Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/560492
ITFWORLD SUMMER 2015 35 www.itftennis.com SUMMER 2015 NEWS ROUND-UP MAURESMO, JEFFETT AND HALL INDUCTED DJOKOVIC RECEIVES HONOUR Novak Djokovic was presented with his 2014 ITF World Champion award by ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti during Wimbledon. Two weeks after receiving the bronze sculpture, the world No. 1 lifted his third trophy at the All England Club. Amelie Mauresmo, David Hall and long-time tennis industry leader Nancy Jeffett were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July. Mauresmo, former world No. 1 and current captain of the French Fed Cup team, wasn't present at the ceremony but was recognised by Stan Smith, president and chairman of the ITHF enshrinee nominating committee, who highlighted her career and achievements. The Frenchwoman won two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006, and was an Olympic silver medallist at Athens 2004. Australia's David Hall was ranked world No. 1 in singles and doubles and won every major title in wheelchair tennis. He won six Paralympic medals in singles and doubles at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Games, including the gold medal at home in Sydney in 2000. He won the Australian Open wheelchair men's title nine times, and the US Open eight times. Jeffett, who dedicated her life to growing the sport of tennis, was inducted in the Contributor Category. She was instrumental in advancing professional women's tennis and in developing opportunities for juniors. Jeffett was an early leader in the promotion of women's pro tennis through the Virginia Slims of Dallas, one of the most popular and important tournaments in the early years of the WTA Tour, and the first women's event to be televised and to award prize money. OBITUARY: DORIS HART Legendary American tennis champion Doris Hart died at home in Florida in May at the age of 89. Hart won 35 major titles in the 1940s and 1950s and was the first player in history to win every Grand Slam title possible during her career in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Margaret Court Smith and Martina Navratilova are the only other players to have achieved this feat. Hart won six Grand Slam titles in singles, 14 in women's doubles, and 15 in mixed doubles. She is ranked fifth in tennis history for most major titles. She swept the singles, doubles and mixed titles at a Slam on three occasions: at 1951 Wimbledon, the 1952 French Championships and the 1954 US Championships. RICCI BITTI HONOURED BY WTA Francesco Ricci Bitti was honoured for his 16 years as ITF President at the WTA Alumnae & Friends Reunion held in London in July. Mary Carillo, who a month earlier had received the Philippe Chatrier Award from the ITF, presented Ricci Bitti with a special lapel pin. Carillo reminded the gathering that Ricci Bitti once said, "There is no room for prejudice of any kind in sport or in society," and she continued, "What a glorious sentiment, and it speaks volumes of this man, who has been such a dedicated and true supporter of women's tennis; who is a natural born leader and diplomat, and someone who has been unafraid to take a stand." One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Georgina Clark WTA Mother Award to former Swedish No. 1 and ITF Fed Cup Committee member Ingrid Lofdahl-Bentzer by Billie Jean King. "Ingrid has been a wonderful mother to her daughter Helene and son Jake and she has been an outstanding shepherd for our sport not just in her homeland of Sweden but on the global stage as well," said King. She captured 325 tournament titles during her illustrious career, and was ranked in the world Top 10 for ten straight years from 1946 to 1955, reaching No. 1 in 1951. Hart's extraordinary success was achieved despite suffering from osteomyelitis, a bone infection in her right leg that resulted in a permanent impairment. What she lost in movement, she made up for with strategy and impeccable racket control. Representing her country in the Wightman Cup was immensely important to Hart and she was an integral member of the US team from 1946 to 1955, compiling a 14-0 record in singles and an 8-1 record in doubles. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1969. David Hall at the enshrinement ceremony Ricci Bitti with, left to right: Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, Ingrid Lofdahl-Bentzer, Tracy Austin and Martina Navratilova