While much attention has been focused on international team events this week, another kind of team is also travelling around Europe, working together to achieve results in individual tournaments. Currently, 4 boys and 4 girls from 5 developing tennis nations are having this unique experience as part of the 2022 ITF/Tennis Europe 14 & Under Touring Team.
Financed by the Grand Slam Player Development Programme, the Touring Teams are one of the most important European Assistance projects and have shown incredible results over the years. The project can play an important role in a player's development; current top players such as Grigor Dimitrov and Jelena Ostapenko are amongst those who participated on the Teams during their junior careers. This year’s selected players are:
Boys
Mikayel AVANESIYAN (ARM)
Skender KATANA (MNE)
Yannik Theodor ALEXANDRESCOU (ROU)
Andreas MESSIS (GRE)
Girls
Iva LAKIC (MNE)
Nehir DOGAN (TUR)
Alexia Ioana TATU (ROU)
Ada KUMRU (TUR)
The 8 players are accompanied on their adventure by two experienced ITF coaches - Goran Shevchenko (MKD) and Irina Kuzmina Rimsa (LAT). For some of the players, it’s the first time they are part of this kind of program, while 2 boys and 2 girls took part in the ITF/Tennis Europe Development Championships in Antalya, Türkiye earlier this year.
Between the 25th of July and 21st of August, they participate in Tennis Europe events in three different countries. The tour began with the Super Category 14 & Under tournament in Duren (GER) last week. Now they are in Hasselt (BEL) for the Category 1 event, where they’re playing both singles and doubles. They will participate at the 16&U Jugend Cup in Renningen/Rutesheim (GER), before concluding the tour in Barcelona (ESP) at the 14&U Category 1 tournament Antonio Hernández Cup.
Some of these events are also welcoming Touring Teams from the other regions, including South America, Asia and Australasia.
The Touring Team journey is a glimpse at a professional player’s daily life, with weekly traveling, intense trainings, and important tournaments. Meanwhile, the results the 8 players will achieve could be decisive for their Race to Monte-Carlo.
Keep an eye on our social media channels to see how these teenagers make the most of this experience. We will also have a full round-up following the conclusion of the tours.