ITF

ITF World Spring 2022 39 Armed with a mission to make tennis the world's leading participation sport for those aged 30 and above, the ITF introduced two new age categories to its Seniors Tour ahead of the 2021 season. They came at either end of the spectrum and saw the tour offer competitive opportunities in the 30+ and 90+ age groups, having previously catered for players aged 35 through to 85 and above in five-year increments. This followed independent research and collaboration with National Associations which suggested there may be a gap in the market, particularly when considering those in their early to mid-thirties. Analysis indicates that the 25-34 age range is associated with young, working professionals who are likely to be time- rich, albeit with demands on that time with other activities and options available to them. Participation figures also show that within the leading 20 tennis-playing nations, the 25-34 age-group is highly engaged with the sport. However, outside of the ITF World Tennis Tour, which provides competitive opportunities for elite players, there was found to be limited scope for those aged 30 and above to compete in an organised tournament circuit. The ITF therefore opted to extend their Seniors tour and accommodate a 30+ category, providing a significant number of non-professional players who compete at a high level with the opportunity to engage in age- appropriate tournaments. The founding principles of Seniors tennis are healthy competition, camaraderie, fitness benefits, travel opportunities and sheer enjoyment and they are evident throughout the tour. But with the 30+ age group, perhaps more than any other, competitive participation is the underscored phrase, with this category designed to appeal to those who play to a good standard in parks and clubs around the world as well as ex-pros. And in addition to ensuring would-be players are not lost to the sport due to a lack of competitive opportunities, the 30+ category also feeds into the ITF's aim of boosting participation and meeting an ambitious target of 120 million people playing tennis globally by 2030. Since its ITF Seniors Tour debut at the Senko Cup in Hyogo, Japan in January 2021, the 30+ age group has flourished, with demand clearly visible. Close to 700 players achieved an ITF singles world ranking during 2021, with further growth evident during the first quarter of this year. One of the new competitors is Dan Salomon, who was a junior player in Mexico during his youth before competing at NCAA Division One level as his educational commitments widened. Now 32, he is the top-ranked mixed doubles player in the 30+ age group having topped the podium at Ciudad de Mexico – Masters Tennis Bellavista alongside Olga Wolf SENIORS

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