ITF

ITF CIRCUITS AND PROFESSIONAL TENNIS EVENTS • ITF SENIORS CIRCUIT I 21 The ITF Seniors Circuit continued to grow in 2015, with signifi cant increases to the number of tournaments in South American, Central America and The Caribbean. The geographical reach expanded to include tournaments in Moldova, Cayman Islands and El Salvador for the fi rst time while Azerbaijan re-joined following a short absence. In total, 380 tournaments took place in 72 countries across 11 age categories, between 35-and-over and 85-and-over. There was an increase in the number of players applying for a Seniors IPIN membership with just over 22,000 players registered by the end of the year. The increasing popularity of Seniors tennis resulted in an adjustment to the structure of the ITF World Championships in 2015. Due to the large number of participants, the championships were divided into three sections: Young Seniors (35-45), Seniors (50-60) and Super-Seniors (65-85). Over 330 teams from 35 nations participated across the three World Team Championships. The inaugural Young Seniors World Team and Individual Championships took place in Manavgat, Turkey. The Team Championships consisted of 92 teams from 24 nations and went the way of the European nations, with Spain winning two cups and Austria, France, Germany and Great Britain also claiming silverware. USA was the biggest winner at the Seniors World Team and Individual Championships in La Baule, France. They took home the Austria Cup, Maria Esther Bueno Cup and Alice Marble Cup. The hosts prevented a clean sweep by the USA in the women's events by claiming the Maureen Connolly Cup. Italy and Australia took home the remaining men's titles. Umag in Croatia hosted the Super-Seniors World Team and Individual Championships in September. USA also dominated proceedings at this event, claiming three of a possible eight cups and reaching a further two fi nals. France claimed the Althea Gibson Cup while in the men's events the honours were spread between Spain, who won the Britannia Cup for a third consecutive year, Austria and Germany. Austria's Peter Pokorny remained undefeated all year in the men's 75 age category, sweeping through the Super-Seniors World Individual Championships to claim the men's 75 singles and doubles titles plus the mixed doubles, all achieved without dropping a set. Pokorny has now amassed a total of 10 world individual singles titles – 22 in total. ITF Seniors Circuit 330 TEAMS FROM 35 NATIONS PARTICIPATED ACROSS THE THREE WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

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