ITF

WELCOME TO THE SPRING EDITION OF ITFWORLD. THE FIRST HALF OF 2019 HAS BEEN REMARKABLY BUSY AND THE YEAR IS CERTAINLY LIVING UP TO ITS BILLING AS A GROUNDBREAKING AND HUGELY EXCITING PERIOD FOR THE ITF AND THE NATIONS. OLYMPIC BUILD-UP It is hard to believe that the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo are little more than a year away – the countdown is most definitely on. Excitement and anticipation among the players appear to be growing too, and I would draw your attention to the interview ITFWorld has conducted with Noami Osaka, which runs on pages 12-17, where she talks about her dreams of winning gold in the country of her birth. In April, the ITF announced changes to match formats for the Olympic Tennis Event, with the men's singles gold medal match to be played as best-of-three tiebreak sets. A further change means men's and women's doubles matches will now feature a match tiebreak to 10 points when the score is tied at one- set all – a format already in use in the mixed doubles event. Robust discussions were had by the ITF Olympic Committee and ITF Board regarding these changes, which prioritise consistency and player welfare, and ensure players, who have indicated a desire to compete in multiple events, can achieve their goals. GAME MANAGEMENT The ITF World Tennis Tour launched on 1 January and even though we are only a few months down the line, there have been plenty of success stories and positive signs that the new system is delivering its founding principles. During the first quarter of the year, there has been an increase in the number of women's tournaments compared to 12 months ago with more at a higher prize money category, while the number of men's tournaments has stabilised in April and May. The impact of reserved places for emerging talent, particularly at $15,000 level, has also been noteworthy. That said, whenever you make changes you have to evaluate to see what is working and where improvements, which are within our authority to initiate and based on feedback and data, can be made. The ITF World Tennis Tour is a long-term project requiring assessment and adjustments where necessary and in February the qualifying draws were increased from 24 to 32 players at $25,000 and $15,000 levels. At March's ITF Board meeting in Miami, further discussions took place regarding increasing the playing opportunities for $25,000 and $15,000 tier levels, while a second wave of amendments to the Tour's structure were approved. We have had productive conversations with the WTA and ATP and will be making further enhancements to the $25,000 and $15,000 events to ensure a pathway for players up and down the pyramid. The ITF's mission is to support the entry of the best male and female players into professional tennis and to deliver them to the top of the game. Through the ITF World Tennis Tour, we will continue to work closely with the WTA and the ATP to ensure the successful progression of emerging talent and merit-based development. DAVIS CUP EXTRAVAGANZA February proved a fascinating month with the Davis Cup Qualifiers and draw for November's new-look Finals taking place. Interest in Davis Cup during the Qualifiers weekend soared and I believe that was due to the ties leading to a conclusion, with nations reaching the Finals as opposed to simply the next round. The draw for the Finals, which was held at La Real Casa de Correos in the host city of Madrid, was thrilling and there was a great turnout from new sponsors and the 18 nations, including many national team captains, which will compete in the week-long extravaganza. To see the concept of the Finals appear before our very eyes and to picture some of the mouth-watering contests that will unfold between 18-24 November was something to savour. It is safe to say that Madrid is ready. We have also seen over the last few months from a sponsorship perspective how much value has been unlocked by holding the Finals in one location and having the top nations and best players competing across seven days. FED CUP We have experienced huge drama and excitement around the Fed Cup at this year's first round ties and the semifinals in April. Certain countries, some hosting their first Fed Cup tie in decades, sold out tickets in the first days of sale and Taking the necessary steps T H E P R E S I D E N T ' S V I E W During the first quarter of the year, there has been an increase in the number of women's tournaments… 04 ITFWorld // SPRING 2019

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