Bermuda's biggest youth tennis event, the Bank of Bermuda Foundation ITF Junior Circuit Tournament, has been cancelled this year because organisers have not been able to secure Warwick Camp for the scores of overseas players from over 30 countries who fly in every year.

The June tournament, which has grown in leaps and bounds, now attracts players from as far afield as Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Holland, Canada, the US and throughout the Caribbean.

David Lambert, head of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, confirmed yesterday that the tournament was cancelled this year but added: "It will definitely be back for 2011. Unfortunately we have not been able to secure Warwick Camp for the accommodation of the players. I believe that they have something else booked and are also doing work up there. Warwick Camp has been great for us in the past because it is clean and all the kids stay together. They have always enjoyed it. It is just a shame that we have had to inform the ITF (International Tennis Federation) that we cannot stage the tournament this year.

"We have seen over the years our juniors really getting better and better and one of the reasons for that is this ITF tournament. Our kids are now playing a lot more international players in international competitions. In fact, right now we have a girls and boys team in Trinidad (competing at the North/Central America and Caribbean Pre-Qualifying tournament for the World Juniors Championships) and many of them competed in our ITF tournament."

Last year Mickey Williams, who is the supervisor of the Central American & Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC), was in Bermuda to watch how the tournament was run and said: "I didn't come for the first tournament (eight years ago) but I did for the second edition. And each year I have seen this tournament growing and growing. The organisation is first rate – I have done lots of these tournaments all over the place and this is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best, I have been to.

"It started out very humbly. I remember having a conversation with (BLTA president) David Lambert at the time and he was concerned that there were so few players. He wondered what would happen (in the future) and I told him not to worry, that it will grow every year and you will probably get to the point where you will not be able to accommodate all the players. And we are almost at that point now.

"The BLTA is certainly doing everything it can and the organisation is beyond reproach."

Of Warwick Camp, Williams, who is from the Bahamas, said: "The kids enjoy themselves. I guess it is a different experience for them – the accommodations are perhaps a bit spartan but it is clean and comfortable and they get good food. They get the bus back and forth from the stadium each day and it is virtually free.

"They have a great time and we have had very positive comments from the players and coaches."

Bermuda's tournament is usually the start of the ITF summer circuit. After Bermuda many of the players travel to junior tournaments in the Bahamas, Aruba, St. Maartin and Jamaica.

Meanwhile, in Trinidad Bermuda's team got off to an excellent start in the North/Central America and Caribbean Pre-Qualifying tournament for the World Juniors Championships.

Both the girls and boys won the opening day's round robin play on Monday.

One of Bermuda's coaches, Jerome Bradshaw, said: "The boys led the way with a tough 2-1 match victory over Barbados. Adam Turner lost the first battle that lasted near two and a half hours to Jared Spencer. Adam seemed comfortable enough going ahead 5-3. However nerves got the best of him as Jared clawed his way back to even the set at 5-5.

"It remained a nail biter until the required tie break which Jared took comfortably. Adam righted the ship and took the second set 6-2. The heat and the noticeably favourite forehand drive of Jared proved to be a little too much for Adam as he wilted and lost the deciding set 6-3.

Bradshaw said that after Bermuda lost that first match, the Island's number one player Chris Rego "was unstoppable" as he routed the Barbadian number one 6-0, 6-3 in well under an hour.

The stage was set for the deciding rubber with Rego teaming up with Bermuda's number three player Evan Hughes to take on Gregory Hinkson and "a flashy Gavin Hutchinson".

Bradshaw said: "Bermuda lost the first set 6-3 but recovered well with streaks of fabulous support from Evan Hughes. The Bermuda duo captured the second and third sets 6-2, 6-3 to put Bermuda into the winner's circle.

"Bermuda's girls had an easier road. Although starting nearly four hours later than expected they maintained enough focus to clean sweep Guyana 3-0."

Guyana only fielded two players – Nicola Ramdyhan and Areta Dey.

"(Bermuda's) Eva Frazonni felt comfortable enough to take on Areta Dey and she did not disappoint. Eva won in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. Bermuda's Clementine Keys followed with a more convincing 6-1, 6-0 drubbing of Nicola Ramdyhan. To complete the trio of matches that included a bagel set, Tyler Smith and Eva Frazonni teamed up to finish the glide over the Guyana pair 6-1, 6-0."

Yesterday Bermuda's boys were to take on the fancied Guatemalans while the girls' team were to play Panama who are only fielding only two players.

Bermuda are seeded fourth amongst the 15 nations on the girls side while the boys are unseeded.