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For anybody who’s been to Tennis Canada’s Toronto workplace at Sobeys Stadium, you’ll be aware of the canvas timeline which adorns the hall partitions. You’ll be able to’t miss it.
These moments from Canadian tennis historical past supply a day by day reminder of the nice gamers, coaches and builders of our sport which have gone earlier than us. Every morning, I stroll previous these freeze-frames on the brief stroll from reception to my workplace and may’t assist however reminisce in regards to the unbelievable instances Canadian tennis has already skilled. The storytelling consists of Corridor of Famers previous like Carling Bassett, Lorne Most important, amongst many extra, and future inductees like Milos Raonic and Stacey Allaster.
In fact, our most distinguished successes have come lately: Bianca Andreescu’s tantalizing runs to the 2019 Nationwide Financial institution Open, Indian Wells and US Open titles, Leylah Annie Fernandez’s breakout on the 2021 US Open when she pieced collectively six consecutive wins earlier than shedding a heartbreak ultimate and, most not too long ago, Crew Canada offered by Sobeys being topped World Champions on the 2022 Davis Cup Finals.
Canada has additionally seen continued success on the junior entrance with the likes of Victoria Mboko, who gained her first professional title on the Saskatoon Challenger this yr and three junior doubles titles with fellow Canuck Kayla Cross – to not point out junior Grand Slam doubles ultimate appearances on the AO and Wimbledon.
All of those recollections – and extra – are etched into my thoughts, and the minds of Canadian tennis followers, as standout moments on the journey to fulfilling our collective imaginative and prescient of being a world-leading tennis nation. However, what in regards to the future? What’s the ambition for Canadian tennis, and the way can we obtain it?
Effectively, that’s an enormous query – however solely as a result of we’ve got such huge ambitions. The times when Canadians strived to be Prime 100 are lengthy gone. Now, that’s only a milestone on the way in which to a a lot bigger ambition, like Prime 10 – or, why not World No. 1?
The success of our athletes is undoubtedly a results of their onerous work, dedication and sacrifices. Félix wouldn’t have gained three consecutive titles and a berth on the prestigious ATP Finals with out his exceptional perseverance. Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup groups wouldn’t have made it to their respective Finals with out the gamers’ admirable utility. Bianca wouldn’t have gained these titles in 2019 with out her ambition and the expertise to match, which took painstaking hours on-court to refine.
However there’s one other necessary, secret ingredient. That one thing particular about our nation that offers Canadian tennis the advantage. A bonus that we imagine will assist win extra Grand Slam titles, extra Gold medals, and supply extra constructive tennis experiences for leisure gamers and followers whereas furthering the expansion, growth and promotion of tennis in Canada.
That benefit is sparked by best-in-class high-performance growth packages through Tennis Canada’s National Tennis Centre presented by Rogers in Montreal, which is supported by regional junior packages in Toronto and Vancouver in addition to the nice work of Tennis Improvement Centres (TDCs), Provincial Tennis Associations and impartial coaches. We’re a lot stronger as a collective, and that’s why we have to pull collectively as Crew Canada.
Lately, you’ll have seen the grand openings of year-round tennis court docket services we hosted in Markham, Hamilton and Calgary by way of Tennis Canada’s Yr-Spherical Group Tennis Courts Program offered by Rogers. These initiatives will present 1000’s of Canadians in these communities with entry to tennis 12 months a yr. We additionally opened our first National Bank Play Your Court refurbishment in Brampton. These initiatives, together with our efforts to make sure Canadians have entry to right-sized racquets and courts and authorized coaches who’re educated in safe sport, are geared in direction of giving Canadian tennis the benefit, as is our continued concentrate on EDI by way of Tennis Canada’s Gender Fairness technique.
Every of those packages – unfold throughout excessive efficiency, coach growth and training, wheelchair tennis, neighborhood tennis and aggressive construction – are underpinned by one widespread denominator: you. And you’ll assist advance them to spice up Canada’s athletes of the long run – of all ages, backgrounds and ranging skill-levels – to attain better success.
Why, in 2022, is your help extra necessary than ever?
Through the years, your beneficiant help of our initiatives ensures we preserve the benefit in Canada. With out your contributions right now, we are able to’t obtain our collective ambitions tomorrow, and the Canadian gamers of the long run gained’t expertise the identical benefits the likes of Bianca, Milos and Félix have loved on their journeys to the highest.
As I write this, we’re finalizing a brand new strategic plan which is able to set the group on a course that can deliver Canadian tennis continued success with new, far-reaching ambitions. This strategic plan, which we are going to share publicly in 2023 following ultimate board approval, consists of six key pillars: Elevate the bar on successful; Lead equitable, inclusive and protected tennis; Speed up capability constructing; Turbocharge the (Nationwide Financial institution Open) engine; Develop into a digital-first group, andDeliver ancillary revenues.
By donating to Tennis Canada, you’re contributing instantly to those important initiatives that we’ll acquire momentum over time with the purpose of accelerating participation and engagement within the sport, particularly amongst youth, and serving to to develop the subsequent era of Canadian tennis stars from the grassroots stage to high-performance packages which might be made potential due to the contributions of many supply companions.
The momentum Canadian tennis is constructing is due to a collective effort of Canada’s gamers, coaches, officers, directors, followers and, after all, volunteers. Let’s harness that momentum and construct on it. Let’s make our ambitions a actuality collectively, as a collective.
We are able to’t wait to see what the subsequent era of Canadian gamers can obtain, whether or not they’re successful Grand Slams or successful on park courts of their native neighbourhoods. Please, donate today and let’s make their desires potential.
Michael Downey
President & CEO
Tennis Canada
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