Travel Grant Prize Fund Confirmed for 2016 ITF Junior Masters

The ITF today announced that a total prize fund of $160,000 in travel grants will be made available to participants in the second ITF Junior Masters to be held in Chengdu, China on 8-10 April 2016. The event enjoyed a successful launch in 2015, with Russia’s Andrey Rublev and China’s Shilin Xu, both former junior world number ones, claiming the men’s and women’s titles respectively.

The ITF Junior Masters is an international event showcasing eight male and eight female players who qualify on the basis of their 18-and-under ITF Junior World Ranking at the end of the year. The ITF Junior Masters consists of two knock-out singles events, with each player guaranteed three matches to determine their final finishing position and level of grant. Players will also compete for wild cards into professional events, with further details to be confirmed next year.

The provision of travel grants is one of the ways in which the ITF Junior Masters assists these top juniors in making a transition from junior tennis to the professional game. Each player to qualify for the 2016 ITF Junior Masters will earn a minimum travel grant of $7,000, while the boys’ and girls’ champions will both be awarded $15,000 travel grants.

The 2016 ITF Junior Masters will take place at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre in Chengdu as part of a three-year agreement with the Chinese Tennis Association and the Chengdu Sport Bureau.

The Sichuan International Tennis Centre, which was built in 2008 and consists of 12 match courts and 20 practice courts, has hosted a number of international events. The ITF Junior Masters is staged on two match courts, including a 6000-capacity stadium court, with matches broadcast by Sichuan TV and streamed live over the three days.

The ITF Junior Masters joins the ITF junior team competitions, the 14-and-under ITF World Junior Tennis competition, and 16-and-under Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, as the premier junior events on the 2016 ITF calendar.

ITF President David Haggerty said: “Following the success of the first ITF Junior Masters in 2015, we are looking forward to a great edition in 2016. I am confident that the amazing fans in Chengdu will once again throw their support behind the top junior players, who are competing for travel grants, helping them to transition into the professional ranks.

Ms Tan Xuejun, Director of Chengdu Sports Bureau, said: “We were proud of the successful staging of the 2015 ITF Junior Masters, and are grateful for the support of the ITF, the citizens of Chengdu, and the players themselves for some memorable performances. The Masters fully embodied the slogan ‘Me, Future’ and attracted much interest around the world. We are confident that the 2016 edition of the event will be even better.”

Madam Li Lingwei, Vice-President of the Chinese Tennis Association and IOC member, said: “The ITF Junior Masters is a milestone event in junior tennis, contributing significantly to the development of the sport both in China and worldwide. By hosting the Junior Masters in China we hope that the next generation of Chinese players will be inspired to take up the sport. In 2016, the China Tennis Association, working closely with Chengdu City, will make the second ITF Junior Masters even more exciting.”

Players Compete For Wild Cards At ITF Junior Masters

The ITF Yesterday announced that 25 member nations and their professional tournaments have offered to donate wild cards to participants in the inaugural ITF Junior Masters in Chengdu, China on 3-5 April 2015.

The ITF Junior Masters is a new international event showcasing eight male and eight female players who qualified on the basis of their 18-and-under ITF Junior World Ranking at the end of 2014. The inaugural event will take place at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre in Chengdu following a three-year agreement with the Chinese Tennis Association and the Chengdu Sport Bureau.

The men’s singles sees ITF world junior champion Andrey Rublev of Russia joined by US duo Taylor Fritz and Michael Mmoh, Orlando Luz and Marcelo Zormann of Brazil, Korea’s Chung Yunseong and Duck Hee Lee, and Spain’s Jaume Munar.

Youth Olympic champion Xu Shilin of China heads the women’s entries, alongside Iryna Shymanovich of Belarus, Jil Teichmann of Switzerland, Kristina Schmiedlova of Slovakia, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov of Spain, Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic, and Elena Gabriela Ruse of Romania.

The ITF Junior Masters will consist of two knock-out singles events, with each player guaranteed three matches to determine their final finishing position.

The provision of wild cards is one of the ways in which the ITF Junior Masters will assist these top juniors in making a transition from junior tennis to the professional game. Member nations and their professional tournaments have already donated 2 ATP World Tour wild cards, 20 ATP Challenger wild cards, 25 ITF Women’s Circuit tournament wild cards at $25,000 level or above, and over 40 wild cards for ITF Men’s and Women’s Circuit events at $10,000 or $15,000 level. Players will have the opportunity to select wild cards for use in 2015 and 2016 in the order of their final finishing positions.

Francesco Ricci Bitti, photo credit ITF.com

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “We are grateful to all the National Associations and tournaments who have offered to donate wild cards for participants in the ITF Junior Masters. This new event will not only showcase some of the world’s most talented young players, but further assist them in their transition to the senior game.”

The 16 competitors will also be competing for a total prize fund of $160,000 in travel grants. Each player to qualify for the Masters will earn a minimum travel grant of $7,000, while the boys’ and girls’ champions will both be awarded $15,000 travel grants.

ITF Juniors Committee Chairman, Jon Vegosen, said: “The ITF Junior Masters has made a strong financial commitment to help these promising young athletes at the start of their professional tennis careers. In addition to the support offered by the travel grant fund of $160,000, all participants and their coaches will receive free international travel to the event and a high level of hospitality during their week in Chengdu.”

The Sichuan International Tennis Centre, which was built in 2008 and consists of 12 match courts and 20 practice courts, has already hosted a number of international events. The ITF Junior Masters will be staged on two match courts, including a 6000-capacity stadium court, with matches broadcast by Sichuan TV and streamed live over the three days.