The ATP and FedEx Corp (NYSE: FDX) are strengthening their collaboration by launching the FedEx ATP Ball Kids programme at the Nitto ATP Finals in London, this November. The programme aims to give aspiring youngsters the opportunity to develop new skills through teamwork, sportsmanship and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

Twenty-six children, aged 12-16, have been selected to participate as FedEx Ball Kids at the prestigious end-of-season event at The O2 arena, on 11-18 November 2018. The youngsters have been chosen based on outstanding ability and strong dedication, demonstrated during a trial in London in September. All were then given the opportunity to attend a five-day Training Camp in Southampton, from October 22 – 26, to further improve their skills and bond as a team.

This year, the group will be joined by four talented ball kids who have been selected from two other FedEx-sponsored ATP World Tour events: the Rolex Shanghai Masters in China, and the Rio Open presented by Claro in Brazil.

Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman & President, said: “The Nitto ATP Finals is a truly global sporting event. We are delighted that FedEx’s sponsorship of the ball kids programme will enable the impact of this initiative to be felt on an international level. With the inclusion of ball kids from Shanghai and Rio de Janeiro, FedEx is giving talented youngsters from around the world an opportunity to experience world-class tennis at the very heart of the action.”

Brenda McWilliams Piatek, Vice President Marketing Operations, FedEx Express Europe, said: “We are delighted to be able to sponsor the FedEx ATP Ball Kids programme. We know that sport creates many possibilities for youth development and we are excited about bringing this programme to life. Alongside our continued sponsorship of professional ATP tournaments around the world, we look forward to creating exciting opportunities for young people through tennis.”

The ATP, through its digital and social channels and weekly show, will showcase the stories of the FedEx ATP Ball Kids. Fans will be able to follow them on their journey to the Finals, where one youngster will be awarded Ball Kid of the Tournament, prior to the Doubles Final at this year’s tournament.

Marin Cilic is making a push to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fourth time this week at the Rolex Paris Masters. And the Croatian made a good start on Tuesday, defeating longtime rival Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 in just one hour and 12 minutes. 

“I’m really happy. I felt I played good tennis. I started great, served really well,” Cilic said. “Kohlschreiber is a quality player. We played this year in Indian Wells where he played a great match, he beat me there. I had to stay focused throughout the end of the match. [I had] 4-0, break point, could have gone even easier in that second set but I had to keep my head down, work until the end and play good tennis.”

For a player attempting to book his spot at The O2 in London from 11-18 November, the sixth seed did not get an easy draw against Kohlschreiber, who had previously held a 7-4 FedEx ATP Head2Head lead against the Croatian. But Cilic earned his fifth straight-sets victory against the World No. 43 to reach the third round, where he will face 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov or Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut. 

It was a strong bounceback performance for Cilic, who broke Kohlschreiber three times and won 44 per cent of first-serve return points. Cilic arrived in Paris having lost four of his previous five tour-level matches. An appearance in the Bercy semi-finals would guarantee the fifth seed a spot in the season finale.

“I’m keeping my form good, feeling that I’m playing well,” Cilic said. “It’s the end of the year, a lot of challenges are coming up. We’re playing a big tournament here in Paris and I’m hoping I’m going to continue playing good tennis.”

In other action, Tokyo champion Daniil Medvedev cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta. The three-time tour-level titlist, making his debut at the Paris event, dropped only one point behind his first serve (27/28) throughout the 48-minute encounter to set a second-round meeting against Rolex Shanghai Masters runner-up Borna Coric.

Medvedev’s compatriot and Russian No. 1, Karen Khachanov, advanced to the third round after just 45 minutes. The VTB Kremlin Cup winner led Matthew Ebden 6-2, 2-0 when the lucky loser was forced to retire.

In their third tour-level meeting of the season, Marton Fucsovics overcame French qualifier Benoit Paire 6-4, 6-4. The Geneva titlist earned his second FedEx ATP Head2Head victory (2-1) over Paire after 76 minutes, notching his 25th tour-level victory of the season.

Did You Know?
Cilic is bidding to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the third straight year and fourth overall. The Fever-Tree Championships winner first qualified in 2014, before back-to-back appearances in 2016 and 2017.