Recipients of Wheelchair Tennis grants through GSPDP announced

Mon, 06/03/2024 - 12:00

Grand Slam Tennis, representing the four Grand Slam tournaments, has today announced the establishment of a Wheelchair Tennis pilot as part of the Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP).  

The pilot will see 10 promising Wheelchair Tennis players from around the world and across the sport’s classes awarded grants to contribute to competition-related costs during the remainder of the 2024 season. 

Administered by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on behalf of the Grand Slams, the GSPDP has contributed more than US$60million to international tennis development since its inception in 1986. The programme helps increase competitive opportunities and pathways for talented players from developing tennis nations and regions, ensuring they can gain experience at an international level. 

The following Wheelchair Tennis players will receive grants as a contribution towards their competition-related costs for the 2024 season: 

Men’s 

  • Lysov, Sergei (ISR) 
  • Sikhosana, Alwande (RSA)  

Women’s 

  • Guo, Luoyao (CHN) 
  • Lanucha, Natalia (CAN) 
  • Li, Xiahohuo (CHN) 

Quad 

  • Dutra Takaki, Joao Lucas (BRA) 

Juniors 

  • Dias Anatolio, Vitoria Miranda (BRA) 
  • Gryp, Luna (BEL) 
  • Mosko, Ailina (LAT) 
  • Taucher, Maximilian (AUT) 

South African grant recipient Alwande Sikhosana commented: "I feel very grateful to be recognised and to be part of the Grand Slam Player Development Programme, especially since I do not have any personal sponsorship. This programme will help me a great deal to play more tournaments, improve my ranking and break into the Slams but most importantly, it will help improve my level of performance." 

Patricia Cavalheiro, Wheelchair Tennis Coordinator, Brazilian Tennis Confederation, said: “From a South American perspective, the support the Grand Slam Player Development Programme is now providing to new players of different nations to achieve their goal of placing amongst the best players in Wheelchair Tennis, is great.  

“For those players with huge potential to achieve, but not necessarily the means to do so, this is an amazing opportunity to be seen, heard, and encouraged to propel their careers.  

“Not only will the programme develop their performance and foster their success, but the future generations of these different nations will also see that it is possible to achieve, despite the difficulties.”  

Ugo Valensi, Executive Director of Grand Slam® Tennis, said on behalf of the four Grand Slam tournaments: “Expanding on the success of the current Grand Slam Player Development Programme, we are delighted to invest in the development of Wheelchair Tennis and its emerging players through this pilot, and we extend our congratulations to the inaugural recipients.  

“It gives us immense pride to be able to contribute to the development of the sport across multiple categories and provide more playing opportunities. We have seen many former junior and adult recipients achieve outstanding results in their careers, so we hope these grants can help to provide the same success among our Wheelchair Tennis recipients.” 

David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “It is hugely satisfying to see this programme grow and add support for the world’s best young wheelchair players, and I would like to congratulate every recipient. The development of wheelchair tennis is a significant part of our ITF 2024+4 strategy, and we will continue to work with the Grand Slam tournaments for the benefit of players across the world.”