ITF

04 Winter 2020 ITF World Welcome to the winter edition of ITFWorld. Firstly, I very much hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well following the unprecedented year we have witnessed. It has been a hugely challenging and uncertain 12 months for everyone and that includes the ITF. Given everything which has unfolded, the overall theme for the ITF during 2020 has been: anticipate, adapt, lead. Since mid-March, we have had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and focus upon the safety and welfare of the tennis world. There was no playbook to refer to in order to navigate such an unusual period, although I can assure you that we have now compiled one. It has been a different year in so many ways and we have had to venture into uncharted waters, anticipate what might happen and develop multiple scenarios and contingencies so that, as an organisation, we could be as prepared as possible for the uncertainty. We knew that we would have to adapt our business model and resource allocation to the continuously changing environment and this meant amending plans that were in place for 2020 to support the continued roll out of ITF2024. More than ever before, the ITF needed to lead our nations and assist them through the various stages of the pandemic, and deal with restrictions being put in place, lifted and then reinstated. As the tennis family, we have learned that we must work together to steer our sport through difficult times. Collaboration, communication and unity have never been more important and Covid-19 has provided tennis with an opportunity to emerge from the crisis better equipped for the future. By continuing to take collective responsibility, the ITF has put itself in the best position, not only to overcome some of the risks of the Covid-19 crisis but continue to grow the game of tennis together with our member nations. Professional tennis in 2020 A key component of 2020 was leading the safe return to tennis nationally, regionally and internationally. In August, as certain countries and regions began to emerge from the initial stages of Covid-19, we needed to support the return to tennis on a nation-by-nation basis. In order to safely return to tennis competition, the ITF issued Return to Tennis Safety Protocols to the nations as a guideline for use with their local government health and safety authorities. Since tennis returned, around 100 professional men's and women's ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments have been held and there has been an enormous effort by the nations to support players looking to continue their journey on the professional pathway. This year, we will have 325 tournaments compared to 1100 last year. Understanding that over 75 per cent of the world had severe travel restrictions during this time, this is a positive sign and we expect to see more nations hosting ITF World Tennis Tour events in 2021. Junior tournaments have had even better hosting results. Since tennis returned, we will have had more than 170 ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors tournaments on the calendar through to the end of December. Seniors, Wheelchair and Beach events have also made a successful return to the calendar. These international ITF World Tennis Tour events would not have been held without the national associations, so I would like to say a big thank you to them for all their hard work and dedication. DAVID HAGGERTY ITF President THE PRESIDENT'S VIEW After a hugely uncertain and challenging year, ITF President David Haggerty uses his welcome address to review the last 12 months and look ahead to 2021 RALLYING CALL Above The ITF supported the return to tennis on a na on-by-na on basis in 2020 Right ITF President David Haggerty with Billie Jean King at the Fed Cup Finals draw in February. The compe on has since been rebranded to become Billie Jean King Cup

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