Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/193236
INSIDE OUT Encouraged by the success of Wimbledon, the Ministry has also pledged funds to the building of 16 new indoor tennis facilities, each containing three to four courts, welcome news for players in a country where winter temperatures frequently fall below freezing. A further positive development, says Rejniak-Romer, was the appointment of a new Polish Tennis Federation board and a new president, Krzysztof Suski, in July this year. "Now we have a new board, a new president and everything combines to give us a chance to attract sponsors for tennis to make these programmes bigger, because you need people, you need tools to develop the programmes," she says. Sponsors such as Davis Cup team sponsor, Polish firm KGHM, a large copper mining company and a partner the Federation hopes will continue to support the sport. Beyond the social and financial challenges of developing tennis in Poland, there's little question that the country has the talent to achieve further honours, thereby attracting more sponsors and players to the game. Radwanska and Janowicz, at 24 and 22 years old respectively, have many good years still ahead of them, while Urszula Radwanska is ranked in the world's top 40, and the promising 17-year-old Kamil Majchrzak salvaged some national pride at the US Open this year, winning the boys doubles with American Martin Redlicki. Nor do these players want for ambition. Agnieszka Radwanska recently notched up her 13th WTA title, the Korean Open, and Janowicz, asked what his aspirations are, immediately replies: "To win a Grand Slam." Given his potential, he could well be the first Pole to do so; assuming Radwanska hasn't already got there. Sixteen-year-old Kamil Majchrzak won the US Open boys' doubles title in September Poland won the Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas title for the first time in 2005. The under-16 team featured the Radwanska sisters and Maksymiliana Wandel POLISH FACTFILE Around 250,000 people play tennis in Poland In 2012 there were 1,834 licensed players, 2,330 licensed children in Tennis10s programmes and 994 licensed amateur players There are more than 5,000 courts 302 tennis clubs are affiliated to the Polish Tennis Federation 535 tournaments for men, women and juniors were organised in Poland in 2012, plus 300 Tennis10s tournaments and 500 amateur tournaments There are 444 certified tennis coaches and 2,593 certified tennis instructors according to the Polish Ministry of Sport Polish juniors have won 8 Grand Slam titles Tennis Xpress courses for adults have just started in Poland 14 ITFWORLD AUTUMN 2013 10 Polish players finished 2012 in the WTA and ATP Top 100 in singles and doubles