PHILIPSBURG
A visiting delegation from the Anguilla Tennis Academy including coach Mitchelle Lake and Mr. Eudoxie Wallace met with tennis officials Sylvia Blom and Carol Tackling to discuss the level of junior tennis on Anguilla and Sint Maarten last Wednesday.The day began at Rauol Illidge tennis court with Anguilla's 14 year old champion playing Sint Maarten's 10 year old Alexander Blom, in a friendly set, which Alexander Blom won 6-4.
Jonathan Zichem (16 years old) then took on the talented Brandon Wallace (12 years old) and won 7-6 in a tie break. He also won 6-2 against Alexander Wallace. Alexander Blom won 6-3 against Brandon.
Nathalie Tacking, Sint Maarten's only under 12 female player, played extremely well, losing 6-2 to Alexander Wallace and to Brandon in a tie break.
The day ended with Mr. Eudoxie Wallace challenging Alexander Blom in a friendly set. Mr. Wallace showed how good a player he was in his youth by making Alexander run all over the court.
Mitchelle Lake praised both Blom and Tackling. "Alexander has a great future. With more international competition, he could be a tope 10 player," he predicted. "Nathalie dashes for the ball and keeps it in play, these are good signs. She has a good future as the level of the women's game is less competitive as the boys."
Mrs. Blom stated that "the two boys from Anguilla showed impressive skills and extremely good competitive court behavior."
They have a tremendous role model in Mitchelle Lake. The Anguilla Tennis Academy now boosts 250 children, to which Lake donates his time on a free basis. "This is a wonderful program for the children of Anguilla, out of 250 children you will get champions and the level of tennis on Anguilla can only go up," commented Mr. Wallace.
Following this meeting it was decided that Alexander and Nathalie will join Lake on Anguilla for a one day training session. From September to December, monthly competitions will take place between Sint Maarten/St. Martin and Anguilla. "We hope to take at least 10 children every other month to compete on Anguilla," said Blom. "Anguilla will come with their players in October and December. This should raise our players competitiveness and experience."