Bermuda's best woman on the tennis courts now has a great opportunity to become even better.

Ashley Brooks - the Island's number one ranked women's player - has received a two-week scholarship to the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) Training Facility in Florida to enhance her game. She is likely to take up the scholarship in August before returning to the Dennis Van Der Meer Tennis Academy in South Carolina, USA, where she is now based.

President of Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) David Lambert said the invitation was a fantastic chance for the young talent to hone her obvious potential.

“Ashley has represented Bermuda internationally, not just Fed Cup this year but also in the Caribbean ITF 14-and-Under Developmental Championships. Last year she won the girls' singles title at that event and because of that she has been invited to train at the ITF facility in Fort Lauderdale.

“It's another success story for Bermuda tennis . . . one of our young players who has come up through the BLTA development programmes and playing in the junior tournaments. She continues to grow and develop her tennis and we're very pleased,” he said.

At present, 15-year-old Brooks is back in Bermuda competing in the Island Construction Open at Pomander Gate and preparing for an even bigger assignment next week.

She will be among the Island's leading hopes in the inaugural Bank of Bermuda Foundation ITF World-Ranking Junior Tournament to be played at the Tennis Stadium (hard courts), beginning on Monday. Valuable world-ranking points will be up for grabs.

Lambert said 41 junior players from across the world would compete in that tournament. Many of them have already arrived on the Island to acclimatise to the conditions and have been practising daily.

Meanwhile, the welcoming ceremony for the tournament has been changed from Warwick Camp to the Tennis Stadium on Sunday at 6.45 p.m. Premier Jennifer Smith will be among those in attendance.