Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1195926
ITFWorld // WINTER 2019/20 05 ITF President David Haggerty attended the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu in October The ITF World Tennis Number will be rolled out during 2020 and will be a major tool in boosting participation and retention rates. Quite frankly, I see unlimited potential in our capacity to develop tennis. This time next year, we will once again be celebrating Olympic and Paralympic champions. The 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro were a huge success with many uplifting achievements and stories. Rio set a high bar but I am convinced Tokyo will live up to billing and surpass expectations. HOPMAN CUP The ITF has consistently stated its commitment to staging the Hopman Cup ever since confirmation in March 2019 of an arrangement for Tennis Australia to end the licensing agreement for the tournament with immediate effect. With the competition not being played in 2020, there will be a renewed focus on the event during the coming year to guarantee its staging next season. After all, a combined men's and women's event is very special. When Roger Federer and Serena Williams competed against each other for Switzerland and the USA respectively at the 2019 Hopman Cup, the selfie photograph they posed for was beamed around the world and featured on the front page of newspapers everywhere. This was a prime example of the special moments which our sport produces. The Hopman Cup is a fabulous competition and ensuring its reintroduction from 2021 is a priority. MARKING ACHIEVEMENT Only a matter of weeks ago the ITF named its 2019 World Champions, who will be celebrated, along with our Philippe Chatrier Award winner, at a gala evening in Paris during Roland Garros. I would like to draw your attention to the pages which immediately follow my presidential message as those who are to have the ITF World Champion crown bestowed upon them, all of whom are very worthy winners indeed, are profiled in detail. Congratulations go to Rafael Nadal, Ashleigh Barty, Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic, Gustavo Fernandez, Diede de Groot, Dylan Alcott, Thiago Agustin Tirante and Diane Parry. The ITF very much look forward to celebrating their achievements in the French capital later this year. As I draw my presidential message to a close, I would once again like to offer my best wishes to everyone for the coming year, and wish all players contesting tournaments between now and the next edition of ITFWorld the very best of luck. n