Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1503920
DEVELOPMENT The ITF works to improve tennis performance and skills around the world in under-resourced and under-represented countries. In partnership with our member Na onal Associa ons, we aim to increase the spread of na ons represented at the highest levels of the sport. Significant funding for this important aspect of growing the game is provided by the four Grand Slam tournaments via the Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP). Touring teams success Our well-established interna onal touring team programme con nued in 2022, with the objec ve of giving promising junior players overseas compe ve experience. We selected and organised seven teams funded by the GSPDP, featuring 50 players from 28 na ons. Performance Several team members achieved historic firsts for their countries. Daniel Vallejo was the first boy from Paraguay to reach the semi-finals of the junior Australian Open, and Angella Okutoyi scored Kenya's first-ever Grand Slam tle by winning the girls' doubles at Wimbledon. The GSPDP enjoyed a historic dual win at the 14-and-under Orange Bowl in USA, with team members Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria and Adelina Lachinova of Latvia sweeping both tles. We introduced a touring team to compete in professional tournaments in Egypt, reflec ng the importance of young talent experiencing this step of the player pathway. The GSPDP also funded five 14-and-under regional tours in Europe for teams from Asia, Africa, South America, Central America/Caribbean and Europe. One team member, Cho Se-Hyuk of Korea, 2022 ITF Annual Review 19 later won the inaugural 14-and-under boys' tle at Wimbledon. Suppor ng talent The GSPDP provided 43 junior and professional players with grants totalling $909,000 in 2022. Promising girls and women aged 14-21 years, and boys and men aged 15-22 years, are now eligible to receive this valuable financial assistance. Grants were awarded evenly between both genders, with players drawn from 31 na ons. By year-end, four grant recipients had moved into the top 100: Qinwen Zheng (CHN), Xiyu Wang (CHN), Chun-Hsin Tseng (TPE) and Tomas Mar n Etcheverry (ARG). Another two, Croa a's Petra Marcinko and Philippines' Alexandra Eala, were junior Grand Slam champions, at the Australian Open and US Open respec vely.