The Saint-Barth Tennis Club launches its 17th Open

More than a hundred registrants, men and women alike, not including a dozen children. For the ^17th edition of its Open, the Saint-Barth Tennis Club can already boast of having succeeded in attracting a large number of players. So much so, in fact, that the organizers have been forced to bring forward the start of the tournament by one day. Starting today at 5 p.m., players will open hostilities in the men's draw.

With 103 participants divided into five tables (ladies' singles, men's singles, senior singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles), the fortnight promises to be an intense one on the SBTC's four courts and club house on the Plaine des Jeux in Saint-Jean. For this ^17th edition, the club is applying its usual formula with the arrival of four top-level players. These guests should, logically enough, be battling it out for the final victory.

In the women's draw, Mathilde Lollia, currently number 54 in the French rankings, will be the top seed. Aged 24, she won six tournaments in 2023 and, in 2024, has six victories over players in the French top 40 (including one over number 20 and another over number 22) and one over the world number ³⁰⁰. Mathilde Lollia is no stranger to the courts of Saint-Barth, having won the Open in 2021 in both singles and mixed doubles.

Also on the ladies' side, Pauline Lollia, ranked "-15" in 2018 and now "2/6", won the Open d'Hossegor in 2023 and several other tournaments. She was a finalist in the SBTC Open in 2015 and 2022. Another guest is Audrey Moutama from Guadeloupe. At 20, she is ranked "2/6" but was "0" in 2022. She combines study and tennis at the University of Toledo in the USA. Finally, Jenifer Anger, 22, who was French champion in the 17/18 age group in 2019. Ranked "- 4/6", she will undoubtedly be one of the favorites of the women's tournament.

On the men's side, Ronan Joucour is currently ranked "4/6", but was ^62nd in France in 2016. Last year's finalist in Saint-Barth, Frédéric Fibleuil from Martinique, is aiming for victory in 2024. Mandresy Makey Rakotomalala was French champion on several occasions as a young player, and was a member of the world's top 50 as a junior. Rated "1/6", he will be aiming for the trophy. But to do so, these three guests will have to get past local Paul Colin. He may be "0" this year, but he's been "-4/6" and has lost just two matches so far this year on the US college circuit.

All guests will play singles, doubles and mixed doubles. The latter category hardly exists at amateur level any more. This is one of the special features of the SBTC Open. What's more, the guests will be hosting "kids days" on August 9 and 12, with the club's children playing.

"This is one of the toughest tournaments in the Caribbean," stresses David Blanchard, honorary president of the SBTC and territorial councillor in charge of sports for the Collectivité.

Starting this Wednesday, weather permitting, twelve men's singles matches are scheduled from 5pm. At 6 p.m., the SBTC will host the tournament's opening cocktail party, during which T-shirts will be handed out to registrants.

From tomorrow until August 12, numerous matches will be played in Saint-Jean, starting at 5pm. The finals will be held between the 12th and 14th. The men's final will close the event on August 15. Admission is free and open to all lovers of the little yellow ball.