For the first time ever Bermuda's top junior tennis aces will be able to regularly compete in US tournaments as part of an exchange programme served up by Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA).

The official agreement with the United States Tennis Association will be piloted this weekend and will see six gifted youngsters head to Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Programme, New York, for coaching and to Washington for match play.

Carolita Joseph, 15, Courtney Fisher, 14, Ciara Svensen, 12, Matteo Frazzoni, 15, Kieran Joynes, 13, and Thomas Moniz, 12, are the first crop to be involved in the trial run. Tara Lambert will travel with the team as coach/manager.

The Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Programme is where US tennis star James Blake honed his skills and has former tennis pro Katrina Adams as its executive director.

President of BLTA David Lambert believes the arrangement will be pivotal in developing youth tennis on the Island.

"A problem we've identified is that most of our young players only get the chance to play against each other on a regular basis," he said.

"In order to improve they need to be stretching themselves beyond Bermudian opposition and this agreement will give more of our young players experience of overseas competition. It will also improve our local tournaments because the exchange will allow US junior players travel to Bermuda to compete.

"The great part of this agreement is that the East Coast is so near. It will allow our players to represent the Island in tournaments in New York, Atlanta, and Boston."

Elbow Beach Celebrity Tennis Classic, presented by Bacardi International Limited, is sponsoring this weekend's trip.