An educated and well supported child has a greater chance to become a champion

June 2010 The Global Tennis Legacy Foundation (GTLF) initiated a new unique global tennis legacy concept.  The GLTF launch took place in Paris (Roland Garros) and announced a minimum of 10 national tennis legacy Foundations in 2011. The core values of the Foundation are non-profitable, transparent, independent, sustainable, and share in multi-expertise network.

The Global Tennis Legacy Foundation is a non-profit foundation where active, (semi)-retired top ATP/WTA players and global experts will contribute and donate their knowledge, network and expertise to the Foundation to build a unique custom-made and personalized tennis development program to every individual tennis player who joins the GTLF for a yearly contract.

GTLF has the mission to guide, to protect and to support young boys and girls who have chosen to dedicate their adolescent lives to the sole objective of becoming a professional tennis player. This goal is a dream for thousands of youngsters, few will see it come true, the vast majority won’t make it to the « top », but their will to succeed is often so strong for the child (and/or for their parents), that it can lead to unreasonable choices in the child’s priorities concerning education and financial engagements for the parents. This can have serious consequences for both the future of the child and the child’s family.

 

Our foundation believes that when a child is expertly and honestly supported, we can help him avoid the mistakes, which could compromise his future. With guidance and personalized support during the year(‘s) of their GTLF contract, we can positively influence the players and their families to respect the right priorities. We can propose truthful and honest advice and help look for the most appropriate solutions to their problems. The GTLF offers ambitious young tennis players the protection they need to succeed in their lives and to have a far better chance to become a champion on and off the court.

The future chances for children to succeed in life, depends primarily on their education on-and off court, whether they attain professional status as a tennis player, or not, their education must remain a priority, it must not be neglected, no matter how important the ambitions in tennis may be, tennis must not become the priority over education, because this can seriously jeopardize the child’s adult life.

GTLF has the objective to give talented and ambitious young players the opportunity to make a success of their lives in doing what they love to do most playing tennis (also wheelchair tennis). If they have the potential to become a professional tennis player, we can support guide them all the way up to the « Top ».

For those who may need more time, with adequate High School and tennis results, they can qualify for a Sport Scholarship Program which can finance a University or College education in the USA. This does not mean that their dream to become a « pro » is over, quite the contrary, since 40 years many of the world’s best players have succeeded through these scholarship programs. What it does offer is the means to be successful in their lives, to give the chance to build a solid career, which is not necessarily confined to playing and/or to teaching tennis. It’s statistically proven that at the age of 25 a Tennis Player has his best performance.

We provide our services only for players who have the minimum potential to reach US scholarship level. GTLF want to optimize individual talents to become Grand Slam, Davis Cup and at least, Sport-Scholarship-level players.

The Mission and objectives for the global and national foundations are:

To develop,  advise and support young tennis personalities by proposing custom-made, independent, high performance and personalized tennis and education programs

To provide expert support and encouragement to potential “next generation” Grand Slam and Davis Cup and professional tennis players

To leave a sustainable tennis and educational legacy and to promote and grow the Sport of tennis on a country and global level

GTLF is not a management company but will independently advise on all aspects on and off court i.e. Tennis programs, coaches, academies, contracts, management companies, financials and business opportunities.

GTLF will put profits back into tennis legacy project on a national and worldwide level. GTLF and all TLF organizations will use tennis as a catalyst to develop and support social cohesion, education and better lifestyle in the world.