ITF

WINTER 2015 NEWS ROUND-UP The ITF has launched the official ITF Pro Circuit live scoring mobile app, which offers point-by-point score updates straight from the umpire's chair at ITF Pro Circuit events. The app is powered by Sportradar AG, the worldwide distributor for ITF Official Data. Users can receive notifications about each match such as start times, set scores and final scores, as well as see a full list of tournaments taking place each week, their daily order of play, detailed match statistics, in-play updates of key match moments and player head-to-head records and biographies. Available on iPhone and Android, the app is the latest improvement to the ITF Pro Circuit's coverage of live scores. Since the introduction of the ITF Pro Circuit live web scoreboard in 2013, the Pro Circuit website at www.itftennis.com/procircuit has increased visitor sessions by more than 40 percent. OFFICIAL LIVE SCORING APP LAUNCHED FOR ITF PRO CIRCUIT Lleyton Hewitt is Australia's new Davis Cup captain, replacing Wally Masur in the role and starting with the nation's 2016 World Group first round home tie against USA. A two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, Hewitt made his Davis Cup by BNP Paribas debut in 1999, and helped Australia win the title the same year. That launched a period of success for the Aussies which saw them reach two more finals in 2000 and 2001, before a second title came in 2003. NOAH RETURNS AS FRENCH CAPTAIN France's Davis Cup team will be led once more by Yannick Noah in 2016, with the charismatic former French Open champion replacing Arnaud Clement as Davis Cup captain. Noah, now 55, captained France to two Davis Cup by BNP Paribas titles in 1991 and 1996 during two previous stints in charge, in 1991-92 and 1995-98. OBITUARY: MIKE DAVIES OBITUARY: FLORENTA MIHAI The former Romanian Fed Cup player and captain Florenta Mihai passed away in October aged 60. A former world No. 23, Mihai played 15 ties for her country in Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, helping Romania reach the World Group quarterfinals in 1978, 1980, 1981 and 1983 and compiling a 9-9 win-loss record. She went on to captain Romania's Fed Cup team for 14 years, and led her nation at the 1992 Olympics. At 1977 Roland Garros Mihai became the first Romanian to reach a Grand Slam singles final, and she also finished runner-up in the mixed doubles, falling alongside Colombian Ivan Molina to Americans John McEnroe and Mary Carillo. HEWITT NAMED DAVIS CUP CAPTAIN The ITF was saddened to learn of the death of Mike Davies in November at the age of 79. Davies was the former General Manager and Marketing Director of the ITF and played an important part in the development of the organisation. He had a long and distinguished career in tennis, both as a player and as a marketer and promoter. A former British No. 1 in the 1950s, Wales-born Davies played Davis Cup for Great Britain from 1955 to 1960 with a 24-13 win-loss record. He reached the men's doubles final at Wimbledon in 1960 and the round of 16 in singles at 1954 Wimbledon. After turning professional in 1960, Davies' results weren't ground breaking but he learnt much about the commercial side of the sport. Davies became Executive Director at World Championship Tennis in 1969, and among his many accomplishments he is credited with the TV-friendly move of replacing the white tennis ball with today's optic yellow version. He introduced the 30-second maximum time between points and the 90-second changeover, and also negotiated large television contracts with NBC and later ESPN. In 1981 Davies became Marketing Director of the ATP and later took over as Executive Director. He joined the ITF in 1987, holding positions including General Manager and Marketing Director, and he created the Grand Slam Cup which was played in Munich, Germany from 1990 until 1999. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012 for his contributions to tennis. "The tennis family is poorer today for the loss of Mike Davies," said ITF President David Haggerty. "He played many roles in tennis, from player to administrator, but will be remembered as a man of vision and, for all of us, a great friend. Our thoughts go to his family at this sad time." Hewitt has played 41 ties for Australia, earning him a Davis Cup Commitment Award. He has an impressive 58-20 win-loss record in the competition and holds a number of Australian Davis Cup records, notably most total wins and most years played. As a player in the team event he had a win-loss record of 39-22. The French, who take on Canada at home in the first round, have lifted the Davis Cup nine times but have not won the title since 2001. They have been runners-up since then in 2002, 2010 and 2014. Mike Davies at his Hall of Fame induction in 2012 38 ITFWORLD WINTER 2015

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