Masaaki Morita Tennis⁢ Fund‍ Offers Scholarships ​for Junior Players to Study‌ Abroad

The Masaaki Morita Tennis Fund⁣ (MMTF), a public interest incorporated foundation, is seeking talented junior players to award⁤ scholarships for studying abroad in 2024. This⁢ initiative ‍aims to support the next generation of‍ Japanese tennis players who ⁣will lead the sport in the future.

Empowering Junior Players to Reach New Heights

MMTF has a proven track record ⁢of supporting top Japanese players, including Kei Nishikori (UNIQLO/world rank 201) and Yoshihito‌ Nishioka (MIKIHOUSE/world rank 54). ⁣These players received significant support from ‌MMTF during their junior days, gaining valuable experience overseas from a young age and eventually becoming world-class players.

Success Stories of MMTF Scholars

In 2019, Shintaro Mochizuki (Kinoshita Group/ranked 147th) became the first Japanese male to win the ‍Wimbledon Junior Championship, thanks in⁤ part to the support​ he ⁢received from MMTF since ‌he was ‌13 ‍years old.​ More recently,⁢ Sakamoto Rei⁣ (Homare High School/ITF Junior World Ranking 3rd) won⁣ a Grand Slam junior singles title at the Australian Open, while 16-year-old ​Sonobe Yasao (Yono Tennis Club/ITF Junior World Ranking 6th) achieved⁤ impressive results by coming in ⁣second in the US Open junior women’s singles.

Eligibility and Application​ Details

Junior players who meet the following eligibility criteria are‌ encouraged to ​apply:

• Japanese​ junior players who are in the ‌top​ four or higher in the U-14 boys’ singles or girls’ singles of the‌ 2024 “National Junior Tennis Championships”​ or “All Japan Junior Championships”
• Japanese junior players born on or after April 2, 2012, who place in the top four or‍ higher in the U-12 boys’ singles or girls’ singles ⁣of the 2024 “National Selected Junior Tennis Championships,” “National Elementary School Tennis Championships,” or “All Japan Junior ‍Championships”

The application‌ period⁣ begins on October 1, 2024. The selection process will involve a document screening, followed by a selection meeting in Japan and a final selection in the United⁢ States.

Scholarship Details

The scholarship ⁤includes:

• Annual round-trip ticket between ⁣Haneda and the US
• Accommodation at a tennis ​academy (training and dormitory)
• Travel expenses decided by the academy

Please note ⁤that athletes who have signed sponsorship contracts or financial support from other⁢ companies or organizations will not be⁤ eligible to proceed‌ to the⁣ selection process.