BERMUDA’S Junior Davis and Fed Cup players leave today for El Salvador to compete in the pre-qualifying event.And head of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, David Lambert, has high hopes for the island’s young players.

“We are seeing more and more of our junior players winning senior events,” said Lambert yesterday.

“We have been very impressed with this group of juniors. Their records in the last year or so have been very good. They have all won titles — and some have not only won junior titles but adult ones as well.

“For instance you have Freddy Wade winning the men’s B and C titles at Princess and Catherine Cook winning the Ladies B title.

“Our champions are becoming younger and younger — years ago we didn’t have juniors winning a men’s or women’s B title but now we do. I am also very pleased with the work the coaches have done with these juniors.”

The team will be captained and co-managed by Steve Bean with Allison Towlson acting as a co-manager.

Also travelling with them will be team assistant Steven Phillips.

The players for the Junior Fed Cup are Cayla Cross, Catherine Cook and Carolita Joseph while the Junior Davis Cup players are Alex Cooper, Neil Towlson and Freddy Wade.

On Sunday the draw will be made and among the countries competing along with Bermuda will be Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico and Trinidad.

Play starts on Monday and continues throughout the week with singles and doubles.

“It will be great for the players because for a week they will sleep, eat and play tennis,” Lambert said adding that while in El Salvador Allison Towlson will hold meetings with various Caribbean officials.

“We want her to bring back as much information as she can because we are really building the junior programme,” said Lambert.