Spain will host this year 2021 a total of 17 scoring tournaments for the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors world circuit, a new record that can make him the country with the highest number of U'18 competitions at the end of the year in the world.
This extensive calendar is the result of the efforts of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) in its negotiations with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for increasing the number of events allowed in the same country.
Of the seven tournaments in this category organized in 2016, more than double planned this year. “Many male and female players between the ages of 15 and 18 could not compete internationally to improve their level. The few who could had to do it abroad at the cost ”, explains the Sports Director of the RFET, Javier Soler.
Long negotiations between the RFET and the ITF
The alternative for many players was to play professional tournaments, against rivals with a level and vastly superior experience. “They were competing prematurely at a level that did not correspond to them and that generated great frustration. To make a simile, it is as if in the academic formation of a person, we went from ESO to University without having completed the Baccalaureate. “
Following several discussions with the ITF, and a meeting in London two years ago, la RFET has managed to open the door so that a greater number of ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments can be organized in Spain, so that young talents can compete before making the leap to the professional circuit.
Two Category 1 tournaments
Two of the tournaments to be held in Spain in 2021 will be Category 1 (Villena and Sanxenxo), the most important after Category A tournaments among which are the four Grand Slam.
The competition will open this February with the first tournament in Manacor (February 8-14) and will close in Silla (November 1-7), in Valencia.