80 players for International Open at TCK this week

The Tennis Club Kordin will host the San Michel International Junior Open which gets underway today.

Eighty players from 19 countries in Europe are taking part.

In a statement, the club said they are expecting the Italians, led by Alberto De Meo, Germans and Britons to figure prominently in this tournament with most of their players among the top seeds in different categories. There are 10 Maltese players taking part.

Local hopeful Omar Sudzuka will be playing in the U-12 event for the last time due to age restrictions. He is coming from a successful Malta Junior Open at Marsa SC, gearing up perfectly for the International Open.

Brenda Galea is Malta's best hope in the girls' event.

Despite having no ETA ranking points so far, at the TCK Galea is expected to improve her position with the prospect of a better draw in future junior tournaments.

The top seeds in the boys singles are Lloyd Glasspool (Britain - 99 points) and Nick Blehman (Germany - 168 points). In the girls' event Thale Myhre (Norway - 137 points) and Denise Maxl (Austria - 307 points) should make the latter stages of the competition.

The International Open, part of Tennis Europe Tour Circuit, is organised annually by the Malta Tennis Federation in collaboration with Tennis Club Kordin. It is now well established and in its seventh year.

Earlier this year, TCK was also entrusted by Tennis Europe Junior Tour with the hosting of the U-16 tournament.