Young Bermudian tennis players will flock to Atlanta in July in a bid to make their mark at a prestigious tournament.

Seventeen youngsters, who make up the cream of the Island's junior tennis, will fly to the US to take part in the Georgia State Open.

The trip, organised and sponsored by Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, is in its third year and there are plans to establish it as an annual event.

BLTA president Colin Smith said the number of children taking part had climbed steadily in its short history, from seven in 1997 and 12 last year.

"What that is telling us is that more kids are eligible to meet the standards required of them to be allowed to go -- so standards are getting higher,'' said Smith.

All the children travelling have taken part in the BLTA junior programme, have performed above average in local tournaments and have been recommended by coaches.

They include 14-year-old Jovan Whitter, who reached the last eight in his age group in the main draw of the Georgia tournament last year and proved his excellent form by winning the men's B singles event at the Heineken Open tournament at the Tennis Stadium last weekend.

Sisters Sasha and Zoe Fisher also performed admirably in consolation competition last year, as did John Masters, but Smith felt more would do well this time.

"It's a tournament where we feel we can compete favourably and it's better for our youngsters than entering a higher-rated tournament where they could get blown away,'' said Smith.

The first batch of juniors to travel will be those competing in the under-12 and under-14 age groups. They will fly on July 16, the day before the tournament's opening day. Those competing at under-16 and under-18 will go a week later.

Smith added: "The kids benefit in several ways. Their experience of this tournament gives them more confidence when they come back and compete in local tournaments. And they enjoy staying with host families. It gives them a taste of the American lifestyle, a different culture, and they get to do fun things on their days off.'' Six of the youngsters have also won places in an International Tennis Federation camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

They will spend two weeks there, directly prior to the Georgia Open, under the tuition of top tennis coaches and former professional players.

"This is the first time Bermuda has been given six places in an ITF camp and it will be an intensive programme, including exposure to some tournaments in Florida,'' added Smith.

Those going to Atlanta after Fort Lauderdale are Jovan Whitter, Danielle Downey, Danielle Paynter, Tara Lambert, Craig Bean and Jevon Roberts.

Others making the trip to Georgia are Kyle Williams, John Masters, Fraser Moore, Sasha Fisher, Zoe Fisher, Kara Fisher, Ashley Brooks, John Wardman, Phillip Sousa, Ryan Swan, and Gavin Manders. Zara DeSilva has also been invited to enter the tournament.