The ITF (International Tennis Federation) and COTECC Central America and Caribbean Tennis Confederation) Tobago Carnival Cup will start today at the National Racket Centre, Orange Grove Main Road, Tacarigua.
Over the next two days there will be group stage action in the 12 and under and 14 and under categories in the COTECC sanctioned competitions and singles for boys who qualify in the ITF 18 and under category over the next two days.
The main draws will take place from Monday to Friday, and the third and final tournament in the three-week series, the ITF/COTECC Trinity Cup, will begin next week on Saturday. The first part of the circuit, ITF Summer Bowl, ended yesterday.
Jordane Dookie, winner of the First Citizens Young Player of the Year award, came within five points in the semi-finals on Wednesday and she will once again lead the T&T challenge.
Ella Carrington – who also reached the Summer Bowl quarterfinals – Cameron Wong, Charlotte Ready and last year’s Eastern Qualifying Tournament champion Aalisha Alexis were the other players in the country’s draw as of press time.
Only Christopher Roberts and Sebastian Sylvester were in the boys’ main draw as of press time, and the other 12 T&T participants—B’Jorn Hall, Nathen Martin, Thomas Chung, Ethan Wong, Deron Dumas, Jaylon Chapman, Luca De Noon, Shae Millington , Alex Chin, Ready’s twin brother Nicholas, Sylvester’s brother Beckham and Byng brothers Sebastien and Zachery are expected to be in the qualifying draw.
Leading the way for the host nation in the other categories are Abba Campbell-Smith and Kale Dalla Costa, who won the 12 and under and 14 and under singles and doubles titles respectively at the Sagicor International Youth Tournament in St Lucia two days ago. .
Campbell-Smith’s sister Em-Miryam was runner-up in the 14s doubles and doubles champion in St Lucia, but at 14th at COTECC, she is a distant second in the competition behind top-ranked Mexico’s Hanne Estrada . surprisingly is back in her age group after moving up to the 18 and under division and beating her four opponents en route to the Summer Bowl crown yesterday.
First service today is 9 am
