ITF tasks Kenya to host new tourney for young tennis players

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

The International Tennis Federation has earmarked Kenya for the inaugural 2019 Transition Tour to help upcoming players improve their world rankings.

The federation's president, David Haggerty, who is touring the country said the tour was to help countries such as Kenya to develop their game.

Haggerty said the Tour would form a pathway to help young players, especially in developing countries, play more tournaments for points without taking expensive tours across the world for points.

“We hope it will mould talented young players to make it through to professional ranks without having them travel around the world, which is an expensive affair,” said Haggerty. “They will play and get points that will enable them to get to ATP and WTF events.” Haggerty was speaking yesterday when he met officials from Tennis Kenya and Confederation of Africa Tennis at the Nairobi Club.

Haggerty, who is on a two-day tour, also met young players who are attending training at the ITF East Africa High Performance Centre and Tennis Kenya camp and later paid a courtesy call on Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa.

Sports Permanent Secretary Peter Kaberia said the ministry was committed to making it work at a time it was struggling with limited resources and competing interests.

“I want to assure you that we have the support of all the relevant ministries to make this work,” he said.

The Government has set aside 10 acres of land worth Sh300 million for a project that promises to establish the first public tennis courts in the country.

Tennis Kenya President James Kenani said the first phase would consist of an administration block and six tennis courts while the whole venture would have 24 courts and hostels.