A world of opportunity: Touring Team in North America | ITF

A world of opportunity: Touring Team in North America

Ross McLean

30 Aug 2026

What are Grand Slam Player Development Programme Touring Teams?

Each year, groups of talented players from underrepresented nations are invited to join World Tennis-operated Grand Slam Player Development Programme Touring Teams.

The players, who tend to be aged 18 and under but not exclusively, travel as a team, have access to high-performance coaches and can be exposed to events outside of their region.

The Touring Team programme provides crucial support for talented players who might otherwise be unable to compete at the level they do. It also enables opportunities that financial constraints may otherwise prevent and helps players in ways that would not be possible if the programme did not exist.

In short, the Touring Team programme is a key development initiative – both on and off the tennis court – and lays important foundations for players to rise to and establish themselves at a professional level.

During 2026, Touring Teams will travel to all regions of the world and compete across the tennis spectrum: at World Tennis Tour events, under-18 junior events and top-level under-14 regional and international events.

 

A Grand Slam Player Development Programme Touring Team is currently in North America. Who's involved? 

Boys

Arnav Paparkar (IND)

Dan Brand (ISR)

Ntungamili Raguin (BOT)

Oluwaseun Peter Ogunsakin (NGR)

Yannik Alvarez (PUR)

 

Girls

Sol Ailin Larraya Guidi (ARG)

Maria Valentina Pop (ROU)

Maia Ilinca Burcescu (ROU)

 

Coaches

Roberta Burzagli (BRA)

Robert Raguz (CRO)

Wilmar Nunez (COL) 

 

What is the team’s schedule in North America?

20 August: Arrival

21-23 August: Training camp in Washington, D.C.

24-29 August: J300 College Park

30 August-5 September: Training camp in Washington, D.C.

6-12 September: US Open Junior Championships

 

Which players currently or recently within the Top 100 have been members of Touring Teams?

Men: Grigor Dimitrov (BUL), Sebastian Baez (ARG), Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG), Damir Dzumhur (BIH), Yunchaokete Bu (CHN), Hugo Dellien (BOL), Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG)

Women: Qinwen Zheng (CNH), Jelena Ostapenko (LAT), Ons Jabeur (TUN), Camila Osorio (COL), Viktoriya Tomova (BUL), Mayar Sherif (EGY), Alexandra Eala (PHI), Victoria Azarenka (BLR), Anhelina Kalinina (UKR), Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU), Emiliana Arango (COL), Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)