Spectators are most welcome to attend this weekend’s ITF tournament finals being held at the MSC, the climatic stage of this event which has been going on for more than a week.

The tournament organised jointly by the Malta Tennis Federation and by the Marsa Sports Club, is mainly sponsored by Galbani as well as by Gasan Mamo, San Michel and Wilson. The Girls’ singles final and the Boys’ singles semi-final start at 9.30am today.

Top-seeded girl Amanda Hesse from Toulouse yesterday lost to the 13-year-old diminutive but mercurial and precise Kselia Killinova from Moscow. Her opponent today is the mature Windley Jade from the UK who yesterday won very convincingly in two sets with an identical 6-1 score against Diana Marcu from Romania.

Two boys from the strong UK contingent play in the semi-finals of the singles event.

James Marsalek, at 14 years of age, is playing his first ITF tournament. An aggressive baseliner, he is among the top three U-15 players in the UK. He faces the tough Germano Giacalone from Palermo. The latter is a B6 player in Italy and last year won the Sicilian Championships open to players of all ages.

In the other semi James Chaudry from the UK is the among the top Under 16 players in the UK. He recently finished 6th in the famed Orange Bowl tournament in the USA. His opponent Ricardo Bellotti from Vienna, world ranked 891 and 5th in Austria, recently also reached the semis in an ITF tournament in Algiers. He has a good forehand and a powerful serve.