14 year old Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and 16 year old Manas Dhamne are the only two Indians part of the list of fifty-one junior and professional players that will receive Grand Slam Player Grants in 2024, supported by the Grand Slam Player Development Programme.
How much funding will they receive?
For the 2024 season, Maaya Rajeshwaran will receive US$50,000, while Manas Dhamne will receive US$25,000 as a contribution towards his competition-related costs.
Who are the other non-Indian players that received funds?
Only two players have received US$50,000 grants – Maaya and Dino Prizmic, the 18 year old Croatian who famously took a set off Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Other prominent players who received US$25,000 grants include 2023 ATP NextGen Finals winner Hamad Medjedovic, Filip Misolic, Alex Eala, Thiego Austin Tirante, etc.
What did the ITF President say?
David Haggerty, ITF President, said: “Congratulations to all players who have been selected as recipients of the 2024 Grand Slam Player Grants. Development is an important pillar of the ITF2024+4 Strategy and at the core of everything the ITF does. We are pleased that many players who have been supported by the ITF’s development programme throughout their junior careers are among this year’s player grant recipients. We will continue to work in collaboration with the Grand Slam tournaments to support the development of tennis around the world.”
About The Grand Slam Player Grant
Together with the International Tennis Federation, the Grand Slam Player Development Programme (formerly known as the Grand Slam Development Fund) was established in 1986 to encourage and foster competitive opportunities for players from developing tennis nations and regions. Through the delivery of Grand Slam Player Grants, the programme seeks to increase competitive pathways for players, ensuring they can gain experience at an international level, including at the Grand Slams.
Since its inception, the Grand Slam Player Development Programme has contributed more than US$60 million to strengthen and grow player development.
The Player Grants Programme was formed in 2017 and since then a number of grant recipients have gone on to reach the top of the game. Among them are 2022 Wimbledon Champion Elena Rybakina, Grand Slam finalists Ons Jabeur and Casper Ruud, and several promising young players such as Zheng Qinwen and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Other stars of the game to have received support from the Grand Slam Player Development Programme over the years include Victoria Azarenka, Grigor Dimitrov, Gustavo Kuerten and Jelena Ostapenko.