NATIONAL reps Annie Shannon and Tarani Kamoe have a chance to better their International Tennis Federation junior world ranking when they travel to New Zealand later this month.
The duo will be in New Zealand for three weeks competing in various world ranking events.
Last week Shannon moved up 74 positions on the world junior ranking chart reaching a career high of 581. Kamoe holds a world junior ranking of 584.
Fiji Tennis Association executive and national coach Naga Reddy said both players were bright medal prospects for the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
“Shannon and Kamoe did well during the Xmas Championship in New Zealand last month and moved up the world junior rankings,” Reddy said.
“Now they have a chance to better that when they travel to New Zealand again this month. It is very important to give our players international exposure as we build-up for the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.”
Meanwhile, the Pacific team bagged mixed results during the 2013 Margaret Court Cup in Australia. Tamarua Payne from Cook Islands went down 6-1, 7-5 to Jeremy Slee.
Kiribati player Tabera Bonteman won his singles match 6-3, 6-2.
Michael Emery (Tahiti) continued his good run in singles winning his match 8-3 but then lost the doubles match to the number four seeded team 8-3.
Tamarua Payne and Kevin Maukaloa (American Samoa) lost to Micheal Burley and his partner 7-5, 6-0.
Ayana Rengiil (Palau) recorded two wins from two matches while Neghar Rastguiy (Northern Marianas) defeated Grace Nuffman 6-0.
Lautoka-based ITF Pacific Oceania development officer Gene Ridgway said the Pacific team had a fair outing.
He said the players showed good attitude.
“The players are slowly showing the strain of playing in the heat of the summer in Australia with the temperatures going close to 40 degrees Celsius,” Ridgway said.