ITF

ITFWorld Spring 2013

Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/117483

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 5 of 35

ITF CENTENARY EVERYONE for tennis Rafael Nadal is all smiles in New York despite losing his BNP Paribas Showdown match to Juan Martin del Potro 76 64 The first-ever World Tennis Day was a hit around the globe, providing the perfect celebration of the sport as the ITF marks its centenary. M onday 4 March was, as the pre-event publicity predicted, a great day to try tennis, as countries all over the world got into the spirit of the inaugural World Tennis Day to promote the sport and encourage participation among young players. Launched to mark the ITF���s 100th birthday, World Tennis Day was headlined by two special events organised by the promoter StarGames, the BNP Paribas Showdown in New York���s Madison Square Garden and the BNP Paribas Showdown at the AsiaWorld-Arena in Hong Kong. The New York edition, already a well-established date on the calendar, featured Serena Williams in a one-off match against Victoria Azarenka, then Rafael Nadal against Juan Martin del Potro. In Hong Kong, Agnieszka Radwanska played Caroline Wozniacki before tennis legends John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl rekindled their rivalry. Alongside the star turns in New York and Hong Kong there were demonstrations of the ITF���s Tennis10s programme, and the theme was continued across the world in more than 50 countries. From Belarus to Burundi, the ITF���s National Associations marked World Tennis Day with grassroots and club activities aimed at getting children age ten and under involved in the sport. Many of the activities were centred around the Tennis10s programme, which promotes the use of slower and lower bouncing balls, shorter and lighter rackets, and smaller courts to make it easier for children to take up the game. The initiative is part of the ITF���s Tennis Play & Stay campaign which aims to increase all tennis participation worldwide. More images and news from World Tennis Day can be found at www.itftennis.com, and more information about Tennis10s is available at www.tennisplayandstay.com. A great day to try tennis. It���s easy, fun and healthy. A postcard announcing the event 4 ITFWORLD SPRING 2013 Nearly 100 children got involved in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the event was shown on national television Children play near the Discoveries Monument in Lisbon, responding to the Portuguese Tennis Federation���s challenge to find unusual places to play on World Tennis Day

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

view archives of ITF - ITFWorld Spring 2013