Emerging AAPI Leaders Mentorship Program
The Asian American Pacific Islander Tennis Association (AAPITA) is supporting an Emerging AAPI Leaders mentorship program for AAPI junior players. Each mentee will be paired with a mentor that is a former AAPI professional tennis player for six weeks, culminating with the USTA Clay Court National Championships (July 5-13).
Mentors and mentees (along with their parent/guardian) will meet virtually for one onboarding/introductory call and then weekly for six 45 minute sessions to discuss topics that fit the mentees’ needs, such as tennis strategy, practice and match preparation, periodization, goal setting, role of fitness/conditioning/recovery, mental preparation, sportsmanship, building your tennis identity, and navigating the tennis ecosystem as an AAPI player. A parent or guardian will be required to be present for all meetings with the mentors.
The mentorship program includes a $1,250 travel stipend for the mentee to travel to the Clay Court National Championships tournament.
The next cohort will begin June 2, 2025 and end July 13, 2025, culminating at the Clay Court National Championships. Each mentorship program’s final week will be the week of a Level 1 USTA National Championships event. This will allow our mentors to be able to work with mentees through a periodized time frame, pre tournament/building phase, pre tournament/preparation phase, and during competition phase.
Please read about our Mentors here: AAPITA Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program Mentor Bios
Timeline:
April 7-May 4: Applications Open (4 weeks)
May 5-May 18: Selection Committee selects two mentees (2 weeks)
May 19: Mentee selections announced, mentor and mentees introduced (2 weeks)
June 2-July 13: Program duration (6 weeks)
July 13-20: Feedback Survey (1 week)
Mentee Eligibility:
Must be competing in the 14 and Under category for the duration of the program
Player must be ranked top 200 nationally in the 14 and Under category and planning to compete in the Clay Court National Championships
Must have a current valid U.S. passport or U.S proof of citizenship
Must have lived in the U.S. for 24 consecutive months prior to application close date
Must sign AAPITA General Waiver Language (02.12.25).docx (parent/guardian to sign page 2)
Mentor Eligibility
Must have competed on the ATP or WTA Tour and achieved a ranking of Top 150 in singles or Top 50 in doubles
Mentor must be SafePlay approved