The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has again turned to the Malta Tennis Federation (MTF) to organise an international under-18 tournament, due to get underway today at the Marsa Sports Club, as part of its Juniors World Ranking programme.

This decision by the ITF to hand the organisation of this tournament to the MTF underlines the international body of tennis's recognition of the efforts by the MTF in successfully staging these tournaments in previous years, to the extent of bringing forward the event from the customary calendar date of July to March.

This month of play is early in the ITF tournament season, putting Malta at the forefront of luring first class junior player participation.

The tournament, sponsored by Farsons through Gatorade, will be played at the Marsa Sports Club, a venue that has become established on the ITF circuit for its adequate facilities.

A record number of foreign tennis players have declared their intent to take part in this tournament.

All this was made possible through the hard work of the Juniors' Section of the MTF, namely Tony Cilia Pisani, the chairman, Stephen Caruana and Tania Gravina, together with the support of the MTF's executive and the Marsa Sports Club Tennis Section Committee.

With play scheduled to start today, the entry list of 79 boys and 41 girls has necessitated qualifying rounds for both categories.

With a number of Maltese junior players pitting their wits against foreign counterparts in this tournament, the public is invited to attend and support the local participants.

British Airways Junior Easter Tournament

Today's fixtures at the Marsa Sports Club:

Boys' singles U-16 final - 9 a.m. C. Zammit vs A. Calleja.

Girls' singles U-12 final - 9 a.m. M. Music vs B. Galea.