Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1477107
2021 ITF Annual Review 28 TOURS AND PLAYER PATHWAY The ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors is a key step on the interna onal player pathway. We provide tournaments and ranking points which enable the best players to step up to the professional game. It is our aim to ensure that players from all countries and regions have the opportunity to take part in tournaments close to home. We have made provisions to ensure more na ons are able to host events by reducing certain requirements and associated costs across the different grades of events. Since 2019, 140 na ons have held ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors tournaments. In partnership with the hos ng member Na onal Associa ons, in 2021 we held the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals (for players aged 14 and under) in Prostejov, Czech Republic, and the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals (16 and under) in Antalya, Turkey. Including regional qualifying, these events combined featured a total of 66 na ons. To mark the first staging of the Junior Billie Jean King Cup Finals under its new name (formerly Junior Fed Cup), Billie Jean King herself hosted an inspira onal virtual Q&A session with players in Antalya. Providing juniors from all na ons with more opportuni es In 2022 we're increasing Grade 4 and Grade 5 tournaments to provide more entry-level compe ve playing opportuni es. The ITF has achieved a 25% increase in these tournaments ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors and ITF junior team competitions in the first half of 2022 compared to 2019. We will target our growth of Grade 2 and Grade 3 tournaments in specific regions to help provide a balanced pathway for players across the world. From May 2022, the ITF World Tennis Number (WTN) has been introduced as part of players' acceptance criteria to compete in singles at ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors tournaments. This is part of the WTN's rollout across interna onal tennis, ensuring more players can find more playing opportuni es based on quality and reliable data. We plan to make the online ITF Academy a key educa on resource for players, coaches and parents as another form of support for junior players.