ITF

ITF World Spring 2021 45 The Grand Slam Board announced the appointment of Ugo Valensi as its new Executive Director in February. The Grand Slam Board is the representative body of the four Grand Slam tournaments – the Australian Open, Roland Garros, The Championships, Wimbledon and the US Open – and is comprised of the chairs and chief executives of the four Grand Slams and the president of the International Tennis Federation. As Executive Director, Mr Valensi will be a strategic relationship leader for the Grand Slams as they move forward with ambition in the ever-changing sports, media and entertainment landscape. Ugo Valensi appointed Executive Director of Grand Slam Board man responsible for developing the tennis coaching system in Japan. The Australian, who coached most of the top men's players in Japan at some point during his career, was supervisor of the Japanese Davis Cup team from 2003 to 2006. He had a profound impact upon Japan's current captain Satoshi Iwabuchi. "Ever since my days as a player, Bob taught me about the joy of tennis, as well as the importance of hard work," said Iwabuchi. "Now, as captain of the Davis Cup team, I try to pass The Japanese team paid tribute to their former coach, Bob Brett, by holding out a flag at the draw ceremony ahead of their Davis Cup by Rakuten World Group I victory against Pakistan in Islamabad in March. Brett, who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 67 in early January, is heralded as the the same messages to our next generation. His legacy will live on forever in Japanese tennis." Japan's team manager Naoyukim Nozawaa said: "Bob devoted his time and energies for Japan tennis. We will never forget his contribution and wholehearted efforts to promote tennis in Japan. "Holding out the flag at the draw ceremony was just a token of love and respect we have for him. Though he is no more, he will be remembered forever." Japan defeated Pakistan to book their place in the 2022 Davis Cup by Rakuten Qualifiers. OBITUARY JAPANESE DAVIS CUP TEAM PAY TRIBUTE TO BOB BRETT His remit will include developing an overall strategy for the Grand Slams, helping drive greater collaboration between the principal bodies in tennis to ensure that tennis is a thriving sport and engaging with the wider global tennis stakeholder community. Most recently, the Frenchman was the chief executive of Lagardere Sports & Entertainment until its sale in 2020, having joined the sports marketing agency in 2011. He began his career in financial services with Ernst & Young before graduating with an MBA from INSEAD and moving into management consulting with AT Kearney.

• Cover