Turin, 13 november 2021 – The official opening of the fundraising, a photo book describing the charitable projects of the I Tennis Foundation and the presentation of a technical committee unique in quality, values and impact on the history of tennis. This is what happened in Turin on the eve of the Nitto ATP Finals in the fantastic setting of the Reale Group Cral with the presence of Ivan Ljubicic (former ATP n°3, now Federer’s coach and Matteo Berrettini’s manager), friends of our association Lorenzo Sonego and coach Gipo Arbino, Emilio Sanchez live from his academy in Florida and Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 winner of Roland Garros in Paris. With her talent, determination and ability to excite and involve people, Francesca Schiavone has indeed made an unforgettable mark on 20 years of world tennis. This is why her entry into the I Tennis Campus charity academy, as ambassador and member of the technical committee, becomes particularly significant. Because the 20 talents who will get the Little Tennis Champions 2022-2026 scholarships will not only have technical guidance of the highest level, but a concrete example of someone who has been able to climb the great tennis ranks by working on herself day after day. And managing to make a difference with her incredible natural gifts and above all with a true passion for the sport. “I still have the images of her great victories in my eyes, from her exploits in the Federation Cup with the Italian national jersey to her success at Roland Garros,’ comments Simone Bongiovanni, president of the I Tennis Foundation. ‘We have always felt that Francesca’s story was relevant to our charity project, and now that her entry has materialised, we are all very happy and excited. The girls and boys we select for the four-year scholarship will have a unique opportunity: to be followed periodically by an exceptional person and coach”. “It is exciting to be able to be part of this new project that combines the sport of my life with social sustainability,” Francesca explains. “It is a great challenge to help develop the talent of the boys during the master’s years and to guide their progress by trying to make them overcome their limits day after day. I hope my contribution can ignite in them the spark that has accompanied my sporting life, that hunger and desire to make a difference on the playing field”. “Having a champion of the calibre of Francesca Schiavone as an ambassador and member of the technical committee is of absolute importance for the programme and future projects of the I Tennis Foundation,” says Rosario Rasizza, CEO of Openjobmetis SpA. – We are proud to support as main sponsor the Academy team with which we share the objective of enhancing the talent of young athletes by offering them, in a meritocratic way, a concrete opportunity for growth and affirmation”. Francesca Schiavone, Ivan Ljubicic and Gianni Ocleppo (former ATP n° 30 and now President of the Committee of Honour of the Nitto ATP Finals) were also conferred the office of honorary members of the association, joining important personalities, not only from the world of sport, such as Maria Franca Ferrero, Evelina Christillin, Alberto Cirio, Chiara Appendino, Corrado Barazzutti, Angelo Binaghi, Lorenzo Sonego and Gipo Arbino. The stars of the evening at the Reale Mutua Cral were also the 20 selected students for the 2021 Summer Master’s Course, which will be held in Turin until 16 November. For them not only the entrance to the Pala Alpitour to watch their idols up close, but also a special training session under the guidance of Francesca Schiavone and Gipo Arbino, and some performances on the Piazza San Carlo court as part of the promotional activities planned with the project partners Iren Luce Gas e Servizi and Valmora.
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE I TENNIS CAMPUS DIRECTOR: Emilio Sanchez. MEMBERS: Francesca Schiavone, Ivan Ljubicic, Gipo Arbino, Rocco Loccisano.