With more prize money up for grabs and the best local tennis stars looking to close out the year in fine style, this year's sixth annual JN Open Tennis Championship is expected to be an exciting and action-packed affair.

The championship will start on Saturday and end next Thursday at the Liguanea Cub in New Kingston.

Jamaica National has raised the bar with increased prize money for the men's event from $150,000 to $200,000, while women's prize money has moved from $50,000 to $60,000.

Tournament director Llockett McGregor has described this year's event as "bigger and better".

The tournament which will start with a kiddie's camp with 50 juniors on Saturday morning, will feature men's open singles, ladies open singles, men's amateur class two and class three as well as doubles event.

"Once again, we want to say thanks to Toyota Jamaica, thanks to Singer but most of all we want to say thanks to JN for their continued support and we want to invite the general public to come out and support this wonderful event," said McGregor at the event's press launch at the Liguanea Club yesterday.

Entries close today for the event which has total prize money of more than $600,000.

Gavin Beckford, marketing executive at Jamaica National said his company views the JN Open Tennis Championship as an opportunity "to showcase the talents of Jamaica's tennis players".