As the highly anticipated 2024 Barbados Road Tennis Open (BRTO) prepares to kick off later this August, defending women’s champion Sheldene Waldrond has declared she is fully prepared to retain her crown at Barbados’ most prestigious road tennis competition. Spanning from August 15 through October 3, the tournament carries a generous purse that awards a $20,000 top prize to both the men’s and women’s singles champions. In an interview ahead of the tournament, Waldrond revealed she resumed structured training earlier in 2024, specifically adjusting her routine to adapt her game and gain a competitive edge over the field. “I’ve been putting in the work, switching up my training regimen to change the dynamics of my play, and I’m hungry to get back on court and defend my title,” she said. Waldrond, who claimed her 2023 title after a hard-fought final victory over Rachel Smith, also expressed enthusiastic approval of the organizers’ decision to add an Under-18 junior division to this year’s tournament lineup. A long-time advocate for growing the sport among young people, she has made it a priority to mentor emerging female players. “I love seeing young women get involved in road tennis, and I always do what I can to give them confidence and help them grow as competitors,” Waldrond added. For event organizers, 2024 marks a major milestone: this year’s tournament is the fifth iteration of the BRTO, which has evolved from a bold initiative into a cornerstone of Barbadian sporting culture and national pride. Shawn Burke, chairman of the BRTO Planning Committee, reflected on the tournament’s origins and growth, noting that the event was founded five years ago with a clear mission: to elevate Barbados’ unique indigenous sport, create life-changing opportunities for local athletes, and build a national stage that matches the caliber of the island’s exceptional homegrown talent. “What started as an ambitious vision has transformed into Barbados’ premier road tennis competition, one that consistently showcases the absolute best talent our island has to offer,” Burke explained. He added that the tournament’s steady growth over the past five years serves as proof of what can be accomplished when bold vision is paired with consistent commitment and community buy-in. Every year, the organizing team challenges itself to raise the bar for the event, improving experiences not just for competing players, but for the fans and corporate partners who have continued to believe in the sport’s future in Barbados. In honor of the fifth anniversary and in recognition of the critical role fans play in making the BRTO a success, organizers have expanded fan engagement activities for this year’s tournament. Attendees will get the chance to sign a collection of commemorative display rackets, take photos with their favorite players, share their experiences on social media, and enter a competition for a special fifth anniversary prize, which will be awarded to the social media post that earns the most likes from the public. “This fifth anniversary doesn’t just belong to the players who take the court,” Burke said. “It belongs to every single person who has supported this tournament, cheered on our athletes, and believed in our mission over the last five years.”