ITF

40 Summer 2022 ITF World NEWS R O U N D - U P S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 NEWS ROUND-UP Australia's Lleyton Hewitt was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July. An inductee from the Class of 2021, Hewitt's induction celebrations were deferred to 2022 due to travel restrictions. But the two-time Grand Slam and two- time Davis Cup champion got his moment in Newport, Rhode Island this year in front of his family, friends, fans, and well-wishers. Known for his tenacity and never-say-never attitude on the court, Hewitt won 616 matches during his 18-year career, most notably en route to titles at the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon. Hewitt is the youngest player to reach No. 1 in the rankings, ascending to the top spot at 20 years old. He was a member of Australia's winning Davis Cup team in 1999 and 2003, and won two ATP year-end singles championships. Two legends who played an important part in Hewitt's career – John Newcombe and Tony Roche, captain and coach respectively for the 1990s Australian Davis Cup team – shared their memories during the induction ceremony of the first time they picked Hewitt to be a squad member at the age of 15. Twenty years on, and Hewitt is now Davis Cup captain for Australia. The team qualified for the 2022 Finals and Hewitt will take his team to Hamburg for the group stage in September. "There was something special about that competition for me. Tennis is such an individual sport for so many months of the year, and I think that's why Davis Cup was so important to me. It was my way of playing AFL football but in the sport of tennis. "Standing side by side with your teammates, your captain, your coach, and knowing that you're going into battle for something more important than just yourself." The ITF Seniors Tour has been relaunched as the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour, with the rebrand reflecting the fact that players from 30 years to 90 can take part in this thriving part of the ITF's tournament offer. Consisting of over 500 competitive tournaments played in more than 70 countries, the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour takes in individual and team singles, doubles and mixed doubles events across various grade levels for each five-year age increment from 30+ to 90+. Approximately 27,500 players take part every year. The relaunch came ahead of the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour 30-45 World Team and Individual Championships in Lisbon, Portugal in July-August. The event saw 700 players from all parts of the world vying for championship status at the 30, 35, 40 and 45 age brackets. Earlier in 2022, the equivalent World Team and Individual Championships for the older age brackets were held in Palm Beach, Florida, USA, showcasing players from 50 all the way up to 98. "Tennis is truly a game for life that anyone can play. A major reason for the rebrand is because we want people to be aware that the Masters Tour is for anyone aged 30 and over", said ITF President David Haggerty. "One of the ITF's main goals, as part of our ITF2024 strategy, is to provide people, no matter what their age or location, with plenty of opportunities to get involved in a range of high-quality and enjoyable tennis initiatives globally. You don't need to be a former professional player, nor do you need a ranking to enter Masters Tour events." Players first need to sign-up to receive their unique ITF IPIN (International Player Identification Number). There's no upfront cost to sign-up and players only pay a fee for the tournaments they enter. Players without an international ranking will gain one simply by registering for a tournament and playing. For more information, visit www.itftennis.com/masters Seniors becomes ITF World Tennis Masters Tour Hewitt honoured by ITHF

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