Big moment for Northern Mariana Islands as Saipan prepares to host

The Northern Mariana Islands are preparing to host an ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors event for the first time since 2019 – and excitement is building.

For the archipelago in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, staging an international ITF tournament again is a big deal for all concerned, particularly those with a connection to tennis across the islands.

The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected the Northern Mariana Islands’ ability to host, with revenue streams for sponsors and potential venues taking a considerable hit.

But time has been something of a healer and the Northern Mariana Islands are returning to the ITF World Tennis Tour calendar later this month with the staging of J30 Saipan.

“From the perspective of our tennis community, this will be the first opportunity for many of our juniors to get involved at this level,” Jeff Race, Technical Director at the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association, tells itftennis.com.

“Some of these young players have not had the chance to play an ITF event during their careers and it is really important they do. From there, it can lead to them competing in other locations in future.”

For players who have grown up in the Northern Mariana Islands, this point is particularly relevant and can have wider implications that go beyond tennis.

“The Northern Mariana Islands has had 10 players move on to play collegiate tennis in the last six years,” said Race.

“Most of these played their first ITF junior event here in Saipan and went on to have success in others, as well as the college ranks. ITF Rankings also figure prominently in collegiate coaches’ decisions about recruitment, so it is vital.

“Furthermore, dozens of younger juniors have the opportunity to see this level close up as ball kids and that will be an inspirational experience for them.”

J30 Saipan will get underway on Tuesday 28 May following a day of qualifying on the Monday, with boys and girls from 11 nations set to be involved at the Pacific Islands Club.

Hosting ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events again is one of a number of priorities for the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association, which was elevated to Class B status at the ITF’s AGM in 2023.

In practical terms this means, among other things, the national association now has voting rights at the ITF AGM and access to Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge and Davis Cup funding.

The Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association has a newly appointed President, Bobby Cruz, and executive board, and together they have the ambition to construct their own six-court National Tennis Centre to eradicate their reliance upon public courts.

They also have designs on the Northern Mariana Islands entering Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup and competing in those competitions for the first time.

“The ITF’s mission is to develop and grow tennis in every corner of the world, and it is great to see the sport in the Northern Mariana Islands advancing,” said Luca Santilli, the ITF’s Executive Director, Tennis Development.

“I am sure that tennis will continue to grow across the nation, and I am looking forward to working with the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association as they pursue their aims and ambitions.”

Everyone at the ITF wishes the Northern Mariana Islands well as they ready themselves to host J30 Saipan.