ALL is set for the third staging of the Mayberry Investments Limited Open Junior Tennis Championship which takes place this weekend following the tournament launch yesterday at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.

The two-day event serves off on Saturday morning at 9:00 and the finals are set to begin on Sunday at 2:00 pm. The competition will engage approximately 90 players — boys and girls in the age-group categories 10, 12, 14,

16, and 18. The players will not only be playing for a trophy, which is the grand prize, but also points that will add to their national ranking.

Anika Smith, assistant vice-president for Marketing at Mayberry Investments, presented a cheque for an undisclosed amount to Tennis Jamaica on behalf of Mayberry. Smith said Mayberry is proud to be partnering with tennis again, because while tennis is not one of Jamaica’s dominant sport, its importance, relevance and popularity is steadily growing.

“Focusing on junior players is an investment that will reap dividends in the future. This is our contribution to nation-building,” Smith said.

According to the organisers, the level of participation expected will lend credence to the growing level of support in Jamaica at the junior-level and will address the overall aim of boosting that level islandwide.

Tournament director Llockett McGregor thinks these events are motivation to young players who see tennis as a channel to excel academically and physically. He said it is always a pleasure for his organisation to say thanks to sponsors because they are the lifeblood of any tournament.

“What we need is more sponsorships and, when Mayberry came on board with this junior tournament, we were elated to have them come back again this year is fantastic.”