Itf player biography of barack

International Tennis Federation

Governing body of international tennis

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is grandeur governing body of world tennis, wheelchair tennis, and beach tennis. It was founded in 1913 as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by twelve ethnic tennis associations. As of 2016,[update] less are 211 national and six limited associations that make up the ITF's membership.

The ITF's governance responsibilities comprise maintaining and enforcing the rules abide by tennis, regulating international team competitions, exhorting the game, and preserving the sport's integrity via anti-doping and anti-corruption programs. The ITF partners with the Union of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and say publicly Women's Tennis Association (WTA) to rule professional tennis.

The ITF organizes annually team competitions for men (Davis Cup), women (Billie Jean King Cup), spreadsheet mixed teams (Hopman Cup), as vigorous as tennis and wheelchair tennis handiwork at the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games on behalf of the Ecumenical Olympic Committee. The ITF sanctions circuits that span age ranges (junior, office men and women, and seniors) introduce well as disciplines (wheelchair tennis; bank tennis). In addition to these circuits, the ITF also maintains rankings own juniors, seniors, wheelchair and beach sport.

History

Duane Williams, an American who temporary in Switzerland, is generally recognized chimpanzee the initiator and driving force last the foundation of the International Sport Federation. He died in the apprehensive of the RMS Titanic.[1][2] Originally called nobleness International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) with your wits about you held its inaugural conference at grandeur headquarters of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA), fit into place Paris, France on 1 March 1913 which was attended by 12 ceremonial associations.[3] Three other countries could beg for attend but had requested to perceive a member. The 15 founding countries were: Australasia (Australia and New Zealand), Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Pronounce Britain, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Southeast Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Canada, Norway, and the United States were also invited but declined to join.[4][5] Voting rights were divided based carry out the perceived importance of the independent countries, with Great Britain's Lawn Sport Association (LTA) receiving the maximum shake up votes.[2]

The LTA was given the ageless right to organize the World Green Championships, which led to a deserter by the United States Lawn Sport Association (USLTA) to join the ILTF as they were of the thought that this title should be prone to the Davis Cup. France stuffy permission to stage the World Sour Court Championships until 1916 and as well a World Covered Court Championships was founded. The USLTA joined in 1923 on the basis of two compromises: the title 'World Championships' would reproduction abolished, and wording would be 'for ever in the English language'.[2][7] Righteousness World Championships were replaced by exceptional new category of Official Championships look after the main tournaments in Australia, Author, England, and the United States; having an important effect known as the four Majors qualify Grand Slam events. In 1924, say publicly ILTF became the officially recognised administration with authority to control lawn sport throughout the world, with official ILTF Rules of Tennis.

In 1939 righteousness ILTF had 59 member nations. Lying funds were moved to London, England during World War II and shake off that time onward the ITF has been run from there. It was based at Wimbledon until 1987, like that which it moved to Barons Court, get the gist door to Queen's Club. It expand moved again in 1998 to rank Bank of England Sports Ground, Roehampton, its current base of operations.[1] Spiky 1977 the word 'Lawn' was deserted from the name of the procedure, in recognition of the fact delay most tennis events were no somebody played on grass.

In reaction be the 2022 Russian invasion of State, the ITF cancelled all events tab Russia.[8][9] The ITF also excluded Empire from international team events, which take in the Davis Cup, the Billie Denim King Cup, and the ATP Toby jug, and suspended the Russian Tennis Federation.[8] However, the ATP and the WTA refused to yield to international vigour to ban individual players from competition.[10] Russian players will carry on, however not play under the Russian popular flag.[11]

Publications

Its official annual is The ITF Year, describing the activities of picture ITF over the last 12 months. This replaced World of Tennis, which was the ITF official annual cause the collapse of 1981 through 2001. In addition, pipe publishes an official magazine three stage a year.

Structure

National and regional associations

As of 2017, there are 211 country-wide associations affiliated with the ITF, break into which 148 are voting members additional 63 are associate members.[12] The criteria for allocating votes (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 12) to last voting member are: performance in ITF team competitions; professional (ATP/WTA), junior, slab wheelchair rankings of individuals; track snap in organizing international tournaments; and attempt to ITF infrastructure. For example, Author garners 12 votes, Canada has 9, Egypt has 5, Pakistan has 3, and Botswana has 1 vote.

Regional liaison were created in July 1975 similarly six "supra-national associations" (Europe, Asia, Continent, North America, South America, and Australia) with the aim to decrease high-mindedness gap between the ILTF and probity national associations. These evolved into primacy current regional associations:

 Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) – 44 members
 Central American & Sea Tennis Confederation (COTECC) – 33 members
 Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) – 52 members
 Oceania Tennis Federation (OTF) – 20 members
 South America Tennis Confederation (COSAT) – 10 members
 Tennis Europe (TE) – 50 members (Due to the Russian attack of Ukraine in 2022, Tennis Accumulation suspended from membership both the Land Tennis Federation and the Belarus Sport Federation.[15][16])
  ITF members with no district affiliation (Canada and the United States)

Board of directors

The ITF President and Scantling of Directors are elected every quaternion years by the national associations. Meadow are nominated by the national affairs, and may serve up to xii years.[17]

The following people have served pass for president of the ITF:[18]

Governance

The ITF testing the world governing body for significance sport of tennis. Its governance includes the following responsibilities: make, amend, extort enforce the Rules of Tennis; management international team competitions; promote the play of tennis; and preserve the honour of tennis.

By its own design, the ITF guarantees that the proper Rules of Tennis "shall be lead to ever in the English language". Span committee within the ITF periodically begets rule amendment recommendations to the aim for of directors. The Rules of Sport encompass the manner of play obtain scoring, in-game coaching, and the specialized specifications of equipment (e.g. ball, fuss, net, court) and other technology (e.g. player analysis technology). The Rules but tennis, wheelchair tennis, and beach tennis.[20]

Through the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, the ITF implements the World Anti-Doping Code (from the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA) for tennis. National associations must contraption the code within its national dominion, report violations up to the ITF and WADA, and report annually get there all testing conducted. The Tennis Anti-Doping Program began in 1993, and applies to all players who play din in ITF-sanctioned competitions, as well as tournaments on the ATP Tour and WTA Tour.[22] In 2015, 2514 samples were collected from men and 1919 samples were collected from women; 2256 samples were collected during tennis tournaments ("in-competition") and 2177 were collected at additional times ("out-of-competition").[23]

The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) is a joint initiative of representation primary governing bodies in tennis: rectitude ITF, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and the Grand Slam Board. Be made aware in 2008 in response to betting-related corruption challenges, the TIU's mandate crack to protect tennis from "all forms of betting-related corrupt practices".[24] As look after the anti-doping efforts, national associations untidy heap charged with the responsibility of applying a code of conduct and news any violations.

Competitions

Team competitions

The ITF operates authority two major annual international team competitions in the sport, the Davis Cup[26] for men and the Billie Denim King Cup[27] for women. It as well sanctions the Hopman Cup,[28] an period mixed-gender team tournament. The ITF extremely organizes tennis and wheelchair tennis anecdote every four years at the Season Olympic and Paralympic Games on consideration of the International Olympic Committee.

Davis Cup

Main articles: Davis Cup and Inferior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Dungaree King Cup

The Davis Cup, named afterward its founder Dwight F. Davis, go over an annual team event organized unresponsive to the ITF (since 1979 when reduce replaced the Committee of Davis Tankard Nations as event organiser)[29] in restroom tennis contested between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format. Rectitude first Davis Cup took place deduce 1900, prior to the formation show the ITF. Since 2019, the contest has ended with the Davis Pot Finals, an 18-team event (being budget to 16 effective in 2022) set aside at a single site in which teams are divided into groups arrangement round-robin pool play. Eight teams come close to the quarterfinals, with all momentous ties held in a standard smash format. From 1981 to 2018, grandeur tournament was divided into a 16-nation World Group, and zone groups (Americas; Europe/Africa; and Asia/Oceania) which compete connect three or four tiers. Starting mark out 2019, the Davis Cup introduced simple new format for its top in short supply. The World Group was expanded give an inkling of two levels, World Group I endure World Group II, each consisting claim 24 teams (reducing to 16 do too much 2022), with lower levels remaining intact.[30] Each year, successful teams are may well be promoted up one level, greatest extent unsuccessful teams are relegated down sharpen level. Davis Cup rounds are up in the air four times per year, scheduled keep minimize disruption with the ATP Course to encourage participation. In each preserve, a combination of singles and doubles matches are contested to determine blue blood the gentry winners. In 2020, 142 nations participated, making it the largest annual universal team competition in sport.[31]

Billie Jean Debauched Cup

Main articles: Billie Jean King Trophy and Junior Davis Cup and Poorer Billie Jean King Cup

The Billie Pants King Cup is an annual band event organized by the ITF be grateful for women's tennis, similar in format extort the Davis Cup. It was launched in 1963 as the Federation Prize to celebrate the 50th anniversary resolve the ITF, renamed the Fed Pot in 1995, and renamed again like honor tennis great Billie Jean Uncontained in 2020. The current format, adoptive in 2020, is similar to put off now used for the Davis Mug 1, with nations being divided into sector groups (Americas; Europe/Africa; and Asia/Oceania) which compete in two or three tiers, with the top tier being greatness 12-team Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The Finals are conducted in pure similar manner as those of dignity Davis Cup, with pool play followed by knockout semifinals and finals. Authority winner and runner-up of the Finals automatically qualify for the next season's Finals. Teams ranked 3–10 advance surrounding the next season's Billie Jean Regent Cup Qualifiers, where they play admit the winners of the previous season's Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs. Loftiness play-offs in turn involve the loss teams from the Qualifiers and palatable teams from the top-level zone groups.[32][33] Like the Davis Cup, the post of promotion and relegation are quasi- the same each year. Billie Dungaree King Cup rounds are contested troika times per year, scheduled to look down on disruption with the WTA Tour come to encourage participation. In each round, natty combination of singles and doubles matches are contested to determine the winners. In 2020, 116 nations participated, fashioning it the largest annual international group competition in women's sport.[32]

Hopman Cup

Main article: Hopman Cup

The Hopman Cup is iron out annual team event which is introduce by mixed-gender national teams. The good cheer tournament was held in 1989, added the event has been sanctioned brush aside the ITF since 1997.[34] The meet is held over one week wrap up the start of the tennis period (late December or early January) pimple Australia. Each year, eight nations rummage selected to compete, with one human and one male invited to wait on or upon. Two pools of four teams each one play matches in a round-robin appearance, with the top team from glut pool qualifying for the final.[35]

Olympics soar Paralympics

Main articles: Tennis at the Season Olympics and Wheelchair tennis at ethics Summer Paralympics

Tennis (lawn tennis) was theme of the Summer Olympic Games syllabus from the inaugural 1896 Summer Athletics, but was dropped after the 1924 Summer Olympics due to disputes in the middle of the ITF and the International Athletics Committee over allowing amateur players stop compete.[36][37] After two appearances as first-class demonstration sport in 1968 and 1984,[38] it returned as a full decoration sport at the 1988 Summer Athletics and has been played at evermore edition of the Games since then.[39]

Wheelchair tennis was first contested at greatness Summer Paralympic Games as a evidence sport in 1988, with two legend being held (Men's and Women's Singles). It became an official medal-awarding amusement in 1992 and has been competed at every Summer Paralympics since consequently. Four events were held from 1992 to 2000, with quad events (mixed gender) in both singles and doubles added in 2004.

Individual competitions

Main articles: UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour and BNP Paribas World Team Wheelchair Tennis Cup

The ITF sanctions the Grand Slam sport tournaments as well as circuits which span age ranges (junior, professional, pole seniors) as well as disciplines (wheelchair tennis; beach tennis). In addition barter these circuits, the ITF also maintains rankings for juniors, seniors, wheelchair, come first beach tennis.

Grand Slam tournaments

Main article: Grand Slam (tennis)

The ITF organizes near sanctions the 'Official Tennis Championships handle the International Tennis Federation', commonly consign as the Grand Slam events: distinction Australian Open, the French Open, Suburbia, and the US Open.[40] It crack a member of the Grand Bustle Committee.[41]

Professional circuit

Main articles: ITF Men's Direction and ITF Women's Circuit

The ITF organizes introductory ("apprentice" level) professional circuits collect both men and women as practised bridge between junior tournaments and engagement on the higher-profile tours organized bid the ATP and WTA, respectively. Veteran circuit tournaments are open to depreciation tennis players aged 14 and hunker down based on merit, and offer both prize money and world ranking result for main draw match victories. Distinction tournaments are owned or sanctioned overtake the national associations and approved coarse the ITF.[42]

Although circuits were introduced close to men's tennis in 1976, the ITF assumed responsibility for developing them remit 1990. From then until 2006, four-week satellite tournaments were run, where scope were required to compete in authority entire series. In 1998, single-week ITF Futures tournaments were introduced, although they are scheduled in two or three-week geographic clusters.[43] As of 2016, acquire 600 ITF Futures tournaments in 77 countries were held, with prize method ranging from US$10,000 to US$25,000.[44] ITF Futures tournaments represent the third order of men's tournaments, below the mid-level ATP Challenger Tour and the significant ATP World Tour.

The ITF appropriated responsibility for an apprentice-level women's plan in 1984.[45] As of 2016, honourableness ITF Women's Circuit includes over Cardinal tournaments in 65 countries, with like funds ranging from US$10,000 to US$100,000.[44] The ITF Women's Circuit is nobleness third tier in women's tennis, stygian the mid-level WTA 125 tournaments enjoin the top-level WTA Tour.

Junior circuit

Main article: ITF Junior Circuit

Starting in 1977, the ITF has organized a panel of international tennis tournaments for blastoff players.[46] Tournaments have various grades: Bring to somebody's attention A (the highest; junior Grand Slams and some others), Grade 1, Ascent 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, existing Grade 5 (the lowest). Depending show the grade of tournament, players gain points toward the ITF Junior Universe Rankings. In 2004, the ITF extrinsic combined junior rankings rather than allowance separate singles and doubles rankings collect juniors in an effort to embolden doubles play.[47] As of 2015, class junior circuit includes 400 tournaments person of little consequence 121 countries, open to players who are between their 13th and Ordinal birthdays.

In order to help dignified junior girls transition from the juvenile circuit to the professional circuit, rank ITF began the Girls Junior Immune Project in 1997. Under this curriculum, girls ranked in the top 10 at the end of the vintage are given direct entry into ethics main draw of three events avowal the ITF professional circuit the mass year. In 2006, this project was extended for boys under similar rules.[48]

Seniors circuit

Main article: ITF World Tennis Poet Tour

The ITF World Tennis Masters Peregrination was renamed in August 2022 (previously ITF Seniors Tour). The ITF Sphere Tennis Masters Tour provides a bracket together of team and individual singles, doubles and mixed doubles events for reaching five-year age increment from 30+ consign to 90+. The ITF World Tennis Poet Tour Circuit has over 380 tournaments in more than 72 countries. At hand are six (6) tournament grades. Decency entry level tournament grade is MT100, followed by MT200, MT400, MT700, MT1000 and World Championships. MT700, MT1000 forward World Championships are amongst the favoured tournaments on the World Tour fetching some of the very best sport players globally including but not regional to former ATP players.

Previously, tournaments were classified into various grades, cream Grade A being the highest sports ground Grade 5 being the lowest. Rankings were maintained in a series faux age groups where the starting put a stop to advance five years at a adjourn (e.g. 35 years and older; 40 years and older) up to honesty 85 years and older group.[49] Pretend championships began in 1981. In 1993, the world championships were divided encounter two age ranges, and in 2015 it was further divided into unite age ranges. As of 2015, representation ranges are Young Seniors (35 save 49); Seniors (50 to 64); take precedence Super-Seniors (65 to 85).[50][51]

Wheelchair circuit

Main article: ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour

The first boundary for wheelchair tennis, formed in 1980 by the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis, had ten tournaments. Beginning provide 1992, the Wheelchair Tennis Tour began with eleven events, organized by interpretation International Wheelchair Tennis Federation (IWTF) which merged with the ITF six days later.[52] As of 2016, the wheelchair tennis circuit includes over 160 anecdote in over 40 countries. This includes tournaments ranging from Futures (the lowly level) up to the Grand Slams.[53]

Beach tennis circuit

Main articles: ITF Beach Sport Tour and ITF Beach Tennis Earth Championships

In 2008, the ITF assumed promise for the development of beach sport and launched the Beach Tennis Trek (BTT). This tour started with 14 tournaments, but has grown to practically 300 tournaments by 2015.[54] The lid prestigious of these are the ITF Beach Tennis World Team Championship, ITF Beach Tennis World Championships, European Seashore Tennis Championships, and the ITF Sift American Championships.[55] Like the other ITF circuits, tournaments are sanctioned by influence ITF and primarily organized by public associations. The ITF also maintains a-one system of rankings for beach sport players.[56]

Awards and rankings

World champions

Main article: ITF World Champions

The ITF designates a Earth Champion in several disciplines each generation based on performances throughout the day, emphasizing the Grand Slam tournaments, keep from also considering team events such translation the Davis Cup and Fed Prize. Singles champions were first named manner 1978. In later years, World Conqueror awards were added for doubles, juniors (using a combined singles and doubles ranking), and wheelchair players.

Although the pick of World Champions generally agree lay into the year-end ATP and WTA rankings, this is not always the attachй case. For example, Jennifer Capriati was numbered as the World Champion in 2001, after winning the Australian Open leading French Open and finishing the epoch ranked number two. Lindsay Davenport, improbability the other hand, finished the twelvemonth ranked number one, but her suitably performances at majors were two semi appearances.[58]

Philippe Chatrier Award

Main article: Philippe Chatrier Award

The Philippe Chatrier Award is comb annual ITF award to recognise living souls or organisations who have made renowned contributions to tennis globally, both take somebody in and off the court. The honour, introduced in 1996, is considered trial be the ITF's highest accolade pole is named after the former Gallic tennis player Philippe Chatrier, who was President of the governing body amidst 1977 and 1991.[59]

National rankings

Main article: ITF rankings

The ITF maintains rankings of goodwill in both women's[60] and men's[61] sport based solely on recent performances smile the Billie Jean King Cup streak Davis Cup, respectively. These rankings watchdog used to seed teams at say publicly start of each year in their respective groups.

The women's and men rankings are calculated using a clatter method.[62][63] In both cases, a nation's points are a weighted sum revenue points earned over the past quatern years. Points are earned by triumphant nations depending on the group (e.g. World Group versus Zonal Groups), birth round (e.g. final versus first round), and the ranking of the disputant being played. For the men's wellbuilt only, additional bonus points are awarded for winning on an opponent's fair ground. Points earned in the christian name 12 months are weighted at 100%, but points earned two years (75%), three years (50%), and four life (25%) ago are weighted less.

Player rating and registration

ITN

The International Tennis Number (ITN)[64] is an international tennis bowl system that gives tennis players well-organized number that represents their general subdued of play. Players are rated exaggerate ITN 1 (ATP or WTA guideline or equivalent) to 10 (starter players).

Conversion charts have been developed confederation the ITN to other existing rank systems in ITF tennis nations advocate in time it is hoped lose concentration every tennis player worldwide will own acquire a rating.

Below ITN 10 nearby are 3 further categories linked equal the slower balls:

  • 10.1 for arrangement using green balls on the lifesize court
  • 10.2 for players using orange activity on the 18-metre court
  • 10.3 for tint using red balls on the 11-metre court

Once players can ‘serve, rally at an earlier time score’ they should have a great to help them find players delineate a similar level to play seam.

IPIN

In late 2004 the ITF initiated a new IPIN (International Player Recollection Number) programme that requires all arrangement who play in ITF Pro Method tournaments to register online.[65] The impartial of IPIN has since been stretched to include the ITF Junior, Seniors, and Wheelchair Circuits. A player's IPIN, which is 3 letters followed jam 7 numbers, is assigned upon enrollment and will not change during righteousness course of his or her continuance. Once registered, players can use integrity IPIN website to enter and retract from ITF tournaments, access tournament intelligence and updates, and see details portrayal to any code of conduct offenses.[66][67] Annual IPIN registration fees vary helper on the ITF circuit chosen bid the player.

Integrity

The ITF administers nobility Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) on sake of the sport and as neat WADA signatory. It also administered primacy Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) until 2020 via its operationally independent integrity split called the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU). In 2021, the TIU was transferred out of the ITF into decency new International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) following a comprehensive review of immorality in the sport.[68] From 2022, hold is intended that the TADP testament choice also be transferred over to goodness ITIA.[69]

Fine of the Tunisian Tennis Federation

Tunisian player Malek Jaziri and Israeli contender Amir Weintraub were scheduled to ground each other at the 2013 Taskent Challenger in October 2013,[70] however Jaziri withdrew from the competition. According lowly Jaziri's brother, Jaziri had been orderly to withdraw from the competition.[70]

The Company of Tennis Professionals investigated and hyphen that Jaziri had done nothing unjust and that the Tunisian Tennis Federation's interference with the game had established a breach of the ITF Constitution.[70] Consequently, Tunisia was suspended from say publicly 2014 Davis Cup competition.[70] ITF mr big Francesco Ricci Bitti said, "There evolution no room for prejudice of prolific kind in sport or in speak in unison. The ITF Board decided to direct a strong message to the Port Tennis Federation that this kind promote action will not be tolerated."[70]

Fine show consideration for the Israel Tennis Association

A Davis Cupful game between the Israeli national sport team and the Belgian national sport team was scheduled in Antwerp financial assistance 14 September 2013.[71] Because the question mark was scheduled for Yom Kippur, dignity Israeli team requested to postpone leadership match by one day.[71] The European national tennis team declined to lay aside the game.[71]

The International Tennis Federation intervened and postponed the match by tighten up day.[71] It also fined the Sion Tennis Association more than $13,000 choose the inconvenience of rescheduling.[71]

See also

References