Special Interview with the coaches and the clubs of the 20 selected!

I Tennis Campus

The non-profit
tennis academy

I Tennis Campus

The non-profit

tennis academy

A new model of school with an exclusively humanitarian purpose: an innovative lab, inspired by the principles of solidarity and meritocracy, consisting only of fellows who will fight to emerge in the tennis world.

Goal

Hosting the best Italian and European talents belonging to less fortunate families, educating, training and supporting them in their integration into the tennis pro, the academic and working field.

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A unique plan based on

Talent and Meritocracy

I Tennis Foundation is the Italian charity organization that gives the opportunity to 20 European children belonging to underprivileged areas to be included in an international program for completion of the secondary education and for a high-level tennis preparation.

scolarships

europe countries
involved

unique great project
TO REALIZE TOGETHER

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Plus of the Academy

it is more people-friendly → it hosts 20 kids from only 6 nations
it is more meritocratic → it hosts only the most gifted kids
grants more stability for the kids’ education
aims to train all students and support even those who will not be selected for professional tennis
has a solely humanitarian purpose with a total lack of business perspective
allows the development of an innovative lab made up only of scholarship holders who will fight to emerge in the tennis field
provides a school sports programme that includes all tennis-related activities (sports journalism, coaching, match analysis, technical commentary)
provides for social integration by connecting the children with the local community

it is more people-friendly → it hosts 20 kids from only 6 nations

it is more meritocratic → it hosts only the most gifted kids

grants more stability for the kids’ education

aims to train all students and support even those who will not be selected for professional tennis

has a solely humanitarian purpose with a total lack of business perspective

allows the development of an innovative lab made up only of scholarship holders who will fight to emerge in the tennis field

provides a school sports programme that includes all tennis-related activities (sports journalism, coaching, match analysis, technical commentary)

provides for social integration by connecting the children with the local community

The academy will be inaugurated in 2021, the year of the pandemic, and will open its doors to the best Italian tennis players with the Little Tennis Champions 2021 Summer Master, a training programme within the I Tennis Campus aimed at 20 talented Italian kids born in 2008 and belonging to less wealthy families.

The 2021 Summer Masters is a preview of the Little Tennis Champions 2022-2026 international scholarship programme, a 4-year sports and education programme that provides young people with the opportunity to follow a long-term training plan, with the aim of entering a professional career.

The Scholarships

Little Tennis Champions

1. Selection phase

Little Tennis Champions is the scholarship programme through which the I Tennis Foundation will provide 20 scholarships to finance the educational and tennis training of the most deserving children.

The selection will take place through a contest that will be presented in Italy and in the countries with the lowest income per capita in Europe and will reward the talent of young people from less fortunate families.

2. life at the campus

The I TENNIS CAMPUS academy is a completely renovated area within the Forte Village Resort, where the children will attend secondary school and tennis activities.

The technical direction of the academy is handled by Academia Sanchez-Casal who will cooperate with the FIT and other coaches supporting the I Tennis Foundation.

ES International School will provide high school education for the students and, after graduation, support them in getting into the best American universities.

3. pro career

At the end of the four years of high school, through an internal tennis competition, 8 students will be selected (4 boys and 4 girls) who will be introduced to a professional career in the ITF, ATP and WTA circuits.

I Tennis Foundation, in collaboration with its sponsors, will provide the 8 students with a support team to enable them to take part in international competitions and to climb the world rankings, and will fully finance the pathway.

The Scholarships

Little Tennis Champions

1. Selection phase

2. life at the campus

The I TENNIS CAMPUS academy is a completely renovated area within the Forte Village Resort, where the children will attend secondary school and tennis activities.

The technical direction of the academy is handled by Academia Sanchez-Casal who will cooperate with the FIT and other coaches supporting the I Tennis Foundation.

ES International School will provide high school education for the students and, after graduation, support them in getting into the best American universities.

3. pro career

What differentiates us
from other Academies

Business academies are often unsuitable environments for children because they are too large, fragmented and isolated from local communities.

Our academy:

it is more people-friendly → it hosts 20 kids from only 6 nations
it is more meritocratic → it hosts only the most gifted kids
grants more stability for the kids’ education
aims to train all students and support even those who will not be selected for professional tennis
has a solely humanitarian purpose with a total lack of business perspective
allows the development of an innovative lab made up only of scholarship holders who will fight to emerge in the tennis field
provides a school sports programme that includes all tennis-related activities (sports journalism, coaching, match analysis, technical commentary)
provides for social integration by connecting the children with the local community

SUPPORT US

You can support the activities of I Tennis Foundation and become our associate with a little donation of € 20,00.

How? It’s simple!

With a payment to the bank account of ASSOCIAZIONE I TENNIS with Italian IBAN IT60D0848701000000260102127
(Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Cherasco – Soc. Coop., filiale di Torino) specifying “2021 membership fee” in the reason for payment

Or by making a payment to our PayPal account.

“We established the I Tennis Foundation to support disadvantaged kids who have tennis talent but unfortunately do not have the adequate means to practice this magnificent sport… let’s make the Little Tennis Champions project together!”

Simone Bongiovanni – President of I Tennis Foundation

Main Sponsor

Sponsor

Best-ranking ATP n. 28"I am very pleased to support the I Tennis Foundation which is based in Turin, my city. The Little Tennis Champions charity project is based on values I do care most, such as meritocracy and solidarity with the underprivileged classes"

USPTA Master Professional Elite Certified, Single best-ranking ATP n.7, Double best-ranking ATP n.1, Founder ASC Academia Sanchez-Casal"I have immediately decided to share the mission of I Tennis Foundation which is in line with the objectives of my ESV Foundation: I am pleased to make my experience in the tennis industry available to help grow the LTC project"

Double best-ranking ATP n.1, co-owner ASC Academia Sanchez-Casal"Little Tennis Champions is a very beautiful, great and ambitious project: disadvantaged kids, who do not have the means, at last can have the chance to attend an international school and grow up in tennis sport"

Coach of Lorenzo Sonego Best-ranking ATP n. 28"After many years in the world of tennis I have appreciated the strategy of the I Tennis Foundation and the scholarship plan for the development of young talents belonging to the most disadvantaged classes"

Best-ranking ATP n. 7, non-playing captain of the Italy Davis Cup team, professional tennis coach"After many years in the world of tennis I have appreciated the strategy of the I Tennis Foundation and the scholarship plan for the development of young talents belonging to the most disadvantaged classes"

Best-ranking WTA n.22 and current Fed Cup captain"Projects such as I Tennis Campus and Little Tennis Champions are so charitable that they not only help the community but also contribute to the meaning of fairness and loyalty that our sport teaches us every day"

Founder & Director Top5 Management, Manager of Elina Svitolina (best-ranking WTA n. 3)"I am very happy to support this project because in my life I have always given importance to talent and meritocracy"

Coach of Elena Rybakina, best-ranking WTA n. 17"When I was introduced to the Little Tennis Champions project, I thought it was a great concept: offering the chance to be part of a group of scholarship students today is an important opportunity for the disadvantaged social classes"

Best-ranking ATP n. 4, current coach of Wang Q, best-ranking WTA n. 12"I Tennis Foundation has launched a very interesting and valuable project for disadvantaged children. The Forte Village location will also be the perfect environment, given its tennis vocation and the many international tournaments played throughout the year"

Professional tennis coach and Fognini’s sparring"I decided to join LTC because in my coaching career I have always thought that it would be great to give everyone access to our wonderful sport so that the best talents can have an opportunity of growth regardless of their economic status"

Giulia Gatto Monticone's coach"In my perspective as a coach and sports psychologist, I share the values and philosophy of the I Tennis Foundation with a view to helping disadvantaged young people in their technical and personal growth"

Best-ranking ATP n. 9"As a professional tennis player, I like the scholarship system realized by The I Tennis Foundation: it will create an interesting group of small scholars who will have an important opportunity for growth in their lives"

Best-ranking WTA n. 6, winner of the US Open 2015"After spending my life in the world of professional tennis, whit whom I shared the values of discipline and meritocracy, I support with pleasure the I Tennis Foundation professionals and their vision: GIVE A CHANCE TO THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE POSSIBILITIES"

Best-ranking WTA n. 17"Tennis is about sacrifice and deprivation, and I believe that this project can finally reward young talents who are willing to work hard to create a better future"

Best-ranking ATP n. 76"The Little Tennis Champions charity programme is a springboard that will allow some teenagers to pursue a tennis career without having to sacrifice their studies and to see their efforts rewarded"

Best-ranking WTA n. 148"As a professional tennis player, I believe that giving young talents the chance to grow through scholarships is a valuable initiative. I am happy that the project is based in my city, Turin"

Professional Golfer"The Group of I Tennis Foundation with Little Tennis Champions has identified a new, innovative and rewarding format for underprivileged children; I share in full the values of the project, the same values that have shaped my career as a golfer so far. Talent and passion have no boundaries"

President of FIT – Italian Tennis Federation"I appreciated the charitable aims of the I Tennis Foundation and the peculiarities of the Little Tennis Champions project that we as FIT support in favour of less fortunate talented teenagers"

President of the Egyptian Museum and Managing Director at FIFA and UEFA"As a sports person and a manager working in the sports industry, I support this ambitious project conceived and developed in my beloved Turin"

President of Ferrero Spa"The goals of the charity project Little Tennis Champions are inspired by the same sensitivity: individual development, the promotion of talent, the attention to training are the highest, most challenging and necessary mission, always"

Owner of Colombo Group"My family has always been involved in sports and when I heard about Little Tennis Champions we shared their values and charitable goals by deciding to sponsor the project"

Owner of Maina Panettoni S.p.A."I have always had a great passion for tennis and I believe that this unique project will bring great added value to the world of tennis through supporting the most disadvantaged social classes"

Owner of Costruzioni Generali Gilardi S.p.A."Little Tennis Champions is a unique project that our Foundation has decided to support since it rewards talent and willingness of the most disadvantaged children through the awarding of scholarships aimed at international educational and tennis training"

Coach of Roger Federer, best-ranking ATP n. 3"I decided to support the I Tennis Foundation because it reminds what happened to me and I see myself in the boys and girls who will have this opportunity. Because it is the same opportunity I had 28 years ago. I know what they will experience, how they will feel. And I will be happy to contribute to their growth."

Best-ranking WTA n. 14"I Tennis Foundation has developed an innovative scholarship plan for less privileged children: I am really pleased to support it and hopefully contribute to their success!"