The fourth annual ITF Junior World Ranking Tournament gets underway today with a host of local players looking to pit their skills against young aspiring professionals from overseas.

The event was officially opened at the WER Joell Tennis Stadium by Sports Minister Dale Butler yesterday afternoon, with a Gombey troupe adding a dash of colour and excitement to the formalities.

Ashley Brooks will take on American Kaitlyn Carpenter in the Girls Under 18 division at 4 p.m. while Cayla Cross will play Jordana Kono in the Girls Under 14, also from the US.

In an all-Bermuda clash at 4 p.m., meanwhile, Caitlin Gordon will play Shakira Warner while Charles Skater is scheduled to play Santiago Ordonez from Ecuador.

Bermuda?s two main hopes in the Under 18 boys division, Naim Azar and David Thomas, will play their first round matches later in the week ? the latter after he returns from El Salvador where he has been a member of the Island?s depleted and defeated Davis Cup team.