ITF

ITFWORLD SUMMER 2017 21 www.itftennis.com Xavier Audouy helped France win the 2017 Tony Trabert Cup "We have gone from 15 tournaments to 18 tournaments on the ITF Seniors calendar without making a lot of effort." Another initiative in the pipeline is to create a ranking system within France for its Seniors players, particularly in the 35 and 40 age categories. "We have a lot of demand for that," Berrefato says. "The best players in each category in the country want to be able to say 'I'm No. 1', or 'I'm in the Top 10'. It's a pleasure for them to be able to say that. Maybe in the future we can organise that." "At the ITF we greatly appreciate the attention that the FFT, and other nations, afford Seniors players," says Jackie Nesbitt, Executive Director of ITF Circuits. "We recognise the importance of Seniors tennis and are trying to improve our Circuit and our Championship events by reaching out to the playing community to get feedback on what we are doing well and what we can do better." "This year the ITF has introduced Player Advisory Panels, composed of player representatives who will guide us. The first panel actually met in Cape Town and included Caroline Dhenin, who helped France win the Young Cup there." France is well represented towards the top of the individual ITF Seniors Rankings and, as it stands, has a particular prominence in the Top 10 rankings in the older age categories. Yvette Laubus claimed the world No. 1 spot in the women's 85 age group for the first time in June, while 66-year-old Bruno Renoult sits atop the men's 65 age category. Gail Benedetti and Michele Bichon, both former world No. 1s in the women's 70 category, remain in the hunt for a return to the top ranking. What is abundantly clear is that the appetite for the game amongst the older generation shows no sign of abating. So much so, that there was outcry when the FFT's Seniors Committee informed its players a couple of years ago that they were changing the format of the game for those aged 65 and over, with a super tiebreak played to decide a match instead of a third set. "People weren't happy," Berrefato says with a smile. "Not happy at all. But they've finally accepted the decision. And of course, it's for their health!"

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