NCB Open serves off

• Local officials expect quality matchups

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Tennis Jamaica vice-president, Aswad Morgan, says he is expecting some quality matchups when the National Commercial Bank Capital Markets Tennis Open serves off today at 3 p.m. at the Liguanea Club, New Kingston.

The tournament, which will offer a purse of US$20,000, the richest-ever in the country's history, will see a number of international and local players taking part, including ATP 512-ranked men's number one seed, Haiti's Oliver Sajous, and Belgium's 11th-ranked and women's number one seed, 20-year-old Machela Boev.

"Preparation has been excellent as all of what we planned and anticipated regarding a quality set of entrants have so far materialised," said Morgan.

"Our three top-seeded players with ATP rankings could have been elsewhere, as there are all types of other tennis events going on across the world.

"So we are happy that they chose us, which means that the quality of tennis should be really high," he declared.

Jamaica's challenge will be led by Davis Cuppers Damion Johnson, Dwayne Pagon, and Dominic Pagon in the men's division, while in the female segment much will be expected of Jamaica-born US-based Simone Vranov-Brown.

Also down to compete in the men's category are number two seed Nikita Kryvonos of the United States, number three seed Haydn Lewis of Barbados, and Canadian George Jecminek.

The semi-finals and finals in both singles and doubles will be contested on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, beginning at 3 p.m. each day. The men's winner will pocket US$6,000, runner-up US$2,250, semi-finalists US$1,000, and quarter-finalists US$500.

The women's winner is slated to earn US$1,000.

Other co-sponsors of the tournament include Jamaica Broilers, The Gleaner, TVJ, ATL Autohaus, and Jamaica Spring.

Devlin Mullings, last year's champion, will not be able to defend his title due to a recent surgery.