Tennis Vlaanderen

Wilrijk, Belgium

6 of today's pros grew up on these courts.

Elise Mertens #15 WTA
Alexander Blockx #27 ATP, came at 17
Zizou Bergs #41 ATP, came at 15
Kimmer Coppejans #222 ATP, came at 9
Michael Geerts #347 ATP
Tibo Colson #540 ATP, came at 16

The Flemish tennis federation's training centre in Wilrijk, Antwerp, open by selection only: scouting from age 6, a Kids Development Team for 8 to 12, and a topsport school for 12 to 18 that combines training with secondary school, with a residence close by. Most other kids' and beginners' tennis it designs is taught at its 520+ member clubs.

Indoor and outdoor courts at the Topsportcentrum, with fitness and physio rooms

How to get in

The paths the federation publishes on Oct 11, 2026.

Topsport school (Topsportschool, topsport status A): school + tennis, juniors 12 to 18 with a topsport status, by selection
Kids Development Team (KDT): kids 8 to 12, by selection
Talent Days (scouting): kids born 2019 or 2020, ages 6 to 7
Regional detection camps (detectiestages): kids picked at the Talent Days, ages 6 to 8
Topsport status F (own club programme): juniors 12 to 18 who keep training with their own coach, by selection
Junior-to-pro transition (Transitie en profs): full-time, players from 18 moving into pro tennis, by invitation
KidsTennis lessons at member clubs: kids 3 to 12
Tennis Fundays: kids 7 to 12 not yet playing competition
Ethias Tennis Tour Junior: juniors up to 17, by age and level
Start to Tennis: adults and teens from 16, beginners

Deals and codes

Individual membership without a club: €50 adult, €40 under 18 (season 2027, insurance included)
Under 18: no federation service fee (adults pay €5.35 a year and €1.07 per tournament entry)
Members: €10 off a PassaTennis purchase of €50 or more
Play 6 junior tournaments from Sep 2026 to Aug 2027: invitation to the Double Trouble day and a gift

The facts

Players in the topsport school: 22 (named for 2026–27: 12 under-14, 9 under-16, 1 under-18)
Coaches at the centre: 13 (for the topsport school, plus 9 for the Kids Development Team and a sport psychologist)
In the junior-to-pro group: 9 (players from 18 still supported by the centre, including Blockx and Bergs)
Countries at their U14 event: 41 (101 players at the Antwerp Young Champions Cup in Wilrijk, August 2026)
Clubs in the federation: 520+ (and more than 200,000 members, their own figure)
Founded: 1979 (as the Vlaamse Tennisvereniging, 30 June 1979)
Boarding: Topsporthuis close to the centre
School on site: Partner school, adapted timetables
From age: 6, through scouting
Adults: Not at the centre
Visits: Talent Days and selection days
Campus: Topsportcentrum in Wilrijk, Antwerp
How to get in: By selection only: Talent Days for 6 to 7 year olds, a KDT identification day for 8 to 12, and identification days for a topsport status from 12 (apply by email before 12 April 2027)
Visits and trials: No tours or open days stated; first contact is a Talent Day (Wilrijk, Dec 12, 2026) or an online info session (Nov 26)

Coaches

Tom Devries, Sports director and coach
Bart De Keersmaeker, Operations director topsport and coach
Serge Carpentier, Head coach under-14
Kurt Jansen, Head of fitness coaches
Frederik Mertens, Head of Kids Development Team and scouting
Yanina Wickmayer, Coach
Ruben Bemelmans, Coach
Alain De Vos, Coach
Kristof Van Deun, Coach
Zara De Schutter, Coach
Katrien De Neve, Coach
Steve Mertens, Coach

Tournaments they host

Antwerp Young Champions Cup. Tennis Europe under-14, early August, at the centre in Wilrijk
Ethias Belgian Junior Circuit. 7 national junior events for U9 to U15, 4 run by Tennis Vlaanderen
Belgian youth championships. Aug 29 – Sep 6, 2026 at TC 't Sas, Lier, for the top-ranked juniors
Ethias Tennis Tour Junior. Club tournaments all year up to under-17; Flemish finals in late summer
Saxo Tennis Interclub Junior. Team competition U9 to U17, April to June, finals in September
Flemish Indoor Championships. Mar 14–29, 2026 at TC Alken, adult singles

Where it is

Edegemsesteenweg 100, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.

Nearest airport: Brussels (BRU), 30 km

Also in Belgium

TC Ter Linden 2 km, Antwerp. 1 pro raised, best Michael Geerts #347 ATP
Forest Hills Tennis Academy 10 km, Lier. 1 pro raised, best Alexander Blockx #27 ATP
TC Odrimont 52 km, Lasne. 1 pro raised, best Jack Loge #506 ATP
Justine Henin Academy 55 km, Limelette. 6 pros raised, best Elina Svitolina #6 WTA
Tenkie Academy 71 km, Hasselt. 2 pros raised, best Hanne Vandewinkel #98 WTA
TC Brughia 81 km, Sint-Kruis. 1 pro raised, best Jeline Vandromme #123 WTA
Kim Clijsters Academy 82 km, Bree. 2 pros raised, best Sofia Costoulas #163 WTA
LTA Academy 97 km, Maaseik. 1 pro raised, best Zizou Bergs #41 ATP

All places where today's pros grew up · Sitemap

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