Youth Olympic Games: Singapore 2010

The acceptance lists for Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Tennis Event was announced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on June 29, 2010.

Thirty-nine countries are represented in the boys' and girls' events that comprise 32 players in singles and 16 pairs in doubles respectively. The Youth Olympic Games Tennis Event, for players aged 18-and-under, will take place from August 15-21 at the Kallang Tennis Centre.

The inaugural Youth Olympic Games, held on August 14-26, will welcome around 5,000 athletes and officials from the 205 National Olympic Committees to Singapore. Young athletes – aged between 14 and 18 years – will complete in 26 sports.

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Website

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, the current junior world No. 1 and reigning French Open junior champion, leads the girls’ entries. Joining her also is Roland Garros runner-up Ons Jabeur of Tunisia and world No. 3 Monica Puig of Puerto Rico.

Two former junior No. 1-ranked players, India's Yuki Bhambri and Brazil's Tiago Fernandes, head the boys' draw.

Singapore's Stefanie Tan has received a host nation place into the girls' singles event.

A maximum of two boys and two girls per country are eligible to complete in the singles and doubles events. Players must also have made themselves available for selection to represent their country in any of the ITF junior team competitions in either 2009 or 2010.

Singles acceptances were based firstly on a player’s junior world ranking (12 places), then on ranking by region (16 places). The remaining four positions were allocated either by the IOC or the next highest ranked player. The Youth Olympic Games Tennis Event is a Grade A event on the 2010 ITF Junior Circuit, offering bonus ranking points for both singles and doubles winners.

A winner of six career singles and thirty-eight doubles titles on the WTA Tour in an outstanding career, Japan's Ai Sugiyama was chosen to represent tennis onsite as an Athlete Role Model. Implemented by the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOCOG), the Athlete Role Models programme is an important part of the overall Culture and Education Programme.

"I am honored to be selected as an Athlete Role Model. I believe the Youth Olympic Games will be a great event for the young athletes to compete at a grand stage," said Sugiyama. "This should be a great opportunity for the athletes to prepare for their athletic careers. I am looking forward to spending time with the young athletes and the other Athlete Role Models to promote the event for the youth," she remarked.

"With nearly 40 countries from seven regions, it is exciting to see tennis so well represented at the first Summer Youth Olympic Games. Performance and universality are two of the cornerstones of the Youth Olympics, and I am confident that the quality of entry and range of participants will contribute to a successful tennis event in Singapore," remarked ITF President, Francesco Ricci Bitti.

The doubles events comprise players already involved in singles.

Singapore 2010 Acceptance List

Tickets for the YOG went on sale on 31 March and can be purchased online, by phone or at an authorised ticket counter in Singapore. Prices range from S $10 to S $30.

Ticketing details

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Official Website