ITF

ITF World Summer 2023 5 PRESIDENT'S VIEW SEASON as Paris 2024 moves firmly into view. With less than a year to go before the Games, we are very much in the countdown. There is a feature in this issue containing key information about the Olympic and Paralympic tennis events, which will be held on clay at Roland Garros. The Olympic and Paralympics continue to play an important role in the ITF's mission to grow the game. They provide us with vital revenue for reinvestment into the sport, and through their global reach support tennis's growth by providing inspiration and role models for professionals and recreational players alike. Strong line-up for Davis Cup Our World Cup of Tennis events also generate income to reinvest into global development, and of course give players the unique thrill of representing their country as part of a team. Over the next three months we will stage the Davis Cup Finals and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals and they promise to be fantastic events. Shortly after the US Open, 16 nations will play in the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage across four cities –Bologna, Manchester, Split and Valencia – and they will be competing to go through to the Davis Cup Final 8, to be held in Malaga on 21-26 November. Nine of the Top 20 men will be in action, and with Serbia and Spain both playing in Group C in Valencia, fans could be treated to another instalment of the fascinating Alcaraz-Djokovic rivalry. This issue of ITFWorld contains interviews with Croatia's Borna Coric and Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland, as they prepare to lead their teams in Davis Cup Group D action in Split. It's clear how much representing their country means to both men, and what special memories it adds to their careers. Exciting times for Billie Jean King Cup We're also looking forward to the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals, the pinnacle event of the women's World Cup of Tennis, which takes place in Seville on 7-12 November. Twelve teams will be in contention for the title, and team line-ups will be announced in October. I was pleased to announce a partnership agreement between the ITF and TWG Global which will see TWG Global substantially invest in Billie Jean King Cup and provide expertise and infrastructure for the marketing and promotion of the competition, led by Ilana Kloss of Billie Jean King Cup Enterprises. This is great news for the competition which, since its rebrand three years ago, has extended its reach, enjoyed record entries and achieved Finals prize money equivalent to Davis Cup. In line with our mission to deliver tennis for future generations, this agreement will benefit nations in their development of tennis as well as current and future players. A jam-packed end of season sees many of the ITF's major events across its five tours being contested, including the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals, A Rich the NEC Wheelchair Singles and ITF Doubles Masters, and the Beach Tennis World Cup. The Billie Jean King Cup Juniors and Davis Cup Juniors Finals, our 16-and-under team events, are both being staged in Cordoba, Spain. This is part of the ITF's wider agreement with the Spanish region of Andalusia, which we are delighted is also hosting the Davis Cup Final 8 (Malaga) and the Billie Jean King Cup Finals (Seville). Many of our member nations will be heading to the ITF Conference and AGM in Cancun, Mexico in September. It has been an honour to serve as ITF President for eight years, and I will be standing for re-election as President for a final four-year term. The assembly will also elect a new 16-member Board of Directors for the next four years. I look forward to seeing some of our readers in Cancun and wish everyone the very best as we head towards an excellent finale to the tennis season. n

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