KUALA LUMPUR: Tennis Malaysia (TM) has introduced a new initiative to reward Malaysian players that perform well both at home and abroad.
TM unveiled their "Motivate to Perform" (MTP) incentive scheme during a press conference at the National Tennis Centre, Jalan Duta today (Dec 14).
The MTP scheme will see players placed within the top-10 of the national rankings earning opportunities to secure wildcards and gain priority entry into Asian (ATF) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments.
Malaysian players who reach the finals of selected tournaments abroad could also have their expenses reimbursed up to RM10,000.
The high costs of competing in international tournaments - which are important to gain both ranking points and experience - has often been a major stumbling block for young, aspiring players.
TM president Mirzan Mahathir said MTP aims to minimize financial barriers, reward outstanding achievements and provide players with the tools they need to succeed.
"Today, we are not just unveiling a plan, we are setting the stage for a brighter future in Malaysian tennis," said Mirzan.
"These efforts are a testament to our commitment to growing Malaysian tennis, not just at the grassroots level but also on the world stage.
"Together with our players, coaches and parents, we are poised to achieve new milestones."
TM also disclosed that they are bidding to host the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group IV competition in Malaysia next year and expects to continue hosting the Billie Jean King Asia-Oceania Group II competition in Kuala Lumpur for a fourth consecutive season.
This, however, remains subject to approval from the ITF. The tournaments are expected to be held in July.
Hosting the Davis Cup Group IV competition in Malaysia should give the national team the added motivation and support they need to immediately bounce back and earn promotion to Group III.
The national squad was relegated from Group III to Group IV - the lowest tier in the competition - last year.