The Bainbridge Leisure Services Department is sponsoring the four-day Georgia-Florida State Junior Open Tennis Championships, which get underway today at two local sites.

Matches in the tournament, which is a United States Tennis Association (USTA) sanctioned event, will be played today, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at Bill Reynolds Tennis Center and the Carole Simpson Floyd Tennis Complex.

Tournament seeds are determined by using a modified all factors method with consideration given to national and sectional standings.

Leisure Services tennis professional Tim Thompson reports that 175 Georgia and Florida junior players ranging in age from 10 years old and under to 18 years old will be taking part in the tournament. There will be both singles and doubles play.

“Tennis tournaments like the one we are having this weekend and the first of next week inject a lot of tourism dollars into the community,” Thompson said.

“We always want to put our best foot forward, so if anyone sees people from out of town who are looking for directions, a place to eat, or other places in town, give them a smile and a helping hand,” Thompson said.

Thompson said local folks are always welcome to come and watch the matches. At the end of the tournament, they will be giving a male sportsmanship award and a female sportsmanship award.

While matches are being played at the Reynolds and Floyd courts, players will be practicing at the new Bainbridge High School courts, the Potter Street courts and the Cass Kirbo Tennis Center Courts at the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA.

Today’s tentative opening-round action will include first-round doubles followed by two rounds of main draw singles and first-round consolation competition.

The tentative Sunday schedule calls for one round of doubles, two rounds of consolation singles, one round of main draw singles and a qualifying doubles round.

Monday will feature the semifinal doubles round along with two rounds of consolation singles and two rounds of draw singles.

Action on the final day of tournament competition Tuesday tentatively calls for consolation play through the semi finals.

The consolation round will be played through the semi finals unless draw sizes are smaller than expected.