Jamaicans will have a tough challenge on their shoulders when they face overseas opponents as the 2010 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Jamaica Junior Invitational Tournament gets underway today at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, starting at 9:00 am.

This is the fifth stop on the ITF Junior Circuit where players are gunning for points to increase their world rankings in order to play in the prestigious Rosebowl Tournament this year, similar as to the US open.

Several of the players who arrived yesterday for the main draw of 32 in the boys and girls 18 and under singles have played in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guadeloupe and St Maarten, with Jamaica being the fifth of the circuit.

Play will be for boys and girls 18 and under, 14 and under and 12 and under singles, while doubles will only be for boys and girls 18 and under and 14 and under.

The Jamaicans, who have not played on the circuit this summer, are quite familiar as they played last year but will be playing against opponents whom they have never seen.

Despite the lack of exposure, the Jamaicans are expected to give a good account of themselves as they are hoping to advance to the next round.

It won’t be an easy task for the local-based players, as they will encounter more seasoned and experienced opponents in their respective age groups that are higher ranked.

Jamaica’s Daniel Harris and Sicquena Sinclair, winners of the Pan Caribbean Junior Tournament, will lead the local charge in the boys and girls singles.

The players who will be representing Jamaica in the boys 18 and under singles in the main draw today are Harris, Jordan Harris, Joseph Ross, Sheldon McIntosh, Michael Jones, Richard Blake, Ryan Simms and Ramone Doyley.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Jared Morgan earned himself a place in the main draw by winning his match in the Qualifying round with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) win over Jared Gordon-Martin of Jamaica yesterday.

Apart from Sinclair, Jamaica will have in the girls 18 and under singles action today Monique Hanson, Shantal Blackwood, Phadria Kepple, Shellita Haughton and Nicholene Bryan.

Andrew Ochotta of Canada and Pedro Gonzalez of Venezuela are the top ranked players in the boys 18 and under singles.

The two top world ranked players in the girls 18 and under singles are Julia Elbaba of the United States of America Fausthyara Pietersz of the Netherland Antilles at No 176 and 189, respectively.

HARRIS … will lead the local charge in the boys singles