Bennett, Leacock Compete in Costa Rica
Olivia Bennett will be hoping to recover from a bout of food poisoning in time to compete in the second stage of a three-leg International Tennis Federation (ITF) Central American Junior Circuit from tomorrow in Costa Rica.

The Trinidad and Tobago player was affected during the opening leg last week and was forced to withdraw from her quarterfinal match with a 6-5 lead over her Guatemalan opponent in El Salvador. Bennett, who was seeded to win the event, had reached the last eight with a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 victory over Gabriela Vargas of El Salvador.

The 14-year-old, who has been based in the United States for almost two and a half years, and her Guatemalan partner won their first doubles match but the second seeds were then forced to default in the semifinals because of Bennett's deteriorating condition.

Joining her tomorrow in the Costa Rica Bowl is Tobagonian Yolande Leacock, who has also been based in Florida, USA, for more than two years.

The T&T players will then travel to Panama at the end of the week to participate in next week's final leg-the Panama Bowl.

Leacock has replaced Bennett as the top overseas-based player after a brilliant season last year and the 14-year-old will represent tennis in Tuesday's First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards at Club Zen, Port of Spain.