FIFTEEEN Jamaicans have qualified for the main draw of the boys’ and girls’ Under-18 singles at the 2016 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Jamaica International Invitational Tournament which begins tomorrow at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre in Cross Roads.

This will be one of the toughest tournaments of the year for the Jamaicans, who will be playing against players who are ranked much higher on the Junior World Ranking Circuit.

Nine boys and six girls, who are Jamaican’s top players, will compete in the Under-18 main draw after yesterday’s qualifying round of matches.

The Jamaican boys in the main draw in the Under-18 are Jacob Bicknell, Luke Quaynor, Andrew Bicknell, Louis Quaynor, Kyle Martin, Cliff Dwyer, Myles Harrison, Jason Lawson, and Gregory Spencer.

The girls in the main draw of the 18-and-under singles are Llana Blackwood, Emma Dibbs, Selena Blythe, Hayley McNair, Leah Smyle, and Shea-Ann Kameka.

Meanwhile, Jacob Bicknell is the only top-ranked Jamaica in the boys’ main draw at 1033 in the world juniors, while in the girls, Dibbs is ranked at 2034.

According to tournament director, David Sanguinetti, the Jamaicans are expected to have some stiff competition among the overseas players who have been playing and gaining points on the Junior circuit.

“We hope that some of the Jamaicans can get their act together and pull through over their more experienced opponents, but it won’t be easy, although they are very promising,” Sanguinetti said.

He added that it’s a long time the Jamaicans have not performed well in the boys’ and girls’ Under-18 singles against the overseas players. “The overseas players will certainly have the advantage as they have been playing quite regular on the junior circuit playing in more tournaments than our local players.”

The overseas players participating in Jamaica’s leg will come from the United States of America (USA), Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Panama, Zimbabwe, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago (TTO), the Cayman Islands, St Lucia, and Aruba.

Players are looking to pick up valuable points on the World Junior Circuit, which has a number of tournaments, at least nine in the Caribbean countries, Central and South American, the USA, and in Europe.

Points earned from the many tournaments will allow a player to participate in the big World Junior Rosebowl Championships held each year in Miami, Florida.

Meanwhile, in yesterday’s qualifying matches, Jamaica’s Alex Rose beaten 6-0,6-2 by Lucas Bueno of Brazil; Ryan Cox of Jamaica lost to Lorenzo Guidi of Argentina 6-0, 6-0; and Mario Campbell lost 6-2, 6-1 to Milledge Cossu of the USA.