The Guyana Tennis Association recently launched its most anticipated competitive tournament of the year, the GBTI OPEN 2017. The start date of the event has been listed as Friday June 2nd. Scheduled for its 6th edition, the event is one that continues to attract the largest contingent of seasoned as well as novice local tennis players. Having committed this annual tournament to the GLTA during 2010, the bank still remains the sole provider of at least two tennis courts on which the GLTA can host its only tournament with the full complement of categories.
GBTI’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager Pamela Binda presents sponsorship cheque to GLTA’s Vice President Grace McCalman (L) and Secretary Oswin Coggins(R).
The two week long tournament will feature 13 categories: Men’s Open Singles and Doubles, Ladies Open Singles and Doubles, Men’s Over 35 Singles and Doubles, Men’s Over 45 Singles and Doubles, Mixed doubles, Junior Boys Open Singles, Junior Girls Open Singles and Novice Medley Singles and Doubles.
The Ladies Open Singles draw this year will lose last year’s finalist Nicola Ramdyhan who is currently training in Florida but the Men’s Open draw will benefit from a coinciding visit from top player Daniel Lopes who is also attending college in Florida.
The format for all categories except novice is best of three sets. The novice categories will play one set no advantage. The action gets underway from 17:00hrs every weekday of the competition and from 8:00hrs on weekends. Entrance forms have been distributed via all clubs and via the association’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/guyanatennisassociation. The Tournament Coordinator can be reached at 642-5672.
The Opening Ceremony for the tournament is set for 4:30pm on Friday June 2 immediately after which the first round matches will commence. The general public is invited and all players and officials are expected to be present.