Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/703971
20 I ITF CIRCUITS AND PROFESSIONAL TENNIS EVENTS • ITF BEACH TENNIS TOUR Over 2,500 spectators fi lled the centre court stadium from the quarterfi nals onwards to witness Matteo Marighella and Michele Cappelletti, and Giulia Gasparri and Flaminia Daina become the new men's and women's World Champions respectively. The Tour's 274 tournaments, held by 36 national associations, represented a 30 per cent increase on the previous year. The 184 events at Grade 4 (non-prize money) level accounted for a 48 per cent rise in this category and 67 per cent of the year's total. In Europe, prize money increased to €234,400 (a 62 per cent rise) while in the rest of the world it decreased by 40 per cent to $166,000 with total prize money falling from $473,900 to $427,450. There were 23 Grade 1 tournaments (minimum $10,000 prize money) during the year, up from 19 in 2014, with 11 such tournaments taking place in Europe. French territories in Central America held seven tournaments and the USA organised two. Brazil continued to lead the South American region, hosting and winning all events at the Pan American Championships along with staging three Grade 1 tournaments to bring its total to 18. In Asia, Japan held 19 tournaments while Thailand hosted two Grade 1 tournaments. Israel welcomed 15 nations to the European Beach Tennis Championships in Eilat, where Italian teams took the men's and women's titles and Russia won the mixed event. The ITF Beach Tennis Tour is an international beach tennis circuit with tournaments which comprise of a men's and women's doubles event. These tournaments offer ranking points towards the ITF Beach Tennis World Rankings. The World Team Championship and the individual World Championships, the ITF Beach Tennis Tour's fl agship events, both reached new milestones in 2015. Moscow welcomed a record 28 nations for the World Team Championship which saw the inaugural junior team competition for 14-and-under players introduced. Despite Italy taking home the silverware, becoming the fi rst nation to successfully defend its title and topping it off with victory in the junior event, they were not the only nation celebrating. Spain secured its fi rst podium fi nish while Russia reached its maiden fi nal which was broadcast live on national television and attracted over 1,000 spectators to the Dynamo Beach Sports Arena. Once again Cervia in Italy hosted the individual World Championships, which featured live scoring and live streaming throughout the event. The competition saw a record 44 women's and 88 men's pairs representing 25 nations. ITF Beach Tennis Tour INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION • ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015