This week, the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club (VLTC) announced that their annual international tournament, sponsored by Samsung, will be played early next month.

The competition has a special meaning this year as the Open will coincide with the club's 30th anniversary. Qualifying matches get underway on June 28 and the main competitions - men's and women's singles and men's and women's doubles - will start on July 1. Closing date for entries is June 27.

A prize fund is being offered in the two singles events, with the winners in the men's and women's sections pocketing $400 and $200 respectively. The runners-up will receive $200 and $125 respectively.

A programme of activities has been prepared to commemorate the club's anniversary. Among the functions planned is an exhibition of prize-winning photos. This will be made available to the club by the Malta Photographic Society. The exhibition will be open between June 25 and July 4 at the VLTC. It will be inaugurated by Minister of Education Louis Galea.

At the International Open launching, Max Castagna, of Samsung, said that following requests made to the sponsors' representatives overseas, there is a probability that young Maltese players could benefit from assistance to undergo special training camps overseas.

Malta Tennis Federation president Tony Cilia Pisani said the International Open will be an ideal build-up for other international tournaments involving Maltese players.

Two upcoming juniors, Matthew Asciak and Elaine Genovese will be competing overseas in the coming weeks - Asciak in a team competition while Genovese will be taking part in satellite tournaments.

Cilia Pisani said Asciak is currently ranked seventh in his category in Europe. He said Matthew's parents, Gordon and Helen, are doing a great job in grooming their son's tennis talent, also aided by the support of the Malta Olympic Committee and the player's sponsors.