American Adam Neff to Face German Rudolf Molleker in Longines Future Tennis Aces in Paris
PARIS (May 29, 2013) — Adam Neff, 11, of Bradenton, Fla., will take on Germany’s Rudolf Molleker in the first round of the fourth annual Longines Future Tennis Aces competition, it was announced on Thursday during the draw ceremony.
The matches will take place on Friday in the center of Paris in front of the Hotel de Ville (City Hall). At stake for the winner of the event is financing for his tennis equipment until his 16th birthday, courtesy of Longines. Both finalists will take part in an exhibition with Fabrice Santoro and another to be named legend to complete the competition.
Neff will play against some of the best 12-and-under players in the world as countries taking part include Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
Neff, the No. 1-ranked USTA 12-and-under player, took part in a Longines Training Academy over the past two days getting ready to play on the European red clay. Accompanying Neff on the trip is his full-time coach Lance Luciani, who was interviewed by this blog last month.
—S. Pratt