The ITF has launched a Davis Cup Supporter Survey ahead of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final between Spain and Argentina in Sevilleon 2-4 December. The survey will run until the start of 2012 on the official Davis Cup website. The purpose is to learn more about the people who make Davis Cup special – the fans – with the information helping the ITF to promote the competition and attract commercial partners.

The ITF is encouraging all Davis Cup fans to spare a few minutes and complete the survey. The fans will not only be helping to develop the competition, but will also be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a pair of tickets to any World Group tie in 2012. The top prize includes hospitality, signed merchandise and the opportunity to toss the coin at their chosen tie.

Fans can complete the survey in either English or Spanish on: DavisCup.com or CopaDavis.com

More details about the prizes can be found on the official Davis Cup website.

Dimaklumkan, bahawa Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) telah membuka tawaran Biasiswa Sukan Persekutuan KBS Bagi Sesi 2011/2012. Permohonan boleh dibuat secara online di www.kbs.gov.my bermula pada 20 November - 19 Disember 2011. Sebarang pertanyaan atau maklumat lanjut , kepada mereka yang berminat , boleh menghubungi pihak kementerian di talian 03 - 8871 3551/ 3558/ 3579.

Please be informed that entries for the first junior Grand Slam of 2012, the Australian Open Junior Championships is now open.  Entries are also opened for the lead-in event, the Loy Yang Traralgon Junior International Grade 1 to be held the week before.  The exact dates for both tournaments are as follows:

Loy Yang Traralgon Junior International

Qualifying: Friday 13^th January & Saturday 14^th January 2012

Main Draw: Sunday 15^th January to Friday 20^th January 2012

Draw Sizes: 64 main draw, 48 qualifying draw, 32-doubles draw

Australian Open Junior Championships

Qualifying: Thursday 19^th January & Friday 20^th January 2012

Main Draw: Sunday 22^nd January to Saturday 28^th January 2012

Draw Sizes: 64 main draw, 48 qualifying draw, 32-doubles draw

Entries for both tournaments close on Tuesday 13^th December 2011 at 14:00 GMT.  All entries must be submitted online via the Junior ITF IPIN system, https://ipin.itftennis.com

We are also pleased to announce that the Traralgon Tennis Club, the venue for the Loy Yang Traralgon International and qualifying for the Australian Open Junior Championships has undergone a recent redevelopment and now has the same Plexicushion surface that the Australian Open Junior Championships at Melbourne Park has.  This means your team will be able to get quality lead-in matches on the same surface as the Grand Slam, as well as practice after matches are finished each day.  And with qualifying for the Grand Slam being played at the same venue as the Grade 1, there will be less admin work for you to do than in previous years where qualifying was held at a different venue. 

Fact sheets for both tournaments are attached to this email, along with the accommodation booking form for the Grade 1 event in Traralgon and the coach nomination form for the circuit.  We will be updating the Australian Open accommodation booking website shortly, but the website to book accommodation is http://aojuniors.net.  So keep checking the website.   

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 November, 2011-    For the first time in the history of LTAM a Masters Selection was held from 31 October - 4 November 2011 at the Kompleks Tennis Tun Razak, Jalan Duta with the objective to select our Elite Squad for the year beginning November 2011 to October 2012.

The top eight (8) national players from each age group were invited to participate.

i.                    Men’s Open (17 and Above )

ii.                   Women’s Open ( 17 and Above ) – 2 participants only

iii.                  Boys ( 16 and Under )

iv.                  Girls ( 16 and Under )

v.                   Boys ( 14 and Under )

vi.                  Girls  ( 14 and Under )

They played in a round robin best of three (3) advantage sets.

The purpose of the Masters Selection is to select up to a  maximum top four (4) players for the Elite Squad for each Age Group to play for Malaysia in the relevant ranked and team events organised locally and internationally, including regional games, provided they fulfil to terms and conditions laid down by the Selection Sub-Committee of LTAM.

Besides being the top four (4) they must also be able to fulfil the following conditions:

i.           Must be willing to spend the number of hours required per week of uninterrupted training programs, regardless of location provided the training and development programs and Coach recommended by the National Coach and approved by the Selection Sub-Committee.

ii.         Must be willing to attend all Elite Camps organized by LTAM during the year and participate in the in-house league tournament.

iii.       Must be willing to participate in all LTAM ranked and sanctioned tournaments held in Malaysia.

iv.       Must be willing to participate, if selected, in all overseas honing and exposures programs approved by the Selection Sub-Committee.

v.         Must be willing to participate to represent Malaysia in the regional games if selected.

vi.       Finally, must abide by the other rules and regulations laid down by the Selection Sub-Committee through a formalization of a Player Agreement with LTAM.

If any of the top four (4) players are not in a position to fulfil the above terms and conditions, the next top player will be offered, provided  they fulfil the stipulated terms and conditions.

However, all unsuccessful players who participated in the Masters Selection and those top four (4) players not in a position to fulfil the Elite Squad terms and conditions shall be allowed to attend the training and development program organised for the Elite Squad at their own convenience, free of charge.

Attached please find the results of the recently held Masters Selection based on computerised league system software adopted by the Selection Sub-Committee (http://tennisengine.com/info/ranksys_quality.asp). The points and rating were arrived at after taking into account the following factors:

i.          Winning or losing a close match with a highly rated player could boost one's rating, whereas a close match with a lower rated player could reduce it

ii.          Decisive wins over lower rated players could be less rewarding than close wins over higher rated players. Winning matters the most, but after that, it's all about whom you play and how close you win or lose.

iii.          The ratings are based on each player's current Index value (i.e. the third ranked player has the third highest Index). Each player's Index is a combination of his strength rating and the number of wins. The difference in rating between players represents the difference in level and standard of play.

Boys - 14 & Under

Girls – 14 & Under –Option 2

Boys – 16 & Under

Girls/Women

Note : Due to lack of participation in the 16 & Under and Women's Categories, the two categories were combined.

Men

LTAM has always been serious in producing Malaysia's top players that can compete with the best in the region and at international level. We always endeavour to have the right infrastructure, resources, facilities and professional management team. What we need is to tie the loose ends.

A meeting with the parents of selected players and/or selected players will be held to clarify and finalise the selection of the Elite Squad. The decision of the Selection Sub-Committee shall be final.

Support, both financial and moral from all parties are crucial in producing a champion that can carry not only the good name of LTAM but also that of Malaysia.

In this respect LTAM see the constructive role of the media as very important. The media can make or break the spirit of players. It is imperative that sports reporters and columnists must be men and women of integrity, love tennis and above all imbued with the true spirit of a nationalistic Malaysian. Otherwise all the above points and rating to form the right Elite Squad will come to nothing!

Ibrahim Abu Bakar

Honorary Secretary