‘Competitive tennis for life’
ITF sets out plan to continue World Tennis Masters Tour growth
- Four-year plan outlines the ITF’s vision for tennis to become the leading sport in terms of tournament participation for those aged 30 years and over
- Tour features 13 age groups rising in five-year increments, with players aged between 30 and 98 years
- 500 tournaments hosted across 75 countries in 2023
- Visit www.itftennis.com/masters or email masters@itftennis.com to find out more
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has outlined its plan to make Masters Tennis the leading sport in terms of tournament participation for those aged 30 and over within its updated strategy for the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour.
The Tour provides competitive opportunities for tens of thousands of non-professional players aged 30 and over to test themselves within their own age-group, both domestically and internationally. There is no upfront cost to register on the Tour, which is open to all players who are interested in participating in singles and/or doubles matches.
The Tour, which has enjoyed significant growth in recent years, sees over 500 tournaments across 75 countries in 2023, which represents a 15% increase in tournament numbers since 2018. The number of active players over this period has also increased by 21%.
The updated strategy sets out three focus areas to help accelerate growth, and achieve the Tour’s mission of becoming the leading sports in terms of tournament participation for players aged 30 and over:
Marketing and Communications
– Through a dedicated marketing and communications strategy, enhance the Tour’s visibility and awareness to help increase its commercial attractiveness.
– Challenge perceptions that the Tour is just for older age groups and promote the benefits of playing and organising events.
– Promote the benefits and importance of own age group competition, where players of all ages from 30 through to 98 can enjoy the on-court and off-court benefits that competing against other players of similar age provides.
Player and Tournament Growth
– Provide more frequent opportunities for players in all regions to access tournaments, including locally; in turn improving the geographical spread of tournaments
– Provide suitable formats and event experiences to drive an increase in women’s participation, with a renewed focus on doubles competition as an entry point to the Tour for many players.
– Increase engagement with younger age groups, with focus on retention after the first tournament.
Deliver world-leading Tour services and standards
– Support ITF member National Associations and Tournament Directors to improve processes and tournament standards to attract and retain more players.
– Maximise benefits of ITF World Tennis Number as a measurement tool within the Masters Tour
– Enhance ITF Masters World Championships bid arrangements and event innovations – elevating profile of these events to encourage increased player participation.
Kelly Fairweather, ITF CEO, said: “The Masters Tour is a significant asset to the ITF, and we have set out an exciting vision for its future. We want to grow the number of tournaments and players and provide more local opportunities for people to take part at an appropriate, competitive level. What makes the Tour unique is its sense of community and friendship, as well as the physical and mental health benefits that players across the world enjoy by taking part. We’re reaching out to the large number of tennis players who enjoy playing singles and/or doubles matches in clubs and parks around the world, who may not realise the Masters Tour is for them. By registering for free they can keep the thrill of competing alive by testing themselves against their own age groups. This is a chance to join a unique worldwide community and enjoy competitive tennis for life.”
To find out more about registering for the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour, please visit www.itftennis.com/masters or email masters@itftennis.com.
