Nine athletes have been named as part of Tennis Canada’s internationally renowned National Tennis Centre presented by Rogers (NTC) for the 2024-25 season, it was announced on Tuesday. The talented group includes five returning student-athletes and four new members. Since the NTC’s founding in 2007, 67 players have benefitted from the centre’s programs.
“We’re delighted to open the doors of the National Tennis Centre presented by Rogers for the 2024-25 season to this group of immensely talented young players,” said Guillaume Marx, Vice President of High Performance at Tennis Canada. “These athletes have demonstrated real determination and the drive to progress. We’re looking forward to supporting their development and discovering all they can achieve. This program is the pinnacle for any aspiring professional tennis player in Canada, and we believe these nine athletes have what it takes to one day succeed for Canada and on-tour at a global level like many of their predecessors.”
NTC players benefit from unique, world-class learning and development opportunities in tennis and academics thanks to the guidance of some of the best professionals and coaches in tennis. Under Marx’s leadership, Head of Women’s Tennis Noëlle van Lottum will oversee the women’s program, assisted by Rodrigo Alvarez and Nathalie Tauziat. In addition to his captaincy of Canada’s Davis Cup team, Head of Men’s Tennis Frank Dancevic will lead the men’s program in collaboration with national coach Martin Laurendeau and assisted by Sandric Barrere.
Under the guidance of Melissa Lacroix, who was recently appointed Senior Director of High Performance, national fitness coaches Nicolas Perrotte, Virginie Tremblay and François Ramamonjisoa will manage the players’ physical training, and educational advisor André Barette will administer their schoolwork and exams. As NTC members, the young athletes will also benefit from support services in areas including nutrition, performance and mental health, sport safety, biomechanics and data analysis.
“I’m excited about working with this new class of determined girls in my second year at the National Tennis Centre,” added Van Lottum. “The program gives players the opportunity to make huge progress and reach new heights. I feel they’re ready to be the best they can be, and that really motivates me for what’s to come.”
“Every year, it’s a real pleasure to welcome the new players who join the National Tennis Centre and see the excitement in their eyes,” said Dancevic. “Some could become tomorrow’s stars on the pro tours. It’s inspiring to have the privilege of supporting them while they’re still juniors. We want to help them excel and reach their goals.”
As well as the support provided to the full-time athletes, large camps will be hosted by the NTC for
players in each category aged 15-17 years old.
Class of 2024–2025
This year, the NTC family gains four new members: Charlize Celebrini* (North Vancouver, BC), Clémence Mercier (Saint-Roch-Ouest, QC), Felix Roussel (Toronto, ON), and Antoine Généreux (Boischatel, QC). They join returning athletes Emma Dong (Vancouver, BC), Andrea Taylor* (Pickering, ON), Miko Lapalme (Saint-Laurent, QC), Andy Tchinda Kepche* (Québec, QC), and Caden Colburne* (Halifax, NS).
Emma Dong, 17, is ranked No. 85 in the ITF junior rankings. She is enjoying an impressive 2024 season, taking home three straight J100 titles and competing in the final of the J200 in Montréal. Charlize Celebrini, 15 and No. 365, won four Canadian ITF tournaments in 2023, including three straight titles. Andrea Taylor, 15 and No. 339, also raised her first ITF winner’s trophy in 2023, and No. 571 Clémence Mercier, 16, just won the U16 Indoor Fischer Junior Nationals after claiming two J30 titles in 2023.
On the men’s side, Felix Roussel, 16 and No. 281, won two ITF tournaments this year, as well as two of his three matches on Canada’s Junior Davis Cup team. Miko Lapalme, 16 and No. 318, earned his first ITF junior trophy this year in Edmonton after winning the U16 Indoor Fischer Junior Nationals. Antoine Généreux, 15 and No. 608, also triumphed at a J30 tournament and reached the final of an ITF J60. The youngest member of the group, Andy Tchinda Kepche, 15 and No. 1256, competed in two quarter-finals and one semi-final this season. Last year, he took the top honours at the U14 Indoor Fischer Junior Nationals. Finally, Colburne, 15, and ranked No. 1724 in the world, is making his comeback from injury. His return has been strong, reaching the quarter-finals of an ITF J100 event.
In addition to the nine full-time NTC athletes, Nadia Lagaev (No. 49 in the ITF junior rankings) and Nicolas Arsenault (No. 82) will receive technical support and coaching mentorship from the NTC in 2024-25.
The NTC by the numbers:
- 67 players enrolled (including the current class)
- 17 players on the pro tours (past and present)
- 28 players graduated from a US university
- 6 players on the NCAA circuit
- 1,000 hours of training per year
- Over 600 hours of study
Click here to learn more about the National Tennis Centre presented by Rogers.
*Players who have transitioned from the U15 Canadian Prospect Team.
About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association with a mission to lead the growth, development and promotion of tennis in Canada and a vision to be a world-leading tennis nation. We value teamwork, passion, integrity, innovation and excellence. Tennis Canada owns and operates the premier National Bank Open presented by Rogers WTA and ATP Tour events, four professional ATP and ITF sanctioned events and financially supports four other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates junior national training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development. For more information on Tennis Canada please visit our website at: www.tenniscanada.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.
Media contact:
Charlotte Robillard-Millette
Coordinator, Communications
crobillard-millette@tenniscanada.com
+1 (514) 757-0384