Douglas Burke Invitational Tennis Doubles Series serves off today
THE inaugural staging of the 2016 Supligen/Serge Island Douglas Burke Tennis Doubles Series for primary, prep and high school boys and girls will be held today and tomorrow at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, beginning at 8:00 am each day.
Chairman of the Douglas Burke Invitational Doubles Series, Arthur Phillpotts, said they have decided to do a doubles series because of the number of singles tournaments out there in the marketplace.
“Hosting a doubles tournament gives more children the opportunity to play, because you get twice the number of children on the same number of courts,” he said.
He noted that children in Jamaica are not exposed to playing doubles, as it is strategically and technically different playing and serving to two players. “It is also a teamwork game where you have to work with you partner.”
Phillpotts said the tennis doubles series will feature primary, prep and high school boys and girls participating in various categories (age-groups). These categories are 10-and-under mini tennis (Unisex); 12-and-under boys and girls dot ball event, 14-and-under boys and girls hard ball, and 18-and-under boys and girls hard ball and girls open dot ball.
Meanwhile, Tournament Director David Sanguinetti said several of Jamaica’s top junior players have already committed their participation, especially in the ‘Elite’, second which is the 18-and-under boys and girls.
They are Kyle Martin, Damani Cain, John Azar Jr, Mario Campbell from SOS Montego Bay Village, Cole McNair, Daniel Azar and Delano Reeves in the boys’ section; while in the girls’ section are Michaela Stephens, Selena Blythe, Moesha Fox, Kobi Wilcott, Abigail Perue, Shea-Ann Kamika and Haley McNair.
He also said a team of five players from the SOS Montego Bay Village are also expected to participate in the doubles series.
Marketing manager of Seprod Group of Companies, Matthew Samuda, said that Supligen/Serge Island is elated to partner with Tennis Jamaica and the Douglas Burke Invitational Doubles Series for the first time.
“This partnership underscores Seprod’s commitment to youth development in Jamaica,” Samuda noted.
Douglas Burke is a former Davis Cup national representative and one of Jamaica’s top tennis players. He was also coach of many of the country’s players and teams to several international tournaments at home and overseas as coach and non-playing captain.
