Tennis Jamaica is quite happy with the outcome of this past weeks ITF Jamaica Junior Championships that was held at the Eric Bell Centre from July 11 -  18.

After failing to qualify a single player to the main draw in the Boys U18 category last year, Jamaican tennis prodigy Douglas Burke lost only one set en route to winning the Boys singles section of the tournament. 

Technical Director of Tennis Jamaica, Brandon Burke believes that it was a real success.

2009 ITF Jamaica Junior Championships Boys' singles champion Brandon Burke (left) collects his winning trophy after winning the final in straight sets (6 - 1, 6 - 2) over Alejo Apud of Argentina.

“I think it went very well. We had quite a number of overseas based players who competed in the tournament and based on what I have heard and seen they really enjoyed themselves.”

He continued, “the tournament was ran very well and what made it better was the level of tennis, which was very high,” burked told JaSports.net.

Over 60 overseas-based players from 15 nations - including the USA, Canada, Argentina, Costa Rica, Colombia, Russia, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago - will be vying for World Junior points rankings.

 “It is very good for Jamaica we should have more tournaments like this,” he praised.

Davis Cup disappointment

The success of the tournament exalted by Brandon Burke’s impressive win, provided some timely reprieve for the local tennis governing body and local tennis on a whole as they seek to recover from the significant setback of this year’s Davis Cup disappointment.

The four man team lost 0 – 5 to Netherland Antilles after facing a must win scenario following another 0 – 5 loss to Mexico earlier this year.  Jamaica will now be relegated back to Group Two after making the leap to Group Three a year ago after defeating Honduras (3 – 0), Guatemala (2 – 1) and Puerto Rico (2 – 1).

Due to Brandon Burke’s participation in a grass court singles competition in Philadelphia USA, Jamaica didn’t field their full strength squad which became depleted when Demar Johnson, who was a part of the four man team (Johnston, Chris Lawson,Tyler Chin, Dominic Pagon) to the Netherland Antilles didn’t participate in the competition due to an injury he sustained days before the competition.

Furthermore what made things worse for Jamaica was Chris Lawson’s injury sustained in his first match which forced him out of his doubles match.

Technical Director of Tennis Jamaica Douglas Burke agreed that it was indeed a rough trip for Jamaica.

We really had a hard time. We got unlucky when our captain (Demar Johnson) got injured and wasn’t able to play at all, which was a huge loss for us because we struggled to adapt thereafter, even the team moral suffered a big blow, Burke told Jasports.net

He continued, “our doubles chances suffered as well. Not only because of Johnson’s absence but what made things worse for us was when Chris Lawson cramped in his first match and was unable to play him in the doubles.”

“But that’s how it goes we just have to look forward to the next tie.”

Jamaica has been competing in the prestigious Davis Cup since 1988, playing 71 ties winning 36 and losing 35.