Jamaica’s top players will be hoping to stamp their class when the JMMB Jamaica International Invitational Junior Tennis tournament begins this morning at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, Picadilly Road, at 9:00.

The Jamaicans, who have not matched the playing class of their overseas opponents for many years, will now have to produce their very best in order to upset other more experienced competitors.

The Jamaican players have not been as frequent on the circuit as their overseas counterparts, who have been on the junior circuits in the Caribbean.

However, Jacob Bicknell, the top-ranked local player on the junior circuit in the Under-18 boys’ section, is expected to the lead the Jamaicans charge, while Emma Dibbs will lead the girls. Ilana Broderick, the most experienced Under-18 player should also be one to watch as a dangerous contender if she gets going.

Meanwhile, the top seed in the 18-and-under boys’ is American Brian Shi, with Edson David Ortiz Tovar, Dimitri Bird and Kyle Frankel of Aruba making up the top four.

The Under-18 boys’ and girls’ matches will be played at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, while the boys’ and girls’ 14-and-under matches will be played at the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Sports Club.