Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

JAMAICA'S TOP local tennis players, looking to force their way into the national team for the upcoming Davis Cup tournament, will get their shot when the BNS Top 16 Tennis Championships gets under way in a little over a week's time.

According to technical director of the sport, Douglas Burke, the tournament will be used as trials for the Davis Cup and will see all players, who ply their trade abroad, returning to the island to take part in the event.

"All our top players are expected to be here for the event and so it will give the players here a good chance to showcase their talent against the top players," Burke said.

Seeking group two spot

The Davis Cup will serve off from July 14-20 in Honduras. Jamaica will be attempting to climb back into Americas Zone Group Two after being relegated to Group Three last year. Among those expected to return for the trials are Dominic Pagon and Demar and Damion Johnson.

The BNS Top 16 tournament and the amateur leg of the tournament, the Bank of Nova Scotia Amateur Tennis Championship, now in its seventh year, were launched at the Liguanea Club this week. The Bank of Nova Scotia Amateur Tennis Championship, which will feature more than 100 local-based players, will get under way this weekend at the Liguanea Club. Despite a slight drop-off in entrants this year due to the tournament having been pushed to later in the year, tournament director Llockett McGregor thanked title sponsors Scotia for its continued involvement.

"On behalf of Tennis Jamaica, I must extend my thanks to Scotia. Their continued involvement has done wonders for the sport's continued development," McGregor said.

The tournament's amateur leg will serve off at the Liguanea Club tomorrow.