Stars of tomorrow partake in latest junior player education session

While the gripping action unfolds at the Davis Cup Juniors and Billie Jean King Cup Juniors by BNP Paribas Finals, players have also benefitted from the latest in a series of informative junior player education sessions in Antalya, Türkiye.

The latest session included presentations from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), with a particular focus on the anti-doping testing process, and renowned umpire Carlos Ramos, who is the tournament referee at the Finals. He is also an ITF Gold Badge official.

Ramos delved into his extensive back catalogue of officiating experience to talk through with the players any rules which they may not be aware of or needed clarification on, and indeed answer questions.

The ITIA, meanwhile, are remaining on-site during the coming days to deliver education outreach and advise the stars of tomorrow how the organisation promotes, encourages and safeguards the integrity of professional tennis worldwide.

By the end of the week, the ITIA’s education team will have had contact with every player competing in this year’s Davis Cup Juniors and Billie Jean King Cup Juniors through online or in-person sessions. A landmark achievement.

This week’s education offering follows similar ITF/WTA/ATP-led sessions at Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as a session at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals – the ITF’s flagship 14-and-under team competition – in Prostejov, Czech Republic in August.

These sessions covered topics including anti-doping, integrity, mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding, nutrition and hydration, while there have been Q&As with Gabriela Dabrowski, Nicole Pratt, Robert Farah, Anna Tatishvili and Jiri Vesely.

The education sessions are the product of key tennis stakeholder alignment, ensuring collaboration as an individual progresses along the pathway, especially during that key transition from a junior to a professional. There is much more to come in 2023.