MARIGOT—Top amateur female tennis players from around the world are arriving for the start of the 8th ITF-sanctioned International Women’s Tennis Tournament this Sunday, January 22, at the Tennis Club Ile de St. Martin, Albéric Richards Stadium, in Sandy Ground.
The tournament begins with qualifying rounds on Sunday and Monday. US$15,000 cash and prizes will be shared among the winners of the Singles and Doubles categories.
Some 50 players from numerous different countries are registered for the event, the maximum permitted is 56. Players use the tournament to improve their ranking points to progress to bigger tournaments and break into the top 200. Prize money is not the main motivation. Winning the tournament earns 20 points which translates into a rise in ranking by 15 to 20 points.
The top seeded player will be Chieh-Yu Hsu from Taipei, ranked 398 in the world and last year’s winner, France’s Irina Ramialison, ranked 405, is returning to defend her title.
The oldest player in the tournament is the American Sylvia Schenck at 54 years old.
The tournament referee is Jean-Patrick Reydelet, officiating for the first time and replacing Stéphane Apostolou who has done it for a number of years. Osé St. Gabriel, President of Tennis Club Ile de St. Martin, is the Tournament Director.
Sponsors of the tournament are the Collectivité of St. Martin, French Tennis Federation, Tennis Club Ile de St. Martin, GITEM, Jetset, Au Temps de Fleurs, Prime Distributors, Lacoste, Normedia, Getelec, Immodom, H&R Supply, Dreams Restaurant and Erick Ambulance.
Tennis fans are encouraged to come out and watch some high quality tennis. Entry to the tournament is free. The Doubles Final will be played on Friday, January 27, Singles Semi-finals on Saturday 28th at 3:30pm, and the Singles Final on Sunday, January 29, at 4:00pm.
The complete list of players can be viewed on itftennis.com
