Heading into the 3rd edition of Intesa Sanpaolo Assures Little Tennis Champions

As a result of the hard work and commitment of the Board of Directors of I Tennis Foundation and all the partners involved, it is now possible to give continuity to the Intesa Sanpaolo Assicura Little Tennis Champions project.
The scholarship program for talented kids is now in its third edition and, after the excellent results of the first two seasons, there is much satisfaction both for the personal and tennis growth of the girls and boys involved and for the successes achieved in international tournaments (21 titles, 20 finals and 28 semifinals reached).
Intesa Sanpaolo Assicura Little Tennis Champions aims to provide an annual program including tennis training sessions with the association’s top coaches and participation in ITF international tournaments. To the 12 players also important activities such as mental coaching (with Stefano Massari, Matteo Berrettini’s mental coach), which is increasingly crucial in modern tennis.
The goal of the program is to prepare the kids for matches with on-court and classroom sessions on the tactical and mental level, in tune with the kids’ families and the clubs they belong to.
Confirmed the scholarship participants from previous years, two new scholarships offered by our partner Coop Lombardia will be included for two boys from the Lombardy area, also selected on the basis of income and tennis talent among the boys already participating in the June 2022 public call for applications.
The project includes an inclusive package of participation in 11 ITF U18 tournaments, Italian U15 and U16 Championships, 5 special training sessions with our top coaches and I Tennis staff, 5 complementary courses such as mental coaching path, proper nutrition, sports communication, sports ethics and learning by the champions.
Over the years, real legends of tennis history such as Emilio Sanchez, Ivan Ljubicic, Francesca Schiavone, Omar Camporese, as well as great Italian coaches such as Gipo Arbino and Vincenzo Santopadre have taken turns on the court with the fellows.
With the support and advice of I Tennis Foundation ambassadors (Jasmine Paolini, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Lorenzo Sonego, Matteo Arnaldi and Lorenzo Musetti), the young talents of the scholarship program will begin on July 8 this third adventure with the ITF J60 tournament in San Marino.
Starting July 15, they will meet again in Turin for a week of training in which Gipo Arbino will be joined by Marco Panichi, Novak Djokovic’s historic athletic trainer, and Stefano Massari, Matteo Berrettini’s mental coach.
During the retreat on Friday, July 19, the press event inaugurating the new project will be held, and with the occasion there will be an on-court exhibition tournament by the girls and boys of I Tennis
In August the international programming starts again with the appointments in Cuneo (J30), Livorno (J30) and Domzale- Slovenia (J60), while between September and October, after the Italian Under 15 Championships (the review for the U16s is scheduled in December), we return to compete in Barcelona (ITF J100), Palermo (J100), Pescara (J60) and Cairo (J60).
In November, while the eyes of the world are on Turin for the ATP Finals, I Tennis Foundation team meets again under the Mole for a special training session with Ivan Ljubicic and Gipo Arbino.
In 2025 they will resume with a gathering at the beautiful location of Villa Reale Tennis Monza, and then continue with three ITF tournaments between March and April.
In May the grand finale in Rome on the courts of the Circolo degli Esteri with Vincenzo Santopadre, Gipo Arbino and Stefano Massari, and the inevitable Charity Night for the awarding of diplomas.