ITF

ITF Beach Tennis Tour figures show that the sport continues to enjoy healthy growth worldwide. In 2014, there were 207 tournaments, an increase of 24 per cent from the 167 events in 2013, hosted by 34 nations. Prize money rose by 12 per cent to $473,900. The individual World Championships returned to Cervia in Italy with several key additions. For the first time in the event's history, an official qualifying event was added resulting in a total of 48 women's and 80 men's pairs (representing 22 nations) taking part. Live scoring was provided for all main draw matches and live streaming showed centre court matches throughout the event. Both the semifinals and finals filled the 2,500 capacity centre court which also featured a large LED screen showing match scores, video promotions and provided a platform for social media interaction for spectators. Italy's Sofia Cimatti retained the trophy, this time partnered by Federica Bacchetta, while in the men's event their compatriots Alessandro Calbucci and Marco Garavini came out on top to become the first pair to successfully defend the World Championships title. A highlights video was created after the event and is available to view on the ITF website. The Tour's other flagship event, the World Team Championship, returned to Russia's National Tennis Centre in Moscow where Italy and Brazil once again met in the final. Italy avenged its 2013 defeat as the title changed hands for the third consecutive year. There were 24 nations present, up from 20 the previous year, and live scoring was provided throughout the event for the first time. Italy successfully retained all three of its titles at the European Beach Tennis Championships, which returned to Brighton, Great Britain. 12 PROFESSIONAL TENNIS: ITF BEACH TENNIS TOUR ITF BEACH TENNIS TOUR Twenty-two nations contested the three-day event, which saw Israel and Slovakia make their first appearance in the competition. The Pan American Championships stayed in Brazil for a second year but moved city to Santos. Argentina made its debut in the competition, joining Brazil, Chile, Aruba and Venezuela. There was no stopping the hosts who took a clean sweep of all three titles. In Asia beach tennis has never looked stronger. Japan increased its tournament count from nine to 15, culminating in its prestigious Grade 1 event which runs alongside the ATP's event in Tokyo in October. Thailand built on the success of its high prize money event in Hua Hin in 2013, creating a series of two Grade 1 events in Phuket and Hua Hin. The events offered $10,000 and $20,000 respectively which took the region's total prize money to $62,000. 207 BEACH TENNIS TOURNAMENTS WERE HELD IN 2014

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