TOP-seed and champion Damion Johnson is expected to defend his men’s singles title at the 2013 JN Open Amateur Tennis Championship, which gets under way this morning at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, starting at 9:00.

The tournament, which will run through to next Saturday, has received approximately 130 entries. Action is expected in five categories.

Johnson won the Men’s Open title when he defeated second-seeded Dominic Pagon in the final. It is expected that both could again square off in the final.

Meanwhile, Fion Fletcher, the defending champion for the Ladies Open, and Sherrifa Johnson who was beaten in the final last year, will not be participating for personal reasons.

The Men’s Open, that will certainly have the majority of the top local players in action, has 54 entries. The Ladies Open will have 14 entries, Class Two men’s will have 32 entries and Class Three men’s 24 entries.

Tinista Rowe and Shadae Findley are the number one and two seeds, respectively, in the Ladies’ Open singles.

Leighton Burton and Garth Darby are the number one and two seeds, respectively, in the Class Two men’s singles, while Andrez Coy and Terrence Forrester are the top-two seeds in the Class Three men’s singles.

Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) is sponsoring the championships for the fifth year, and has again committed to sponsor the Men’s Open event.

The winner will walk away with $150,000.

General manager of JN Fund Managers Limited, Brando Hayden, noted that the championship has served to refine the performance of the players over the years.

“Jamaica is a global powerhouse in track and field; we are also making strides in netball; despite appearances, we are still a force to be reckoned with in cricket… our country has an excess of talent, therefore we should continue to foster the development of our tennis players to take their place at the nets here, and on the tennis courts of the world,” Hayden said.

— GR