Tennis Emirates to launch ITF's JTI programme

Dubai - As always, the Dubai Duty Free ATP and WTA Tennis Championships remain the centrepieces

The new tennis season is turning out to be a season of many firsts with Tennis Emirates, the governing body for the sport in the UAE, launching two new initiatives to foster the sport in the country.
As always, the Dubai Duty Free ATP and WTA Tennis Championships remain the centrepieces to the tennis season but it is the ambitious plans to grow and spread the game that Tennis Emirates are focussing on.
There are many age group tournaments that form the tennis calendar in the UAE and the governing body have now launched the Tennis Emirates Circuit Masters and plans are also gathering speed to implement the Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI), a worldwide development programme of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
First up, the Tennis Emirates Circuit Masters was officially launched at the tennis courts at Al Nasr Leisureland on Thursday.
The event features men's singles, men's doubles, boys and girls Under-18 singles and doubles, boys Under-16 singles, boys and girls under-14 singles and boys Under-14 doubles, boys under-12 singles as well as boys and girls Under-10 singles, which is only by invitation. The tournament concludes on Saturday.
"This is a continuation of our journey and activities and this is a new initiative," Nasser Al Marzooqi, General Secretary, Tennis Emirates, said at a press conference on Thursday.
"Also, we will have an event for the Under-8s and Under-10s on the day of the final. There will be a series of events for these age groups which will help us grow the sport at the grass root level," he added. The Under-8 and Under-10s event forms part of the UAE Talent Identification and UAE Development Programme with the final of the UAE Criterium to be held at Jebel Ali Resorts in April next year.
Meanwhile, Salah Bramly, Technical Director of Tennis Emirates, also said that there will be more focus on the JTI programme, which is one of development programmes designed by the ITF.
"If we want to create a larger base, it starts from the bottom," said Bramly.
"Next year, we will make it mandatory to have one local player in the team of eight players. We are looking to collaborate with the academies. We are also planning to implement the JTI Programme (Junior Tennis Initiative), which is a worldwide programme, supported by the ITF (International Tennis Federation), this season," he added.
The ITF Junior Tennis Initiative operates in over 100 nations worldwide. The national level helps nations to establish a 14 and under junior development programme through the Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI).
Nations are first helped to set up training and competition for 10 and under players, using smaller courts and slower balls following the ITF Tennis10s programme in schools and clubs. The most talented 14 and under players from their respective age category are selected to receive performance-based training and access to national 12 and under and 14 and under competitions.
james@khaleejtimes.com