A prestigious edition rich in symbolismAs in previous years, 32 under‑17 players (16 girls and 16 boys) will battle it out at Sociedade Harmonia de Tenis, driven by the ambition to claim the coveted reward: a wild card into the juniors’ draw at Roland‑Garros 2026.Beyond the matches and numerous on‑court training sessions, participants will also benefit from workshops designed to support their athletic and personal development. Throughout the week, they will be guided and inspired by a trio of renowned ambassadors: Juan Martin del Potro, Gabriela Sabatini and Larri Passos. While the first two have already taken part in previous editions, the legendary coach of Gustavo Kuerten – whose methods left a lasting mark on modern tennis coaching – joins the team as a very special guest.A breeding ground for future championsSupported and inspired by major figures in the sport, the young competitors can also draw motivation from the path taken by their predecessors, whose promising careers are only beginning. Winner in 2022, Joao Fonseca embodies the success of this programme. After becoming world junior No.1 the following year, the Brazilian won the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2024 and made history in 2025 by becoming the youngest South American to lift an ATP trophy, triumphing at the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires. He later added an ATP 500 title in Basel and reached the third round at both Roland‑Garros and Wimbledon, carrying the hopes of an entire nation with every step he takes.Crowned in 2024, Luis Augusto Queiroz Miguel (who turned 17 on 26 February) and Nauhany Vitoria Leme Da Silva (who will celebrate her 16th birthday on 13 March) are trying to follow in Fonseca’s footsteps. Ranked junior world No.3 and a semi‑finalist at the US Open in that category, "Guto" recently made his professional debut at the ATP 500 event in Rio (losing in the first round to Vilius Gaubas). Nauhany, meanwhile, has already represented Brazil in the Billie Jean King Cup and continues to develop through a mix of junior and professional tournaments."As the only clay-court Grand Slam, Roland-Garros is committed to promoting tennis on clay globally while fostering greater diversity in tennis", explained Aymeric Labaste, Tournament Director and Head of Roland-Garros International Development. "This tournament stands out for its ability to create a strong launchpad towards a professional career for the most promising junior players from Latin America and Asia, two regions that are underrepresented at the very top of world tennis. Beyond competition, we offer each participant a first Grand Slam experience in every sense, on and off court. Joao Fonseca, winner of the inaugural edition in 2022, is already a powerful illustration of this pathway, and the impact continues to grow: last year, 14 players competing in the Roland-Garros Juniors main draw (Paris) had previously taken part in Roland-Garros Junior Series by Renault (Sao Paulo or Tokyo), confirming its status as an unmissable milestone for the world’s best young clay-court talents from Latin America and Asia."The appointment is setFor the 32 young competitors, the third week of April promises to be decisive. Their journey toward Porte d’Auteuil will be broadcast live in Brazil on ESPN3 and across Latin America on Disney+.Fans around the world will also be able to dive behind the scenes of the event and discover the stories of the young protagonists through the Champions in the Making web series, as well as through extensive coverage on Roland‑Garros’ official social media accounts.The complete competition programme:- Tuesday 14 April: opening ceremony and party- From Wednesday 15 to Friday 17 April: round-robin stage- Saturday 18 April: semi-finals- Sunday 19 April: exhibition, finals, third-place matches and award ceremony
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