Ideal test for elite players

The top six men and top four women players on the islands have just been invited by the Malta Tennis Federation to take part in a tournament, sponsored by Gasan Mamo Insurance and played at the Marsa Sports Club.

Matches will be played between February 19 and 24 and ranking points will also be at stake.

The tournament will see the players intensifying their build-up for the Federation Cup in Mauritius (March-April), June's GSSE in Monaco and the Davis Cup in August in Armenia.

Denzel Agius, Matthew Asciak, Daniel Ceross, Daryl Delicata, Marcus Delicata, Mateja Pecotic and Clayton Zammit will play in the men's event.

The women's competition will be contested by Kim Cassar, Elaine Genovese, Elena Jetcheva and Steffi Sullivan.

National coach Robert Tarpey said: "The women's top four will be played on a round robin format. That gives us the chance to see all of them figuring in direct encounters. The men's competition will be run in a similar way as to the ATP Masters."

The round robin stage of the men's tournament starts on Monday.

The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Feb. 23 and 24.

David Farrugia Sacco, secretary general of the Malta Tennis Federation, said the tournament will be a timely test for the players.

"This is an ideal opportunity for the very best players on the island to meet in such a prestigious event," Dr Farrugia Sacco said, "and for us to see how they have progressed after a period which has seen many of them taking part in overseas competitions."