Club Med Punta Cana to Host of Nike Junior Tour International Masters 2009

The Club Med Village of Punta Cana will be the host of this year’s fourth Nike Junior Tour (NJT) International Masters tennis tournament to be held October 13 to 20. This is the premier event in the world for tennis players under the ages of 12 and 14 years old.

The opening in France of the 2009 Nike Junior Tour was a successful test. The head of the tour and the worldwide tennis champion Rafael Nadal won the tournament on three occasions.

Twenty six countries will be participating in the event including Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom and the United States, according to the press release from the Press and Communications Office of the Tourism Ministry. Belarus, Morocco, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates will be participating in the NJT International Masters for the first time and the Netherlands are returning after a long absence.

The opening in France of the 2009 Nike Junior Tour was a successful test. The head of the tour and the worldwide tennis champion Rafael Nadal won the tournament on three occasions. Swedish finalist Robin Soderling, who is now in 12th place in the world, was in 14th place in Stuttgart in 1998. In addition, semi-finalist and number 5 in the world, Argentine Juan Martín del Potro placed number 12 in the NJT in 2000.

NJT players are now having an impact in each Junior Grand Slam and are involved in juniors tournaments all over the world.

The current junior Wimbledon games are full of names of players who have participated in the International Masters NJT. Some of the renowned players include: Carlos Boluda (from Spain, three-time winner), Thiago Fernandes (Brazil), Sebastian Lavie (from France and now competing from New Zealand), Robert Rumler (from the Czech Republic), Marin Draganja (Croatia), Radim Urbanek (winner from the Czech Republic).

In addition to Arthur de Greef of Belgium, other Wimbledon juniors include Zsofia Susanyi (Hungary), Chanel Simmonds (South Africa), Tamaryn Hender (winner from Belgium) and Ajla Tomljanovic (winner from Croatia). These young people have shown their universality in the NIKE Junior Tour.

“Nadal, Del Potro, Berdych, Soderling, Safarova, Peer and Paszek are prestigious names in the world of tennis and they have all at some point participated in the Nike Junior Tour, the biggest tennis tournament in the world for children,” said Philippe Weiss, and one of the leaders of the Nike Junior Tour Project. “I am more convinced that at this 13th edition, we will also discover new tennis talent”

“Historically Club Med has encouraged its clients to develop their love for tennis offering adults group and individual tennis lessons and workshops. Our Petite Tennis and Ping-Pong Academic programs have been favorites among children for a long time,” commented Xavier Mufraggi, Director General of Club Med North America.

“Club Med’s dedication to encouraging children’s sports activities in a multicultural setting provides the natural synergy needed to work with the International Masters NJT,” added Mr. Mufraggi.

“Club Med’s dedication to encouraging children’s sports activities in a multicultural setting provides the natural synergy needed to work with the International Masters NJT,” added Mr. Mufraggi.

A $34 million-dollar renovation has transformed Club Med Punta Cana into a luxury family destination. Located in the extreme eastern part of the Dominican Republic, Club Med covers a surface area of 75 acres of beach-front property. The installation has 14 tennis courts of which 9 are covered and lit preventing the postponing of a tournament in the case of rain.

“We are very enthusiastic at the prospect of hosting the best young tennis players in the world in this under 12 and 14 years category who will play in a competitive atmosphere but also one of pleasure and fun. We wish all the tournament players the very best in their efforts to qualify for the tournament in their respective countries and we look forward to seeing the winners in Punta Cana,” concluded Mr. Weiss.

About Nike Junior Tour:

The International Nike Junior Masters Tour is a junior world tennis initiative sponsored by Nike, Inc. The tour was founded in 1997 and played in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Today 26 countries comprise the Nike Junior Tour which is played in more than 160 cities. Up to 60,000 players participate in the tour bringing the numbers of those involved to over 200,000 families. Some of the world’s most important tennis players, such as Spain’s Rafael Nadal), Tomas Berdych from the Czech Republic, Juan Martín del Potro from Argentina and Israeli Shahar Peer are all products of the Nike Junior Tour. For more information, please visit the website:

http://www.nikejuniortour.com/

Kevin Batt, Persio Maldonado, Bruce Davidson and Lorna Kirsten

Kevin Batt, Persio Maldonado, Bruce Davidson and Lorna Kirsten