Launch of the ITF and IC Player Mentoring Programme

The IC Council is proud to announce the launch of the ITF and IC Player Mentoring Programme, in partnership with Give Learn. This unique initiative is designed to support players as they navigate the demands of professional tennis and plan for life beyond the game.

The programme will offer players on the ITF tours the opportunity to be matched with an experienced mentor from the worlds of finance, technology, entrepreneurship and beyond — someone who can offer guidance, perspective and a genuine connection outside of tennis.

Over the course of twelve months, participants will receive eight one-to-one sessions with their mentor alongside four group workshops covering topics such as building your personal brand on LinkedIn, starting a business while competing, financial planning, and preparing for a career after tennis.

Whether a player is thinking about their next chapter or simply wants to grow beyond the court, this programme could be for them.

Players can apply by logging in to the ITF website at itftennis.com using their IPIN. The deadline for 2026 applications is 30 June 2026.

For more information, click here to read more about the programme or contact player.care@itftennis.com with any queries.

Become a programme mentor

Our global IC community is full of individuals who have built successful careers in a wide range of fields and may have valuable experience to offer participants on the ITF and IC Player Mentoring Programme as mentors.

In particular, we’d like to hear from IC members who have:

• Industry expertise — a recognised leader or specialist in their field with a track record that players can learn from and credibility that commands respect
• Genuine desire to give back — motivated by impact rather than profile, someone who sees mentoring as a privilege not a transaction
• Time availability — senior enough to be valuable, but not so stretched they can't show up consistently for a monthly session
• Cross-cultural awareness — comfortable working with young athletes from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, many of whom are navigating life outside their home country
• Commercial or entrepreneurial experience — able to help players think about life beyond sport, from brand building and investments to business foundations and financial literacy
• Emotional intelligence — understands the unique pressures of elite sport, can listen as well as advise, and knows the difference between coaching and mentoring.

If this sounds like you and you would like to be considered to become a programme mentor, please contact James Cluskey from Give Learn at j.cluskey@givelearn.net. James is a member of the IC of Ireland – you can read more about his tennis and IC background here.

MONDAY REPORT FROM COMPASS IC JUNIOR CHALLENGE WORLDWIDE FINALS

A great start to the week with some exciting and close matches. Top seeds Italy came through with a win against India but not without several individual matches going to tie breaks.

The other two matches were extremely close and the overall results in the balance through to the doubles matches. In the match between Uruguay and South Africa it was Uruguay who took a 3-1 lead after the singles but only after the top two boys went to a third set tie break which Uruguay won. This meant the doubles were critical with the Uruguay girls coming through to give them their fourth win and so the overall match.

Meanwhile a long match between USA and Japan was again very closely fought. After the singles it was tied 2-2 with the USA girls then winning their doubles to go up 3-2. Then there was a great boys doubles in which they split the first two sets with the USA boys eventually coming through in the third set tie break to give the USA the team win.  Photos from Monday can be seen here

Tuesdays match ups in the round robin are:

Italy v Uruguay

India v USA

South Africa v Japan

In a superb IC tradition the Welcome Dinner at The Grand Hyatt was an outstanding occasion with Imperial Highness Princess Takamado in attendance and giving an inspiring speech to the juniors. At the event were many sponsors, IC members, organisers , Japanese tennis dignitaries and the Ambassadors of India and Italy. In total 187 attendees. Everyone was treated to a fascinating performance of traditional Japanese drumming with the juniors being invited afterwards to try their own hand at it which was much more difficult than it seemed! On a large screen photos from Sunday of the junior teams and their participation in the clinic for the handicapped kids were shown in rotation. This was a good demonstration for all those present of this philanthropic element that the IC encourages. It was also a great demonstration of the IC motto of "Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean". The IC of Japan is to be congratulated on putting on an event which has already become a very memorable one for all involved.