Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1503920
2022 ITF Annual Review 36 TOURS AND PLAYER PATHWAY Beach tennis is a fast-growing part of the sport of tennis, and the ITF's ambi on is for this vibrant game to be the leading beach sport for professional and junior athletes worldwide. In line with our overarching strategy to create more playing opportuni es, we worked with member Na onal Associa ons and organisers to stage 259 beach tennis events in 2022, taking tournament numbers on the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour back to 85% of pre-pandemic levels. A total of 3,270 players competed in at least one tournament, of whom 40% were female. We took the tour to Australia for the first me, with an event in Perth ensuring that all seven ITF regions are now represented on the calendar. The ITF Beach Tennis World Championships and ITF Beach Tennis World Cup are the two major events that sit at the pinnacle of the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour which, like all ITF tours, offers tournaments at a range of grades and corresponding prize money levels. Sand Series grows The top er of these tournaments is the Sand Series, held in iconic loca ons around the world and featuring the best beach tennis players. In 2022 we added a fi h event, the Sand Series Barcelona, to sit alongside the Reunion Classic, Gran Canaria Classic, Brasilia Classic and Saarlouis Classic, and in 2023 we plan to extend to seven tournaments. The ITF's con nued investment in beach tennis in 2022 boosted total prize money to $1,129,000, taking it past the $1 million mark for the first me and ensuring a 46% increase on pre-pandemic levels. More players and fans Ac vi es to grow the game included the launch of the Beach Tennis Global Development Programme, supported by our commercial partner Sandever who distributed 100 'Superkits' of beach tennis equipment to 11 na ons. We also made beach tennis coaching modules available for the first me on the ITF Academy pla orm. We created new opportuni es for fan involvement in 2022. Brazilian broadcaster Play BT provided TV coverage of the Beach Tennis World Championships in Terracina, Italy for their market of engaged fans in South America. In Rio de Janeiro, a TV and streaming audience of 3.1 million watched the na onal teams in ac on at the Beach Tennis World Cup. The ITF will con nue to deliver a broadcas ng strategy that increases the profile and awareness of beach tennis. Plans for 2023 In 2023, we will increase tournament numbers and hos ng na ons by 5% compared to 2022, and keep total prize money above $1 million. We will con nue our drive to increase beach tennis par cipa on, distribu ng another 100 Superkits and launching a 'Play Beach' coaching course in two regions. We will also develop beach tennis-specific officia ng courses to encourage more officials to get involved. As part of our mission to uphold the highest standards of integrity, we'll implement appropriate integrity standards into beach tennis live scoring and live streaming to protect players and tournaments from growing be ng markets. Beach Tennis The ITF's con nued investment in beach tennis in 2022 boosted total prize money to $1,129,000, taking it past the $1 million mark for the first me and ensuring a 46% increase on pre-pandemic levels.