2023 started with ample opportunities for young players in Ireland to compete on the international stage including sending teams at 14&U and 16&U to represent Ireland in the Winter Cups as well as the Tennis Europe 14&U event won by Charlie Riley and the ITF J30 which was held in Castleknock LTC in February.
Malahide LTC also hosted the recent Tennis Europe 14&U event which was won by Patrick Breen who played his Winter Cup teammate, Narcis Damian in a thrilling final.
The summer season will continue to provide more opportunities for Juniors with a full schedule of international tournaments both home and abroad.
In addition to hosting another 11 international tournaments in 2023, Tennis Ireland is supporting a selection of our top ranked juniors to compete at the Tennis Europe 12&U Summer Cups and European Championships in various age groups.
On June 30, Tennis Ireland also welcomes Tennis Australia where U12s will play a friendly against Australia. This builds on the relationship between the two nations last year where Ireland U12 and Australia U12 girls played an international friendly.
This year Australia are bringing four U12 girls and three U12 boys on a tour of Europe for a series of tournaments so Tennis Ireland is delighted to host them once again and provide an exciting opportunity for this group of players.
Ireland will also participate in the Junior Four Nations in September which takes place in Wrexham. More detail will follow in the coming months.
View the tournament dates below along with the ranking cut off dates for each tournament. Eligibility criteria can also be found below.
| 30 June | 4 Girls 12&U and 3 Boys 12&U | International Friendly vs Australia U12s | National Tennis Centre, DCU | Ranking cut off: 14th June |
| 27-30 July | Girls 12&U | Summer Cups – Qualifying Round | Brescia, Italy | Ranking cut off: 28th June |
| 27-30 July | Boys 12&U | Summer Cups – Qualifying Round | Dijon, France | Ranking cut off: 28th June |
| 17-23 July | Boys and Girls 14&U | European Championships | Most, Czech Republic | Ranking cut off: 14th June |
| 17-23 July | Boys and Girls 18&U | European Championships | Klosters, Switzerland | Ranking cut off: 14th June
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12&U Summer Cups
The top 3 boys and top 3 girls in the ranking cut-off will be selected and contacted directly by Tennis Ireland that week to represent their country.
European Championships
In each event the top 2 girls and top 2 boys in the ranking cut off will be selected and contacted by Tennis Ireland directly to represent their country.
As of 8th June, the 16&U European Championships have been cancelled by Tennis Europe.
Eligibility Criteria
*eligibility criteria. Players must:
– hold a current valid Irish passport of that nation; or
– have lived in the nation for two consecutive years, does not hold a passport but has a genuine reason for being unable to hold or make an application for a passport, and either:
- was born or one of their parents or grandparents was born in that nation; or
- has the right to remain permanently, or has been granted humanitarian protection in that nation;
- Shall not have represented any other nation at ITF Junior Team Competition level*
National Camps – June 2023
Tennis Ireland is glad to announce more National Camps will take place in June in the National Tennis Centre, DCU for some of the country’s top ranked players.
National Camps will take place on:
Saturday 10th June for players 16&U and 18&U.
Sunday 11th June for players 12& and 14&U.
The top 8 players (8 boys and 8 girls) from each age group will be invited by Tennis Ireland, after the ranking cut off on 31st May.
Home International Tournaments
There are also lots of opportunities for players in Ireland this summer with more upcoming international tournaments. Lots of players in Ireland have had great success including Charlie Riley and Patrick Breen winning the Tennis Europe U14 events this year, proving the success of the #HomeAdvantage campaign.
Entry is open for the Tennis Europe and ITF events over the coming months and you can view calendars and entry here:
Tennis Ireland would like to thank all the clubs hosting and supporting the home international tournaments which have been a key stepping-stone for performance players in Irish tennis.
Stay tuned for team announcements in the coming weeks! We wish all players the best of luck competing this summer, at home and abroad.
