ITF appoints Official Education Partner for World Tennis Tour Juniors
The ITF has announced that Dwight Global Online School has been selected as the official education partner of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors. The partnership will give the world’s best young tennis players the chance to benefit from Dwight Global’s range of online education programmes.
Ranked within the top two online high schools in the United States by Newsweek magazine, Dwight Global sets the platinum standard in online private school education and is the ideal choice for aspiring young tournament players who want to balance their pursuit of excellence on the court and in the classroom.
Dwight, the first school in the US to be accredited by The World Academy of Sport, was founded in 1872 and has a 151-year tradition of academic excellence. It boasts top US college acceptances and provides flexible and year-round scheduling, while also customising an educational path for promising student-athletes in grades 6-12.
As the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors’ official education partner, Dwight Global will provide all tour players with a 50% tuition discount, as well as webinars about college planning, mental health and leadership, and dedicated college counsellors skilled in athletic recruitment, who will work with each player to gain acceptance into their top choice universities. Students can join Dwight Global traveling teams where they train, compete, and study together.
Additionally, as Dwight Global students, players on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors will have unique opportunities to study on-site at any school in Dwight’s global network, which has campuses in New York, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Dubai, and Hanoi (opening in 2024). Students can also enjoy Dwight residential experiences, participate in performing arts collaborations, and go on trips and exchanges with Dwight students worldwide.
Several prominent players on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors are current or former Dwight Global students, including Michael Zheng (2022 Wimbledon boys’ singles finalist), who now plays college tennis while studying at Columbia University, and Cooper Williams (2023 Australian Open boys’ doubles champion and 2023 Wimbledon boys’ singles semi-finalist), who completed his high school studies and is starting as a freshman at Harvard University this autumn. Other Dwight Global students include Claire An (2023 USTA Easter Bowl girls singles’ 16s champion) and Shannon Lam (2021 USTA Easter Bowl girls’ singles champion).
Matt Byford, Head of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, said: “We are pleased to partner with Dwight Global, giving players competing at ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events opportunities for online learning. While much focus will be on a junior player’s prowess on-court, it is vital that players also prioritise their academic education. Dwight Global enables players competing on the tour to find a good balance between their athletic and academic careers.”
Louisa Childs, Head of Dwight Global Online School, said: “At Dwight Global, we are dedicated to cultivating the interests and passions of scholar-athletes and educating the sports leaders of tomorrow. We are thrilled to partner with the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors to offer top-notch academics tailored to meet the needs of aspiring tennis stars and to inspire the next generation on the world tour.”
Dr Blake Spahn, Vice Chancellor of the Dwight Schools and captain of the 1994 Columbia University Ivy League Championship Tennis Team, added: “The demands placed on junior players are enormous, and having time to dedicate to training, practice, and travel on the ITF tour makes all the difference in maintaining a competitive edge. We’re pleased to provide players with a world-class private school education combined with the flexibility they need to perform and compete at the highest levels.”