Young Malaysian tennis players to chase international pathway at Duta × IMG Academy Development Week

SHAH ALAM - Young tennis players from across Malaysia will gather at Pusat Tenis Tun Razak from Aug 21 to Aug 31 for the inaugural Duta × IMG Academy Tennis Development Week 2026, which combines high-level training, competition and a potential pathway to an international junior event in the United States (US).

The programme will cater to junior players at different stages of development through the Performance Clinic, the inaugural IMG Academy Discovery Open Qualifier, as well as Orange and Green Ball Development Clinics.

Duta is the only academy in Malaysia authorised to host the IMG Academy Discovery Open Qualifier, giving locally based players an opportunity to compete for a place at the IMG Academy Discovery Open Event in Florida.

The initiative has attracted interest beyond Malaysia, with enquiries reportedly received from players in Singapore, Indonesia and Australia. However, Duta has opted to keep the inaugural qualifier exclusively for players based in Malaysia to give young Malaysian athletes the opportunity to pursue the international pathway on home soil.

A total of 38 junior players aged between 10 and 14 have registered for the Performance Clinic and qualifier, with participants travelling from Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak, as well as Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

The field comprises 12 Under-12 boys, eight Under-12 girls, 10 Under-14 boys and eight Under-14 girls. The players will first undergo intensive preparation during the Performance Clinic before putting their training into practice at the IMG Academy Discovery Open Qualifier.

The top three finishers in each category will receive invitations to attend the IMG Academy Discovery Open Event in Florida from May 2 to May 8, 2027.

The opportunity will allow the selected players to experience life at IMG Academy by boarding, training and competing alongside young athletes from around the world.

Beyond tennis development, the experience is intended to expose the players to greater independence, discipline, responsibility and confidence as they adapt to an international sporting environment.

At the Florida event, the young athletes will also compete in the IMG Academy Discovery Open. The winner will earn a wild card into the qualifying round of the IMG Academy International Championship, providing an opportunity to compete at one of the major international junior tennis tournaments.

For the Malaysian participants, the programme represents an opportunity to move beyond their familiar training environments and test themselves against international competition. The organisers said the experience is intended to encourage the players to broaden their aspirations while learning how to manage themselves in a new sporting environment.

The programme will also cater to younger players, with 18 children below the age of 10 scheduled to participate in the Orange and Green Ball Development Clinics. The clinics will introduce the participants to the IMG Academy training approach while adapting the programme to their respective stages of development.

Duta said the broader programme is designed to provide meaningful sporting experiences for young players, allowing them to train, compete, build confidence and understand the opportunities that could potentially be available to them as they progress.

With support from Official Event Partner SCP Group and other partners, Duta is also seeking to make the development programme accessible to a wider pool of young athletes. Eight players have been invited to participate at a subsidised rate, paying only a nominal participation fee.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring financial circumstances do not prevent deserving young athletes from accessing quality development opportunities. Duta said the selection also respects the development work already being carried out by coaches and tennis communities in the respective states.

The academy hopes the participating players will use the programme to learn from experienced coaches, challenge themselves in competition and carry the lessons into their continued tennis development.

Ultimately, the Duta × IMG Academy Tennis Development Week is intended to offer more than a tournament by giving young athletes exposure to international sporting environments while developing qualities that extend beyond the tennis court.