Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/623806
WINTER 2015 WELCOME 2 ITFWORLD WINTER 2015 I t is my very great pleasure to introduce my first ITFWorld as President of the ITF. I feel privileged to be leading tennis's world governing body for the next four years but I want to start by thanking my predecessor Francesco Ricci Bitti for 16 years of dedicated service to the ITF and for mentoring me during our transitional period. I wish him continued success with his work at ASOIF and in the Olympic movement, and I know he will be following the fortunes of the sport we love with great interest. This issue of our magazine features reports from the excellent finals of Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, and from the season- ending NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. It also introduces our 2015 ITF World Champions in what has been an incredible year for tennis. Serena Williams, the ITF Women's World Champion, won three more Grand Slam titles and got closer to achieving the calendar-year Grand Slam than any woman has done since Steffi Graf won all four majors in 1988; she fell at the US Open just two matches short. Novak Djokovic was no less impressive, reaching the finals of all four majors and lifting the trophies at three, an extraordinary feat in such a competitive era for men's tennis. My congratulations go also to Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza, our women's doubles World Champions, and Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, men's doubles World Champions, for their standout seasons. In wheelchair tennis, the World Champion honours go to Jiske Griffioen and Shingo Kunieda. Our junior World Champions, USA's Taylor Fritz and Dalma Galfi of Hungary, spearheaded another great year on the ITF Junior Circuit, where fresh young talent flourishes and gives us a preview of what looks set to be a healthy future for our sport. To take the ITF into that future, the ITF Board of Directors recently agreed seven key initiatives that I would like to share with you here. These form the basis of our 2024 Strategic Priorities Roadmap, and will guide everything the ITF does in the next few years. We will provide further insight and detail in the next issue of ITFWorld, shortly before the 2016 ITF AGM in Zagreb in June, but in outline, they are as follows: • Strengthen the ITF's and member nations' financial position. • Elevate our Davis Cup and Fed Cup properties. • Increase cooperation and collaboration with ATP, WTA, Grand Slams, IOC, players and allied tennis partners. • Increase ITF development funding to grow tennis around the world. • Elevate tennis in the Olympics. • Listen and engage with the member nations and Regional Associations. • Be accountable for our results. The development of tennis is at the heart of our Strategic Priorities and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Dave Miley, who is leaving his position as ITF Executive Director of Development after 24 years. He leaves a large legacy and we wish him well for the future. We are committed to building on the outstanding foundation of the ITF's Development initiative. With the Olympic year of 2016 set to be a busy one for the ITF and its member nations, for now I wish everyone a very happy New Year and a successful start to the new season. David Haggerty ITF President LOOKING TOWARDS 2016