THE island’s top senior players are expected to participate in the sixth staging of the Jamaica National (JN) Open Tennis Championships for men and women slated December 3-10 at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.

At yesterday’s press launch, Tournament Director Llockett McGregor, in his overview of the eight-day tournament, announced that last year’s singles champion Rowland “Randy” Phillips and Shane Knight.

It is understood that Phillips has been playing on the professional circuit in the United States in a number of Futures Tournaments that have world ranking points at stake.

According to McGregor, some of Jamaica’s top men’s players, such as three-time champion Damion Johnson who lost to Phillips in last year’s final, Dwayne Pagon, Yussuf Migoko, Jeremy Miller, and several others, are expected to take part.

On the women’s singles side, Jamaica’s top senior player, 14-year-old Micheala Stephens, who is also the island’s top junior player, will headline the list.

“This is the biggest open tennis tournament in the island and we are very pleased Jamaica National has come aboard for the sixth-consecutive year of sponsorship,” McGregor said.

He said so far 43 players have entered the men’s open singles, 12 in the women’s, while 25 players will compete in Class Two and 20 in Class Three of the amateur section. There will also be a men’s and women’s doubles open competition.

Meanwhile, the winner of the men’s open singles will receive $200,000 and the Jamaica National championship trophy, while a trophy and $100,000 will go to the runner-up.

The losing semi-finalists will each receive $50,000, while players who reach the quarter-finals will collect $25,000.

Players advancing to the round of 16 will get $12,000 each.

For the women’s singles champion, the prize consists of $70,000 along with a trophy, while runner-up goes home with $35,000. The losing semi-finalists walk away with $17,500 each.

The men’s doubles winners will receive $20,000 and the runners to share $10,000, the same as the women’s.

Meanwhile, Michael Collins, sales development and training specialist of JNBS, said his company is pleased to be associated with the tournament for a sixth-straight year.

“Since our sponsorship we have witnessed the wealth of talent our local players possess, along with the level of impact it makes on their journey as they become competitive and professional players,” Collins said

“We extend congratulations to the organisers of the JN Open Tennis Championships for what we anticipate will be a highly competitive and exciting one,” he added.

Speaking also were John Bailey, president of Tennis Jamaica, and George Edwards, general manager of Liguanea Club.