Money at stake as tennis stars bow into pro series
SEVERAL of Jamaica’s top senior and junior tennis players will be on a quest for the top cash awards at the inaugural staging of the 2017 Damion Johnson Men’s and Women’s Professional Series to be held March 10-12 at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, Picadilly Road, Cross Roads.
SEVERAL of Jamaica’s top senior and junior tennis players will be on a quest for the top cash awards at the inaugural staging of the 2017 Damion Johnson Men’s and Women’s Professional Series to be held March 10-12 at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, Picadilly Road, Cross Roads.
Tournament director, David Sangunetti said the tournament should be very competitive and interesting as the players hunt cash prizes.
He revealed that the winner of the men’s singles will walk away with a cash award of $150,000 and the championship trophy, while the losing finalist is set to receive $70,000 and a trophy.
The losing semi-finalists will both receive $35,000, while the losing quarter-finalists will pick up $15,000 each.
Meanwhile, the winner of the women’s singles will walk away with $70,000 and the championship trophy, while the losing finalist will collect $30,000 and a trophy, with the losing semi-finalists collecting $15,000 each.
Damion’s elder brother Demar will be back in Jamaica for the tournament.
In the men’s singles main draw with 32 players, Damion Johnson enters as the top seed, followed by Dwayne Pagon, Jeremy Miller and Matthew Rodriques.
Young sensation Blaise Bicknell, who is currently overseas participating in the Level Three tournament in Costa Rica, may be available for the Jamaica money series.
The women’s singles has attracted 16 players with Ffiona Fletcher to be the top seed, followed by Pauline Hylton and Jenna Harrison.
Meanwhile, Michaela Stephens will be absent from this tournament as the number one female singles player in Jamaica. She is currently on a tennis scholarship at Douglas Burke’s Ace Tennis Academy in Canada.
The sponsors are the Gore Family Foundation, Mayberry Investment Limited, Purenational Ice, Lee Fifth Avenue, and Event Entertainment and Services, and being endorsed by Tennis Jamaica.
