AITA signs MOU with French Open organisers

French Tennis Federation (FFT), the organiser of the Grand Slam tournament French Open and All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to intensify the development process of tennis and boost junior talent in the country.

The signing took place in the presence of François Richier, ambassador of France to India, during the opening ceremony of 'Rendez-Vous à Roland-Garros', a junior tournament which offers a wildcard for the 2015 French Open Junior Tournament in Paris.

Speaking on the event, FFT vice president Jean Pierre Dartevelle said: "When FFT decided to launch international activities, India was naturally on top of our priorities -- your country has so many fans of sports in general and tennis in particular! It is clear that India has a development potential that we will not find somewhere else on the planet."

'Rendez-Vous à Roland-Garros' will be held from April 1 to 4 at the Delhi Gymkhana Club. It will see the top 16 male and female under-18 Indian players face off in a single-elimination tournament. Matches will be played in the best of three tie-break sets.

This event, which will take place for the first time in India, is part of an international tournament in which young players from China, Brazil and India will compete to get the precious wildcards.

Shanghai, China had hosted the 'Rendez-Vous à Roland-Garros' tournament in March and São Paulo will follow in April for the Brazil section.

Each winner of the first national stages of competition will earn a ticket to Paris to compete against the other national champions on May 24th.