International Tennis Federation lays out grand plans for players and tournaments

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is quietly confident of a much improved and enhanced tournament regimen for players from as early as next season.

The international governing body for the sport has been pursuing an ambitious development programme that includes, among other things, an improvement in tournament standards and player services.

There is also a considerable drive to make playing and touring easier to schedule and more cost effective for professionals.

These concepts, bunched with a number of ideas around pathway improvements, are very much part of a consultation exercise between panel members and players along with National Associations.

The end goal, of course, is to facilitate development of a longer-term strategic plan for the World Tennis Tour (WTT), while affording better support to players on the pathway.

“The challenge right now is to take players who have ambitions to be at the top of their game on the international pathway and I believe the WTT is a crucial step for these players who want to realise their dreams and aspirations,” George Donnelly, the Head at WTT Operations at the ITF noted during a brief stop-over at the 25th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge that concluded in Dubai, on Sunday.

“We sanction more than 1,000 tournaments in more than 70 countries. The Tour has bounced back from the pandemic and we have at the top-end, especially for the women, the W100 tournaments, like this one in Dubai.

“We are very fortunate to have partners like the UAE Tennis Association and the Al Habtoor Group who have made this tournament happen for the past 25 years and turning it into one of the Tour’s flagship events,” he added.

“There are nine or ten players here who are playing between the WTA and ITF Tours and who are in the top-200,” he noted.

“We have also introduced a new W40 level tournament this year, which will increase the total number of tournaments above the $15,000 and $25,000 entry category to 150. This is a big part of our ‘Advantage All’ commitment to develop and maintain tennis as an equal advantage sport for all.”

After spending nearly a decade and a half with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in London, Donnelly has been with the ITF for a year now heading the Operations at the World Tennis Tour department.

Donnelly currently reports to Jackie Nesbitt, Senior Executive Director, ITF with key roles of overall team management, operational project development through the ATP, WTA and National Associations. Being present at tournaments has been a focus this year with Donnelly and his team making 21 site visits across 17 countries in the past 12 months.

“We are fortunate to have the number of tournaments we do, but the standards and services at the tournaments are important as well. We wish to give players the right experience wherein the talented ones don’t drop out of the game because of various factors like the experience around the event or the healthcare. The Tour provides opportunities for men and women, but there has been particular focus for the women wherein we are trying to provide more opportunities on this circuit,” he noted.

“This includes more prize money and playing opportunities. Tournaments like this one, where hospitality is included, really supports the players financially at that level so that they can spend more time on the court while making sure they are preparing well towards their set goals as players of the future,” he observed.

Starting in April, Donnelly and his team have been moving around on the global circuit in an attempt to gauge standards while evaluating tournaments.

“We’ve had responses from more than 4,000 players, and our task is to build relationships and ensure that venues deliver on the requirements and are up to the mark,” he added.