The 2019 ITF/Tennis Europe Development Championships get underway in Antalya, Turkey today. A special event designed to provide high level international playing opportunities for top 14 & Under players from developing tennis nations in Europe, the competition consists of two back-to-back Category 2 Tennis Europe Junior Tour tournaments held over the next ten days.
This year’s Championships see a total of 40 players in action from ten countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Turkey.
A host of other development activities are being held around the Championships, including a 12 & Under Training Camp and an ITF Tutors’ Workshop.
Players will also be able to take part in a special session of the Tennis Europe Junior School, the new player education programme devised by Tennis Europe in consultation with the sports other governing bodies, aimed at preparing young athletes for their future professional careers.
Amongst the past participants of the Championships are top professionals including the likes of Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Grigor Dimitrov and Marcos Baghdatis.