the National Tennis Centre. The tournament, a showcase for some of the top budding tennis prospects in the country, allows them to compete against each other.

BLTA officials lamented that the tournament got off to a wonderful start and they are optimistic about the matches that are scheduled to take place throughout the week.

“It has been a wonderful tournament so far, the weather has cooperated, more importantly we have had excellent participation, we have participants from throughout the country. Eleuthera and of course Grand Bahama has brought a strong contingent and of course the level of play is extremely high,” said BLTA vice president Omar Smith.

Smith also mentioned some of the notable local tennis players competing in the week-long tournament and said that he is optimistic about the future of tennis in The Bahamas.

“We have Iesha Sheppard who is one of the top players within the region, we also have Gabrielle Donaldson who is a national team player and top ranked amongst females and a national team member, and in the boys we have Joshua Turnquest and all of our top players are playing well but they’re also being challenged which is a good thing because this shows that tennis in The Bahamas is strong and it’s on the rise,” said Smith.

Smith also said that he is optimistic about the state of tennis in the Bahamas due to incentives put in place by the BLTA.

“We have put a few new initiatives in place, including a programme here at the National Tennis Centre which has made a big difference in the quality of the tennis being played. Tennis had some issues in the past on the administration level and when you have to deal with things like that it leaves you with little resources and time to put into expanding the game but thankfully with the help of a lot of people we have been able to get those issues for the most part behind us and for the past two years we have been headed in the right direction and we are on the brink of some bold new initiatives including a national development academy to identify the top players in the Bahamas and have them here under high level coaching,” said Smith.

On the court in first day action, top seed in the girls’ 16-and-under division Iesha Sheppard advanced to the next round, defeating Afrika Smith in sets 6-2 and 6-1, and second seed Gabriela Donaldson advanced to the next round, winning both sets 6-0.

In the girls’ under-12, top seed Emma Weech advanced by defeating Kaylee Kunaka in both sets 6-0.

In the boys’ 14-and-under division, top seed Donte Armbrister advanced with a victory over Denail Nottage in both sets 6-0.

However, there was an upset in the boys’ 18 division as top seed Wayne Russell fell to Joshua Turnquest, losing both sets 6-0.