Tennis Industry News

More than 260 delegates, partners and staff attended the International Tennis Federation’s 2010 Annual General Meeting this week, held in Washington, D.C., and hosted by the USTA.

Among the initiatives approved by the ITF membership was a rule change for all 10-and-under competition that will mandate modified courts and the use of slower balls as part of the ITF’s Tennis 10s campaign. The purpose of this change is to increase participation among the 10-and-under age group as part of the wider “Tennis… Play and Stay Initiative.”

The rule will go into effect in January 2012. The use of regular balls and a full-sized court will no longer be permitted in 10-and-under competition, and instead a slower red, orange or green ball must be used on one of three court sizes.

"This is a great step forward for tennis and I thank the ITF AGM for their support of this important initiative," said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. "'Tennis 10s' will improve the way we introduce tennis to young players and follows similar changes made in other sports such as ‘mini soccer’ and Little League Baseball."

"We applaud today’s decision and have supported the ITF throughout this process," said Lucy S. Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. "We’re very excited about what this change means for the future of tennis."

Tennis 10s is similar to the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative, which embraces the tools of the QuickStart Tennis play format—with its smaller courts, slower-moving and lower-bouncing balls, and smaller and lighter racquets—to make tennis more accessible for children 10 and under.

Also at the ITF meeting, changes to the rules of Davis Cup and Fed Cup and amendments to the ITF Constitution were passed by the assembly. Included is a change of regulation for the Fed Cup final, similar to the rule for Davis Cup, that requires the final be staged in a capital or major city of the host country with an accessible international airport.   

Twelve people were honored with awards for “Services to the Game”: Larisa Savchenko (LAT), Ai Sugiyama (JPN), Dr. Raymond Forde (BAR), Chuka Momah (NGR), Dan Santorum (USA), Henrik Klitvad (DEN), Dr. John Fraser OAM (AUS), David   Howman (NZL), Franz Liautaud (HAI), Tian Tian Sun (CHN), Rene Collins (CAN) and Louis Cayer (CAN), a special nomination by the Coaches Commission.