 Photographer: ITF
Date: 25 Oct 2009 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 27 Oct 2009 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 27 Oct 2009 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 27 Oct 2009 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 27 Oct 2009 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 27 Oct 2009 |
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| 25 Oct 2009 - Antalya, Turkey - Daniel Absolon | |
| ITF Cruyff Foundation Camp in Turkey |
From Monday 19 October, the ITF, in partnership with the Cruyff Foundation ran a five-day development camp for six Iranian players and seven Iraqi and Turkish Junior players, both boys and girls, in Turkey.
The camp was held in Antalya, at the Ali Bey tennis resort, the venue for the 2010 Invacare World Team Cup.
Following the success of the Marmaris training camp, held in Turkey this May for the Iraqi men’s players prior to the Marmaris Open, the same opportunity was offered to Iran, who excelled during this tournament and also to the Iraqi and Turkish Juniors, who competed over the following three days in the Junior draw of the Antalya Open, part of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour, where they played for points that will contribute to their Cruyff Foundation Junior Ranking.
All players were able to benefit from the expert tuition of Geraint Richards (GBR), while Kevin Simpson (GBR), second seed in the men’s main draw at the Antalya Open, took time out of his preparation to act as a player ambassador in the junior training sessions, motivating the players to develop their game.
All players excelled during the four days of training and went on to participate in an exciting weekend of tennis at the ITF Futures event.
Both Iran and Iraq have been shortlisted by the ITF for Silver Fund support in 2010-11 and we look forward to announcing upcoming Silver Fund Projects next month.
Given the challenges faced in developing disability sport in both countries, the standard of play and level of participation was incredibly high, with a strong Junior and Women’s draw and Turkish Junior Busra Un (TUR) occupying the second seed in both draws and players from Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Great Britain taking the remaining slots.
Iran's Hossein Mamipour, a quarterfinalist in the Marmaris Open in May, demonstrated his continued development as a wheelchair tennis player as he went on to win a thrilling finale to the men's main draw singles at the Antalya Open, beating top seed Harald Pfundner (AUT) 64 26 76(11).
Mamipour beat Simpson in three sets to reach the final, while Pfundner secured a 64 63 semifinal victory over Mohammad Yaghoubi (IRI), the winner of the Marmaris Open earlier in the season.
Mamipour and Yaghoubi also went on to win another exciting climax to the men's main draw doubles, beating top seeds Pfundner and Simpson 46 63 (10-8).
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