Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1524501
30 Tours and Player Pathway ITF WORLD TENNIS TOUR JUNIORS AND JUNIOR TEAM COMPETITIONS The ITF provides interna onal compe on for players aged 18 and under on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, and team compe ons for the 16-and-under and 14-and-under age groups. Our junior events are the launchpad for many future stars to progress into the professional game. The tour offers tournaments in six ranking-point ers, enabling the most talented players to work their way up. Team compe ons provide opportuni es for boys and girls to develop their game while represen ng their countries, with many going on to compete in Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Record growth A record 922 tournaments were held on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors in 2023, hosted by 131 na ons (see graphic right). Of these, a record 139 tournaments were held in Africa, in 23 countries, with Angola and Congo hos ng for the first me. Most of the growth was in the lower level J30 and J60 events, providing more local opportuni es and so reducing travel costs. Our goal is to increase the number of na ons staging junior events, in line with the ITF2024+4 strategic priority to create more playing opportuni es around the world and ensure the interna onal player pathway is accessible to all. For 2024, we aim to exceed 135 na ons hos ng. A highlight of 2023 was the return of the pres gious ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu, China. Held in October for the Top 8 boys and girls, this tournament offers the most ranking points outside the junior Grand Slams, and rewarded compe tors with travel grants of up to $18,500 each to support their progression into professional tennis. Fast-tracking talent We're working to improve the pathway so that the very best talent can rise, and 2023 was the first year of a Junior Accelerator Programme for both boys and girls. The programme offers places in higher-level professional tournaments for the best- performing juniors of the previous year, which they would otherwise be ranked too low to enter. For the year-end Top 20 boys, accelerator spots are now provided in partnership ITF Junior Tennis: a record-breaking 2023 922 TOURNAMENTS HELD UP 17% ON 2022 INCLUDING A RECORD 139 TOURNAMENTS IN AFRICA ACROSS 23 NATIONS A RECORD 125,049 MATCHES PLAYED IN SINGLES AND DOUBLES 9,703 BOYS 8,101 GIRLS PLAYERS UP 11% ON 2022 A RECORD 17,804 HOST NATIONS UP 13% ON 2022 131