youngsters play in the Island's first major schools tournament.

Outstanding performers among those competing in the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association Schools Doubles Championship could earn the opportunity to play in junior tournaments overseas or even take the first step towards a tennis scholarship.

Forty-eight pairs of players from the Island's secondary and middle schools have signed up to play in the event at the Government Tennis Stadium.

Dave Lambert, schools co-ordinator for the BLTA, who was delighted with the number of players the tournament had attracted, said the youngsters had a lot to play for.

"One of our major objectives is to find youngsters to sponsor, to send to the junior tournaments in the Caribbean,'' said Lambert.

"And another aim is to prepare our juniors to play collegiate tennis -- that is to win tennis scholarships.'' BLTA executives would be watching carefully to earmark the top players for future coaching and sponsorship, added Lambert.

The round-robin tournament features players aged between 12 and 17. All the matches will be doubles contests, in which each player will serve once. After each deuce, the next point will win the game.

Lambert said the tournament was part of the BLTA schools tennis programme backed by the International Tennis Federation and sponsored by Elbow Beach Hotel.