KPMG serve kids $12k of kit

Local junior tennis players will benefit from new training equipment thanks to a donation by the KPMG Legends Tennis Championships.  

The equipment, ear-marked for the Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands’ junior tennis programme in local schools, was handed over to the Tennis Federation on Monday at the Cayman Airways Cargo offices on Airport Drive.  

Managing partner Roy McTaggart of KPMG said: “Making a difference in our community is one of KPMG’s core values, in particular supporting youth education and sports. We are proud to encourage the game of tennis sport within our local schools and for the youth to be active for their future health.” 

Cayman Airways, a gold sponsor of the tournament, was instrumental in getting the equipment to Cayman and assisted with shipping costs and logistics. Olivia Scott-Ramirez of Cayman Airways said: “At Cayman Airways we are dedicated to supporting non-profit causes and events which benefit the people of our community, including sporting events such as this which helps to facilitate the development of tennis skills among local students, while also promoting travel to the Cayman Islands for the event itself.  

“We are happy to know that our donation of shipping services via Cayman Airways Cargo made it possible for local students to benefit from new tennis equipment, through the Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands’ Junior Tennis programme.” 

Tennis federation reps at the delivery were Geraldine Duckworth, David Berry, Jeremy Superfine and Sandra Dailey. All are heavily involved in the development of the federation’s junior programmes and excited about the possibilities that the equipment donation provides.  

Sandra Dailey said: “The Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands is thrilled with the donation of so much wonderful equipment from the KPMG Legends Tennis Championships as it will allow us to expand our junior programmes in the schools throughout the Island and reach out to more children to introduce them to the great game.”  

Mike Ryan, developer of The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman and long-standing host sponsor of the Legends tournament, said: “An important part of the 2011 KPMG Legends Tennis Championships is the involvement of local junior players and our support of local junior tennis programmes. We hope that the event will help to inspire our junior players who are currently in the programme, and encourage others to get involved in the sport.” 

As well as the junior tennis programme, proceeds of the Legends tournament will, as always, go to the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre.  

In addition to the tennis equipment donation, valued at $12,000, local junior players will also benefit from being in the competitive spotlight for the tournament. This year there is also the KPMG Junior Legends tournament with the junior finals being played as the first match on each evening of the pro championships.  

“For the junior players to be able to play in front of all-time greats such as Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati and Mark Philippousis will be a great boost and inspiration to them and hopefully encourage them to go further in the sport,” said event organiser Dan Kneipp.  

To make the event more inclusive and accessible, organisers have also expanded the seating and reduced match ticket prices. Over 5,500 tickets for the event have been offered, with prices starting at $5. A three-day pass to attend each night of play costs $45. VIP packages were also available, as well as participation in the fund-raising Pro Am portion of the tournament.  

The player line up competing for the 2011 KPMG Legends Tennis Championships includes Grand Slam tournament winners Hingis, Capriati, Philippoussis, Wayne Ferreira, Chanda Rubin, Jimmy Arias, Stephen Huss and Murphy Jensen.  

The tournament begins with the gala dinner featuring former British prime minister Tony Blair on Wednesday 16 November followed by the first round matches on Thursday 17 November, the semis on Friday 18 November and the finals on the Saturday followed by the festive Whites Party at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. All matches will be played at The Courts at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. 

For more information on the Legends Championships 2011, click here.