Sanguinetti: Alyssa James is Jamaica’s top female tennis prospect

Tennis Jamaica tournament director David Sanguinetti believes Alyssa James is the island’s number-one female tennis prospect after she became the first Jamaican female to win an International Tennis Federation (ITF) event.

James beat Zoya Chulak of Canada 7-6, 6-3 to win the ITF Jamaican Junior International played here from July 18-23.

Sanguinetti said the 14-year-old showed good all-round application to take the title and he is encouraged by the fact that she has migrated overseas to focus on maximising her abilities.

“She is the first female to win an ITF event here and she has raised the bar in tennis locally. She was always good. She always did well in her age groups coming up, so it was no surprise about the level of her play. She is an excellent prospect with great potential and sooner or later she is going to make a Billie Jean King (female Fed Cup) team. Right now she is clearly is our number-one prospect,” he said.

He also thought she was really outstanding against some top players from all over the world.

“It is not easy to win these tournaments, but she is very focused, determined, has good mental strength and a good all-round game. She does not fall apart when the going gets tough, so she has all the attributes,” Sanguinetti said.

Two years ago, the young starlet’s parents decided to move abroad to help her in her tennis development and Sanguinetti said it was a wise move, as that is the best way for a Jamaican player to make it on the international circuit.

“For most of our players if they do not go abroad and train, it will be very difficult. She currently lives in Florida. She is now attending an academy there and this was the first time we saw her back on Jamaican soil (since she left).

“But if our players do not leave the country they do not get the chance to go to that next level because we do not have that opportunity or the resources,” he stated.

However, in order for her to keep developing at a high standard, she has to continue to compete consistently on a high level, he said.

“The significance of this victory is that there is a circuit of players from all over the world trying to get points because the more points you get the higher your ranking will be.

“These players are targeting the professional circuit, that is their goal. So as soon as one event is completed they will be off to another country to play and that is how they prepare the talent. It is important to play tournaments because it is one thing to practise, but to really hone your craft you need competition and that is how you know exactly where you are. We see some good potential in her going forward and I wish her good luck,” he said.