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.

Rod Laver adds his name to the IC Junior Challenge!

The Council is delighted to announce that we have reached an agreement with Rod Laver to use his name in the title of the IC Junior Challenge now that the Compass Group are no longer involved.

This means that from 2019, we will be staging the following events:

The IC Rod Laver South American Junior Challenge

The IC Rod Laver North American Junior Challenge

The IC Rod Laver European Junior Challenge

The IC Rod Laver African Junior Challenge

The IC Rod Laver Asian/Oceanian Junior Challenge

The IC Rod Laver World-wide Junior Challenge Finals  (every other year) 

Rod has always had an interest in encouraging juniors and he was keen to be associated with this prestigious IC event, which has been running for the last 14 years under the Compass banner. We are really pleased to have his involvement, which will considerably enhance the status of the event and hopefully encourage even more juniors to want to play in the IC Junior Challenge.  

Rod has been invited to honour us with his presence if he is in the same vicinity as the various Challenges, where I know this absolute tennis legend will be warmly welcomed.