The Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA) has announced that it has been chosen to host the International Tennis Federation Junior Championships from November 12 – 19. Over 200 persons, including players, coaches and supporters from around the world, will be coming for the tournament. There will be 80 juniors competing, with 50 seniors in an additional event, plus coaches, parents and supporters.
Karl Hale will be the Director of the ITF Tournament to be held in Anguilla. He has an accomplished tennis history. He played competitive tennis internationally, participated as a player and coach in the Davis Cup for Jamaica and is a former Fed Cup Coach for Canada. In 2007, Karl was World #1 player over 40. In 2006, he was named PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) Pro of the Year. He is the Rogers Cup Toronto Tournament Director which is the largest one-week tournament in the world. He will be organising the marketing for the tournament and providing the referees.
Hale said: “We are excited to have Anguilla as part of the ITF Caribbean Tennis Circuit. Anguilla has one of the best tennis venues at the Anguilla Tennis Academy. We look forward to working with the ATB, industry partners, Mitch Lake and his team to make this tournament one of the largest and most prestigious tennis events in the Caribbean.”
Mitchelle Lake, Founder and President of the ATA, said that one of the aims of the Academy has always been to bring ITF level tournaments to Anguilla. He observed: “We are thrilled about the opportunity to partner with Karl Hale, and the Anguilla Tourist Board, to host the ITF Junior Championships at our facility. This event is an important milestone for both the ATA and Anguilla. We also look forward to working with all industry partners to make this tournament a success.”
There will be two wild cards available for Anguillian players. A local tournament will be played prior to the event and the winner will take one wild card. The other wild card will be given to the winner of a one-day regional qualifier tournament that will be held in Anguilla on November 11. Mr. Lake said that on November 12 the PTR, the largest international coaching body, will be conducting a junior certification clinic. Also on that day, with the theme “Anguilla Tennis Day,” the tennis pros will conduct a free tennis clinic, in the morning, for interested children in order to promote tennis.
At the announcement of the tournament, Parliamentary Secretary Cardigan Connor, who has responsibility for tourism and sport, said the ITF tournament is a great opportunity for sports tourism and the young players in Anguilla. He congratulated Lake on the tremendous job he has done in founding the ATA and for its success over the years. He urged him to continue with the good work and promised cooperation from the Tourist Board and the Government.
Marvin Hazell, President of the National Tennis Association of Anguilla, noted that the local Association’s affiliation to ITF had enabled the tournament. He said the tournament will bring exposure to tennis players, and to Anguilla in general, and that the Association was grateful for the opportunity to host such an event.
Chris Wade, from T Bar M Racquet Club in Dallas, Texas, is a tennis coach who has been associated with the ATA for many years. He said that they had been planning such an event for many years and he hoped the tournament will inspire young players in Anguilla to reach the next level. The ATA is one of the best facilities in the Caribbean, but Lake said there will be certain upgrades carried out during the next few months to make it even better and ready for the tournament.
