The ITF has announced the 17 players who will form the international 18-and-under GSDF Teams that will tour Europe over a nine-week period this summer.
The teams are financed by the Grand Slam Development Fund (GSDF), providing players not only with the opportunity to take part in top level international competition but also the invaluable experience of travelling abroad as part of a team under the guidance of an ITF coach.
The teams will be accompanied by five team coaches: Roberta Burzagli (BRA), Juan Manuel Esparcia (ESP), Petra Russegger (AUT), Suresh Menon (MAS) and Gianluca Carbone (ITA).
The teams and their schedules are as follows:
‘A’ Team
Boys
- Ray Ho (TPE)
- Stefan Palosi (ROU)
- Daniel Michalski (POL)
- Philip Henning (RSA)
Girls
- Daniela Vismane (LAT)
- Sada Nahimana (BDI)
- Maria Gabriela Rivera Corado (GUA)
- Gergana Topalova (BUL)
- Mariam Dalakishvili (GEO)
‘A’ Team schedule
- 9-13 May: Training camp in Italy
- 14-20 May: 40th Torneo «Città Di Santa Croce» Mauro Sabatini, Italy (Grade 1)
- 21-27 May: 59th Trofeo Bonfiglio – Campionati Internazionali d’Italia Juniores, Italy (Grade A)
- 28 May-2 June: Training camp in Italy (on red clay)/ITF Pro Circuit tournament (for boys with a professional ranking only)
- 3-9 June: Roland Garros Junior French Championships (Grade A)
- 24-30 June: Training camp in England (on grass)
- 1-6 July: Junior International Roehampton (Grade 1)
- 7-15 July: The Junior Championships, Wimbledon (Grade A)
‘B’ Team
Boys
- Seon Yong Han (KOR)
- Sebastian Rodriguez (PER)
- Minjong Park (KOR)
- Alexander Zgirovsky (BLR)
Girls
- Oona Orpana (FIN)
- Romina Ccuno (PER)
- Rut Galindo (GUA)
- Ana Geller (ARG)
‘B’ Team schedule
- 26-29 April: Training camp in Italy
- 30 April-6 May: 35th Torneo Bayer di Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy (Grade 2)
- 8-13 May: 26th Torneo Internazionale Città di Prato, Italy (Grade 2)
- 14-20 May: 40th Torneo «Città Di Santa Croce» Mauro Sabatini, Italy (Grade 1)
- 21-27 May: 59th Trofeo Bonfiglio – Campionati Internazionali d’Italia Juniores, Italy (Grade A)
- 28 May-2 June: 54th Astrid Bowl Charleroi, Belgian International Junior Championships (Grade 1)
- 3-9 June: Roland Garros Junior French Championships (Grade A)
The Grand Slam® Development Fund was originally established in 1986 to encourage and increase competitive opportunities in developing tennis regions. With annual contributions from the four Grand Slam tournaments, the Fund has become an effective means to develop competitive tennis worldwide. The Fund has contributed more than $50 million to tennis development since its inception, with more than $3 million available for distribution in 2018.