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• Tennis Jamaica President Azar expects competitive matches all the way throughout All Jamaica Open Tennis Championships

  The 2024 All Jamaica Open Tennis Championships are set for December 14-21 at the Eric Bell National Tennis Center in Kingston.

  Players from all over the island and based all over the world will descend upon the home of Tennis in the country and compete in categories such as the Men’s and Women’s Open as well as Junior Boys and Girls in the 12, 14, 16 and 18 categories.

  “The All Jamaica is certainly shaping up to be a wonderful event,” said Tournament Director, David Sanguinetti, at a press conference on Friday.

  “The entries are through the roof. We have roughly 120 juniors. All in all, the numbers are fantastic and we haven’t seen numbers like this in the juniors in some time,” he added.

  In the Men’s Open, players like Randy Phillips, Dwayne Pagon, Damion Johnson, Daniel Azar and Nicholas Gore are expected to contend for the top prize in the absence of players like Blaise Bicknell, who can’t play this tournament due to a protective ranking, and John Chin, who is missing out due to illness.

  Tennis Jamaica President John Azar outlined what fans can expect from these championships.

  “The main thing that spectators can look out for is competitive matches. High level competition across all categories. We have our top junior playing all categories. In the Men’s Open, outside of two of our top players, literally everybody else has entered the event in terms of players who are making their mark on the local scene,” he said.

  “Normally, in events like this, you may find from the quarterfinals onward, the matches start to get very interesting. I’m expecting fully well that, in the Men’s Open, from the first round you’re going to have some very, very good and competitive matchups,” he added.

  One concern brought up during Friday’s proceedings was damage caused to the courts at the Eric Bell Center due to Hurricane Beryl.

  Azar assured that the relevant repairs to the court have been made and no hiccups are expected during the tournament.

  “We’re fully expecting that the place will be in pristine condition. It’s important to be continually upgrading and maintaining our facilities to make sure they always remain at a certain standard,” he said.

  Sponsors for this year’s championships include GK General Insurance, Konnex as well as the Sports Development Foundation.

   

• 'Icon' Nadal chose to retire at 'right time', says Henman

  Tim Henman believes it was "the right time" for Rafael Nadal to retire after he bowed out following the Davis Cup Finals in November.

  Nadal retired with 22 men's Grand Slam titles, 92 ATP-level singles titles, including 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal.

  He also won five Davis Cup titles throughout his career, in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019.

  The Spaniard, who struggled with injuries during the last two years of his career, represented his country on home soil but lost his final-ever match in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp as Spain were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

  Nadal did bow out by claiming one last bit of history though, becoming the Spaniard player with the most matches played in the competition in the last 30 years, with that his 43rd and final appearance.

  Henman believes Nadal bowed out on his own terms at the right time for him.

  "From the outside looking in, I think it was the right time," Henman told Eurosport. "He's given so much to the sport.

  "The sport takes so much out of him physically and mentally. And I just don't know whether his body could take it any longer.

  "So, I think it was a good time to step down and give Rafa the time to reflect on just the incredible achievements that he's had in this sport."

  Following his last match, Nadal was welcomed back onto the court in Malaga to address the crowd, while an emotional tribute with messages from his rivals played.

  "Look, I think when you talk about retirement for any player, it's really not straightforward to plan it," Henman added.

  "And with the injuries and all the different challenges that Rafa had and with the schedule, I think to be representing your country in the Davis Cup in your home country is very special. So, I think it was a good send-off.

  "And I hope Rafa felt comfortable with that. He's just been an absolute icon of our sport. But for the Spanish people to get to see him one last time at home, I think was very, very special."

• Draper cancels Alcaraz training week with 'hip niggle'

  Jack Draper has cancelled a scheduled training week with Carlos Alcaraz due to a "bit of a niggle" in his hip.

  The British number one was set to go through his paces with the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion in Spain next week.

  Draper is due to represent Great Britain in the United Cup from December 27, while the Australian Open begins on January 12.

  However, it remains to be seen whether he will be fit, with the world number 15 limited to gym work.

  It has also prevented the US Open semi-finalist from stepping up his preparations alongside Alcaraz.

  "I've been working incredibly hard the last couple of weeks to get myself to hopefully improve for next year," he said.

  "I did have a little bit of a niggle in my hip area and, in terms of going away to Spain and training at that level of intensity with Carlos, I had to make that call because it's not fair on him if I go, and I am not 100%. It was something that we were really excited about.

  "[It was] something me and [his coach] James [Trotman] had been talking about for a while - to try to go out and hit with the best players in the world and get that exposure to the highest level possible on a regular basis to get prepared for the New Year."