Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1491441
38 Winter 2023 ITF World HEADER Accelerator Programme to boost talented juniors Each player ranked in the Top 20 of the junior boys year-end rankings will be granted up to eight Accelerator Spots at ATP Challenger Tour 50 and 75 tournaments the following season. These will be split between main draw (Top 10) and qualifying (for those ranked 11-20), with players also eligible for two Accelerator Spots at M15 or M25 ITF World Tennis Tour events. Players ranked 21-30 in the year-end rankings will be eligible for eight spots at M15 or M25 events. Grand Slam singles champions and finalists will also be eligible for the Accelerator Programme. Champions will receive the same allocation of main draw opportunities as the Top 10 group, while finalists will join players ranked 11-20 in receiving access into qualifying. Further bolstering the Junior Accelerator Programme is a new 'Promotion' mechanic, which enables year-end Top 20 ranked juniors and junior Grand Slam singles champions and finalists who achieve direct acceptance by ATP ranking into ATP Challenger qualifying, to be promoted into the main draw. For girls ranked in the year- end Top 20, there will be a total of five opportunities to access main draws at women's events on the ITF World Tennis Tour, from W15 to W100 level, depending on ranking. For the first time this will include access to the new W40 category, covered in our feature on page 28. The ITF and ATP have introduced the Accelerator Programme, a ground-breaking initiative designed to accelerate the careers of young aspiring tennis players from 2023. The programme sees playing opportunities at ATP Challenger Tour level and ITF World Tennis Tour events reserved for the world's top junior players, and forms part of the ITF's long-term strategy to develop more opportunities for players to progress through the player pathway to the top level of the game. NEWS R O U N D - U P W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 / 2 3 The Federacion Colombiana de Tenis (Colombian Tennis Federation) has been honoured by the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) with the 2022 Global Organisation of Distinction Award. The Global Organisation of Distinction Award is an accolade which is presented annually and recognises a tennis organisation, association, federation or facility that has demonstrated a successful track record of distinguished service and contribution towards the growth of the game. The 2022 award was presented on behalf of the ITHF by Hall of Famer Mark Woodforde at the ITF's Conference and AGM. Selected by a committee of ITF and ITHF representatives, the Colombian Tennis Federation has dedicated itself to developing tennis at all levels – from juniors through to the professional ranks. The Colombian Tennis Federation is committed to introducing tennis at a young age through initiatives such as its Tennis in the Schools programme. As a result, Colombia is home to a thriving ITF juniors programme, hosts Colombian Tennis Federation honoured 38 Winter 2022/23 ITF World Mark Woodforde presents the award to Felipe Diaz of the Federacion Colombiana de Tenis Paraguay's up-and- coming Daniel Vallejo