Details of Tennis Kenya's partnership with French Tennis Federation

Tennis Kenya has signed a strategic collaboration with the French Tennis Federation (FTF), pegged on the development of the sport in the country and creating new opportunities for Kenyan players, coaches and officials on the global stage.

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Under the partnership, inked on Thursday, 19 March, the first delegation of top 16-and-under junior players, Aum Chandarana and Jeff Okuku, are traveling to France for high-level training and competition.

The duo is scheduled to participate in the J200 ITF event at Club Eastand, and also train at the outdoor red clay courts of Stade Roland Garros in Paris, with their coach, Rosemary Owino, also set to benefit from hands-on clay-court experience and professional development.

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Okuku and Chandarana are looking to emulate Kenya's tennis legend Paul Wekesa, considered the best player the country has ever produced. Wekesa, now 58, is the only male Kenyan to have featured at Grand Slam events.

He played in the French Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon Open and US Open between 1989 and 1995.

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The two Kenyan juniors will have a feel of the Roland Garros before proceeding for specialised training in Miramas in Marseille ahead of the J200 tournament starting on Saturday, 4 April.

"I vowed the day I would step into Europe, that would be it. This is the start of that great journey. Just seeing Roland Garros will unlock everything in me," said Okuku.

"It means a lot since it's a step away from realising my dream that I hope will inspire others."

On his part, Chandarana described it as a big moment and an opportunity of a lifetime to explore the level of tennis in France and how things are done.

"We shall know what to improve on. It's my dream to head back to Paris and play at the French Open. This is the first step towards that," said Chandarana.

A second delegation is expected to travel to Paris for the clay court infrastructure and technical exchange, comprising Lawrence Biwott, Tennis Kenya council member, Micah Wanyama from Nairobi Club and a representative from Parklands Sports Club.

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Tennis Kenya president, Wanjiru Mbugua, welcomed the partnership, noting that the exchange program, focusing on players, competitions, infrastructure, facilities and technical development as well as coach education, capacity building, leadership and club development, will improve Kenya’s tennis performance.

"Our dream is to have at least four Kenyan players at the 2032 Olympic Games," she said.