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Welcome to the May edition of Anthony Jeremiah's newsletter, where you will find information on:

• ITF Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas
• ITF World Junior Tennis Competition
• Davis Cup by BNP Paribas
• Play and Stay
• ITF Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI)
• Players acknowledgement

Development Events Calendar

14-17 April: Inaugural Schools Tennis Competition, Bahamas
26 April: Community Outreach Programme: Play and Stay, Trinidad and Tobago
27 April-3 May: Final qualifying round ITF Team Event, (Boca Raton) USA
15-21 June: Bank of Bermuda Foundation ITF Junior Circuit G5, Bermuda
22-28 June: Bahamas ITF Junior Circuit G4, Bahamas

ITF Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas

A hat trick for Bahamas girls after winning the pre-qualifying round of the Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, defeating El Salvador 2-1 in a tie that lasted 7 ½ hours in the Dominican Republic from 23-28 March. I would like to wish the team all the best at the qualifying round in Boca Raton USA. To view the results please see http://www.cosat.org/torneos.html

ITF World Junior Tennis Competition

Congratulations to the Bahamas boys who also performed well and were runner-up at the World Junior Tennis Competition, which was held in El Salvador from 6-11 April.

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas

Americas Group 3 & 4 of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas was held at the Maya Country Club (El Salvador) from 22-26 April 2009. Aruba and Bermuda were promoted to Group 3 in 2010. For more information and further results please click on the following link: www.daviscup.com 

Play and Stay

The Community Outreach Programme (Play and Stay) concluded on Sunday 26th April in Trinidad and Tobago, after seven weeks of introducing tennis in the Morvant/Laventille community using the red balls. At the closing ceremony of the first stage of the programme, which moves to another venue from June 7th 2009 for eight weeks, children were honoured with certificates and medals for sportsmanship and improvement. More information is available www.tennistt.com

ITF Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI)

It was a buzz of excitement when the Federation Haitienne de Tennis organized their mini-tennis finals held in Petit Goave (Haiti) from 16-17 May 2009. The competition drew sixteen (16) of the best children from eight (8) provinces, who performed with excellent form (work ethics, discipline, determination) and the focus of a successful outcome. For more information and highlights of the event please click on www.fht.ht

The Inaugural Schools Competition organized by the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association and coordinated by Mr. Ricardo Bowe concluded on Friday 17th April. The event brought 27 schools from both primary and high schools throughout Nassau to compete over four days. For further information on the competition please visit www.jonesbahamas.com

The Cayman Islands started a Junior Circuit in December 2008, which ends in June 2009. The event sponsored by Diamonds International includes three ranking tournaments for children aged 10, 13 and 16 & under at different venues throughout the island that will conclude with a masters. For further information please check the following website: www.caymanjuniortenniscircuit.blogspot.com 

Players' acknowledgement

I would like to acknowledge the outstanding performances of Simone Pratt (BAH) and Franz Sydow (ARU) at the Junior Davis Cup / Junior Fed Cup and the World Junior Tennis Competition by BNP Paribas. Simone breezed past her opponents without dropping a set, while Franz lost one match to the eventual winner Stephan Berger (GUA) in three sets 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 at the Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. Further results are available on http://www.cotecc.org.sv/contenido/index.html

Links

ITF Coaching: www.itftennis.com/coaching  
ITN: www.itftennis.com/itn/  
ITF Development: www.itftennis.com/development
ITF Tennis...Play and Stay website: www.tennisplayandstay.com/  
ITF Store: https://store.itftennis.com/home.asp?lid=3
ITF WWCC: www.itfcoachesconference.com/2009/  

By Anthony Jeremiah, ITF Development Officer for the Caribbean