during the XL Tennis Classic as plans have been mapped out to have some of the top visiting professionals conduct clinics.

Unveiled as the Bank of Butterfield Junior Development Clinic yesterday, the programme will see between 60 and 70 youngsters receiving instruction from ATP stars Bryan Shelton, David Wheaton, Aaron Krickstein and Grant Connell, plus a core of coaches from the Bermuda Professional Tennis Association.

The clinic is earmarked to run from 2 to 4 p.m. at Coral Beach & Tennis Club on Sunday, December 5, the eve of the first round of the biggest tournament to hit Bermuda's shores.

In addition to sponsoring the clinic, the bank is donating $1,000 to the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association's Junior Development Programme and senior manager of marketing Tom Lamont feels it is money well spent.

"Through clinics such as this we are providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these children, who will learn new skills from their tennis heroes,'' he said. "We are most grateful for the generous donations of time by some of the world's best tennis professionals.

"Junior development is essential to the future of Bermuda tennis and we compliment the BLTA for organising this event.'' Juniors participating in the clinic will receive event T-shirts as well as posters signed by the ATP pros.

In other XL Classic news, organiser Alec Anderson yesterday disclosed that there is still one spot to fill in the main draw, which may be taken by a leading doubles player.

It was hoped that a big-name star, such as former world number one Mats Wilander, could drop in at the last moment, but Anderson is not so optimistic now.

"I haven't decided who to give the wild card to,'' he said. "It could be one of the top doubles players, Grant Connell or Paul Annacone, but they will be very tired, so it could be one of the up-and-coming players.'' The player Anderson has in mind is former NCAA champion Chris Woodruff who just completed his first year on the tour.

"He (Woodruff) will be in the qualifying tournament for sure and maybe in the main draw.'' Qualifying begins on Saturday, December 4 when Bermudians Donald Evans and Ricky Mallory will see action against world-ranked players. Billy Way will partner Evans in the doubles tournament.

The doubles draw will not be finalised until the week before the tournament as those players are expected to arrive later.

Though he is likely to be without a player of superstar status, Anderson maintains that there will be value for money throughout at Coral Beach and he is certain that recently-confirmed Swede Mikael Pernfors will help prove it.

"He is one of the most entertaining players on the tour,'' said Anderson.

"He likes to talk to the crowd and because he is not a power player he keeps the ball in play and hustles about the court.'' Local qualifying for the doubles will be held this weekend.

JUNIOR PUSH -- The Bank of Butterfield presented the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association with a $1,000 cheque yesterday to support in the promotion of junior development. Pictured from left are: Tom Lamont, senior marketing manager at the bank, BLTA president Keith Fisher, BLTA junior development officer Sheila Gomez, Paul York, XL Classic organiser Alec Anderson, David Lambert of the Bermuda Tennis Professionals Association, Claudia Haegele and the bank's mascot. York and Haegele represent two of the Island's top young players.