Bermuda Under-13 tennis coach Jerome Bradshaw said he was optimistic his team could replicate the success of the 2009 championship side as his squad left for Curacao over the weekend to compete in the ITF U-13 Caribbean Development Championships.

The tournament runs from today through to August 28 and will be contested by 17 Caribbean countries who will compete for bragging rights in the boys' and girls' singles as well as boys' and girls' doubles.

Bermuda are the reigning overall champions with the trio of Tyler Smith, Christopher Rego and Clementine Keyes having hoisted last year's title, finishing two points ahead of Trinidad and Tobago.

This year's squad includes Rego, who put on a good performance against Joel Lutchman of Surinam in a losing effort in the boys' final last year. Also on the boys' team is James Finnigane while Eva Frazonni and Taylor McHarg will represent Bermuda in the girls' division.

Smith won the ladies' title last year in straight sets.

Bradshaw, who is travelling with the squad, is anxious to see how the side play, particularly Rego.

"I am pleased with the squad that is going and hopefully we can go and put our best foot forward," said Bradshaw. "Chris finished runner-up and he stands a good chance of going one better this time around.

"The emphasis is really on individuals but every match goes towards a team total and that is what we won last year.

"In particular Chris, I am expecting him to do well in the singles depending on what players show up. There will be 17 countries that have been invited along with the hosts who can put in two teams."

The first two days will be a round robin format so that ITF officials can find the stronger players in the competition.

From the third day onwards the players will be placed in groups with the next four days a knockout style tournament to be played alongside consolation matches.

The competition focuses on individual players with each result will going towards each countries' team total that will include all categories.