CAIRO: Egypt’s U10 Tennis Circuit was held for the first time in Egypt from May 20–June 18 in four different clubs throughout Cairo namely Dokki Shooting Club, Heliopolis Club, Gezira Sporting Club and Palm Club, where the circuit was initiated and concluded for this round with the Masters Championship.
The circuit concept was formed a year ago by Hassan El Aroussy, Circuit cofounder, Egypt’s Play+Stay project director, International Tennis Federation (ITF) tutor and Palm Aroussy Tennis Academy (PATA) director, as part of the ITF initiative that all tournaments under 10 years must be played with a slow ball on a small court. Based on that idea, Egypt’s U10 Tennis Circuit was created by El Aroussy, Bassel Eissa, former Egyptian tennis champ and circuit manager and cofounder and Hussein El Aroussy, Circuit marketing manager. Moreover, this circuit aims at encouraging the U10 tennis movement in Egypt which will become an international tennis rule in 2012.
Essentially geared towards all tennis players who are 10 years and younger both national and foreign, the circuit consists of a series of weekend round robin & knock-out tournaments, and, whereas this one was held over a duration of four weeks future circuits could last up to 10 weeks as there will be several ones each year. Players accumulated points at each of the three qualifying tournaments which form every circuit leading to the Masters Championship which was held at PATA in Palm Club (Palm Hills October).
After all of the qualifying tournaments have been completed, the top 16 ranked players in each age group were invited by the circuit committee to play in the Masters Championship which is a conventional tournament played over a weekend and where all participants are guaranteed to play at least two matches (Compass Draw).
Egypt U10 Tennis Masters Championship was held at Palm Club on June 17–18 where the level of play was very competitive. The circuit winners received a free package to participate in a European International Tournament offering them further exposure and the opportunity to compete against other players from different countries.
