Félix Auger-Aliassime and BNP Paribas join forces to launch ‘Team BNP Paribas Young Talents Aliassime’ with dad Sam Aliassime 

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BNP Paribas, Europe's leading financial institution and a global sponsor of tennis, and Académie Aliassime today announces the launch of ‘Team BNP Paribas Young Talents Aliassime ' (Team BNPP Aliassime).

The program helps the most promising and deserving young talents in Canada reach the next level with financial assistance to access international tennis competitions and intensive training under the direct supervision of Sam Aliassime, father of Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP World No. 9). Team BNPP Aliassime is introduced at the BNP Paribas Open as the Bank celebrates 50 years of commitment to tennis and its power to mobilize for the good of society and its youth.

Team BNPP Aliassime is the latest in the ‘Team BNP Paribas Young Talents' roster which began in 2018 with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in France. Since then, the Bank has partnered with Yannick Noah, John and Patrick McEnroe (Team BNPP Mac 1), Justine Henin and others to form teams across France, the United States, Italy, Poland and Belgium. The global program provides human and financial support to 150 talented young athletes, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, on their path to professional careers. Players are granted the opportunity to train under the direct supervision of tennis professionals and legends.

The launch of Team BNPP Aliassime takes place at the BNP Paribas Open, the largest combined ATP and WTA Tour two-week event in the world. This expansion of the BNP Paribas Young Talents Team roster in the Americas will be celebrated with an exhibition match including Team BNPP Aliassime and Team BNPP Mac 1 youth players and their mentors:

• Félix Auger-Aliassime, ATP Tour player (ATP World No. 9)
• Sam Aliassime, Founder and Director of Académie Aliassime
• John McEnroe, Founder and Director of JMTA
• Patrick McEnroe, Co-Director of JMTA and President of JMTP
• Jean Yves Fillion, CEO of BNP Paribas USA
• Sonja Volpe, CEO of BNP Paribas in Canada

Team BNPP Aliassime includes 12 boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 14 from home countries including Cameroon, Canada, France and Madagascar. The players are recruited from among the most talented students currently enrolled in Académie Aliassime in Quebec City, Canada, with annual try-outs. Participants are selected based on both tennis and athletic criteria (results and future potential) and more general and ethical criteria, including attitude, team-involvement and academic results.

BNP Paribas also supports Auger-Aliassime in his commitment to a cause that is close to his heart - building a better future for youth in the West-African nation of Togo, his father's home country. #FAAPoints4Change will finance the EduChange initiative which is coordinated by CARE, the non-governmental organization, to improve the conditions of young people in the Kara region of Togo. The project focuses on the protection of children's rights, access to education and sport. Auger-Aliassime has pledged to donate $5 for each point he wins and BNP Paribas will match with $15 per point.

Sam Aliassime, Founder and Director of Académie Aliassime, said: "We chose to join the BNP Paribas Young Talent Team roster because of the bank's focus on inclusivity and social responsibility. Together with BNP Paribas, Académie Aliassime can now give young tennis players the opportunity to compete on the world stage and have the right support in place to handle the rigor and demands of collegiate and professional tennis."

Sonja Volpe, CEO of BNP Paribas in Canada, said: " BNP Paribas is proud to collaborate with Académie Aliassime to help promote accessibility, inclusivity, and empowerment to young tennis players. We recognize the importance of investing in individual skills development as we are ourselves deeply committed to supporting the future growth of talents. We are thrilled to partner with an organization that encourages inclusive leadership through sport."

Jean-Yves Fillion, CEO of BNP Paribas USA, said: "BNP Paribas is now the world's leading tennis partner with a long history of supporting the sport going back to 1973. In the Americas, we are proud to be working with Sam and Felix to help up-and-coming boys and girls reach their full potential and join the ranks of world-class tennis players. We remain committed to the sport and our social responsibility to change young lives by removing the racial, social and economic barriers to success through tennis initiatives like Team BNPP Aliassime."‘

Team BNP Paribas Young Talents' players are supported in their on- and off-court training as they progress to new and greater heights. They are also provided financial assistance to allow intensive, year-round training and access to international competitions. In addition, they benefit from personal assistance in preparing for the demands of collegiate and professional tennis including image management, educational success, literacy, life-skills and more.

BNP Paribas supports over 150 deserving young tennis players through its ‘Team BNP Paribas Young Talents' programs across Canada (with Sam Aliassime and Académie Aliassime), the United States (with John and Patrick McEnroe and the JMTA), France (with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and the French Tennis Federation), Italy, Poland and Belgium.