The JQ Charles Group of Companies Tennis Open was recently launched at the St Lucia Racquet Club, Cap Estate. The one week competition which begins today (Saturday), is organized by Marcelle’s Tennis Academy (MTA) under the direction of Stephen Marcelle.

Taking part in the proceedings was Sports Personality and well known cricket commentator, Joseph “Reds” Perreira; CEO of JQ Charles Group of Companies, Gordon Charles; Director of MTA, Stephen Marcelle and his team consisting of Mineva Ross and Monique Lovell.

CEO of JQ Charles Group of Companies, Gordon Charles said: “We are very pleased to continue to be associated with the sporting discipline of tennis. Our company has over the years has always focused on youth development both in education and
sports.”

Charles referred to tennis as a good avenue for discipline and development in our youth. He looks forward to St Lucia developing its facilities and hopes government continues to support the discipline as the private sector does by way of sponsorship.

This is the second time the company has sponsored this tournament which was extremely successful last year. With that in mind, Charles said: “We are very happy to support it and very excited that Marcelle has taken on a major challenge.”

The major challenge he referred to involves the MTA taking over the St Lucia Racquet Club. The reopening and the launch of the facility took place January 31.

Ross said the objective of the MTA is to create an avenue for everyone to be exposed to tennis and assist with its growth. She pointed out that the MTA will be hosting a number of tournaments and wants to portray the facility, as a place to have fun, where people can enjoy the environment even if they don’t play.

Marcelle is pleased with the way things have gone so far. He thanked JQ for their continued sponsorship of this tournament, which was formerly a junior event. This year the competition has been revamped.

“We have grown and added another segment to it which is an open adult event for men and ladies if we can get them out of their homes,” said Marcelle.

He has big plans for this tournament. “What I would like to see is tournament grow and become an ITF junior event on our calendar,” said the MTA Director.