TORTOLA—The British Virgin Islands Lawn Tennis Association officials on Monday announced that 61 entries from eight different countries, have registered for the BVI Open Tennis Tournament which kicks off at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, at the Tortola Sports club in Pasea.
“Alphonso Warner Insurance Agency, has stepped forward and generously over the last two years, agreed to fully fund the prize for the men’s open division. Due to his generosity, we have been able to double the prize money in the men’s open division,” association president Henry Creque said, noting the winner will now bag $2,000. “We are looking for any company out there who is willing to assist us promoting women in sport, either to match his donation or help us to increase the women’s prize money.” The women’s winner will collect $1,000.
Some 30 of the 61 entries are from the BVI, with 21 coming from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bolivia and Puerto Rico are having first time entrants as well. “We are looking for four days of competitive tennis,” Creque said. “We are also looking for a very active “B” division, which is for local club players, who play for fun and exercise. We have a lot of entries in that division. They are going to have a lot of competition as well.” The “B” winner’s prize as well as the men’s and mixed doubles, is $500.
A new men’s champion will be crowned as defending champion Vernon Lewis of St. Lucia is skipping the tournament because of injury. Lewis ended Fitzroy Howse’s four year reign last year. “Fitzroy will have his hands full this year with Bolivia’s Davis Cup player Jose Antelo and Puerto Rico’s Juan Rios,” Creque said. “Lewis had signed up but a back injury is keeping him out of the tournament.”
Grenada’s Organization of Eastern Caribbean States champion Silma Phillips—who won the tournament several times—is returning after skipping the last two years. She has been installed as the top seed. Creque said Puerto Rico’s Vilma Matienzo and Virgin Gorda’s Haley Baker should be strong contenders. The BVI’s Musonda Poole is the defending champion. The top local players are expected to be Sheldon Walters, Dion Anselm and Percy Rhoden.
“What I like about the tournament this year is the balance,” Creque stated. “We have a number of good men and women players coming. In past years, I’ve found a strong men’s draw and the ladies draw not as good or vice versa. But this year, we have a strong balanced tournament.”
The Ladies and Men’s “B” finals are scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. The men’s “A” final goes off at 11:00 a.m. and the men’s and mixed doubles finals are scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
