ITF

DEVELOPMENT In 2021, the ITF con nued its work improving tennis performance and skills around the world in under- resourced and under-represented countries. We provided training and support for 21 promising players aged 14 to 18 years via our ITF Regional Training Centres. The centres are intensive training hubs offering personalised programmes for talented individuals in their respec ve regions. We supported eight players virtually from the ITF Pacific Oceania Centre in Fiji, and 13 players at our High- Performance Training Centre in Morocco, ahead of its closure in August. We will con nue to support players while a new training hub in Africa is sought. So that players could gain valuable overseas compe ve experience, the ITF organised four interna onal touring teams, funded by the Grand Slam Player Development Programme (GSPDP), formerly the Grand Slam Development Fund. Twenty-six junior players – 14 boys and 12 girls – took part in the tours in 2021. Highlights include Bulgaria's Petr Nesterov Performance finishing as US Open junior doubles runner-up. We also provided seven regional tours. The GSPDP provided a selected group of talented professional players with a total of $650,000 in grants across 2020 and 2021. Demonstra ng the success of this programme, in 2021 three former GSPDP grant recipients reached a new threshold in their careers, as Ons Jabeur (TUN), Hubert Hurkacz (POL) and Casper Ruud (NOR) each ended the year with a Top-10 ranking for the first me. For players aged 18 and under, 15 players from 13 countries received ITF Junior Player Grants of up to $25,000 each in 2021, while 14 players from 11 countries received grants in 2020. Plans for 2022 and beyond We're con nuing our efforts in 2022 and beyond to ensure that a diverse range of players, no ma er where they are from, have the best opportunity to improve their performance. We have iden fied six talented players from Pacific Oceania and six from Africa, who we will provide with financial support for training, compe on, and educa on via a virtual player development programme. In both regions, we are exploring training op ons for the 2023 season, including a new home for the African regional training centre. Through the GSPDP, touring opportuni es will con nue to be provided for junior players. In 2022, these will include four GSPDP-funded tours to each of the junior Grand Slam tournaments, one 17-and-under tour to major events in Italy, and a 14-and- under tour to Florida, USA. We aim to add more 18-and-under opportuni es later in 2022. Under the 2022 GSPDP, grants have been awarded for both professional and junior players. There are 44 recipients, 22 male and 22 female. Individuals from 39 countries are receiving grants of up to $25,000, among them Juncheng Shang of China and Petra Marcinko of Croa a, the 2021 year-end junior No.1s and ITF Junior World Champions. 2021 ITF Annual Review 16 I think it's a great programme. I was lucky enough to be chosen by the ITF. That was the me when I broke through to the Top 100. It was very helpful because tennis is a very difficult sport financially. If you find that kind of support, you probably have a certain amount that will help you and then you can focus more on playing tennis. Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, Top 10-ranked women's player and 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, on the support of the ITF and Grand Slam Player Development Programme

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