Global Tennis Expansion
International Tennis Federation rebrands as World Tennis to boost global participation and reinvest income
Anonymous
Key Points
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The ITF's renaming to World Tennis was approved in October at the organization's annual general meeting by member associations, signaling a formal transition at the governance level.
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World Tennis pledged to reinvest 85% of all income it generates each year for the next decade to fund growth initiatives across the sport.
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The federation aims to boost global participation from 106 million players to 140 million by 2035, a target that represents a rise of more than 30%.
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Executives say the renaming underscores World Tennis’s global nature and helps distinguish the organization from the ATP and WTA Tours, addressing perceptions that the body is not a standalone, universal governing entity.
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The rebrand comes amid broader industry discussions about revenue sharing from Grand Slam events, with some top players limiting media appearances at the French Open to press their case.
The International Tennis Federation has officially renamed itself World Tennis, ending more than a century under its old name. The change was approved by an 82% majority at the organization's October 2025 Annual General Meeting in Hong Kong, according to Reuters, and the legal transition was finalized on June 1, 2026.
The rebrand is more than a logo swap. World Tennis has pledged to reinvest 85% of its annual income — roughly $100 million — into growing the sport, with a goal of reaching 140 million players worldwide by 2035, up from 106 million today, Associated Press reported.
Why 'ITF' Had to Go for Good
For years, casual fans confused the ITF with the ATP or WTA tours. The acronym meant little to a new viewer or sponsor outside tennis insiders. President David Haggerty said the old name acted like a "regulatory shadow." He told BBC Sport: "World Tennis tells the world exactly who we are — the guardians of the sport for everyone, from the park player to the Olympic champion."
Chief Commercial Officer Ross Hutchins said sponsors in new markets found the word "Federation" too bureaucratic. SportsPro Media quoted him saying the rebrand "allows us to speak a universal language." World Tennis oversees the Davis Cup, the Billie Jean King Cup, and Olympic and Paralympic tennis — events that reach far beyond any single pro tour.
Tennis Joins a Wave of 'World' Rebrands in Sport
World Tennis is following a well-worn path. The International Rugby Board became World Rugby in 2014. The IAAF became World Athletics in 2019. World Aquatics replaced FINA in 2022. Each switch was driven by the same goals: better search visibility, cleaner branding, and a stronger claim to global authority, according to Sports Business Journal.
The timing also carries a strategic edge. Talks about a breakaway "Premier Tour" backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund have circled tennis for years. By planting the name "World Tennis," the federation makes it harder for any rival league to claim it speaks for the entire sport globally, analysts told Financial Times.
A 2035 Plan Backed by $100 Million Per Year
World Tennis has laid out five strategic pillars: Participation, Performance, Governance, Commercial growth, and Social Impact. The 85% reinvestment pledge is central to all five. Based on current revenue of about $120 million per year, that means roughly $100 million annually directed toward what the organization calls "Tennis Deserts" — underserved regions in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, per World Tennis Official Press Release.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a key milestone. World Tennis plans to use the Games as its biggest brand activation moment yet. A new "World Tennis App" is also in development, designed to host rankings for players at every level — from juniors to seniors — in one place, Forbes reported.
Player Skepticism and Revenue Battles Cloud the Launch
The rebrand did not land without friction. During the 2026 French Open, several top players limited media appearances to press for better revenue sharing from Grand Slam events. World Tennis used the moment to highlight its development-first mission, contrasting it with the commercial disputes of the pro tours, The Guardian reported.
Novak Djokovic's Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) welcomed the focus on lower-ranked players but warned that "a name change doesn't put more money in the pockets of the 200th-ranked player unless the revenue-sharing model actually shifts," according to L'Equipe. ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi and WTA CEO Portia Archer both issued cautious statements backing "greater unity" while keeping their tours independent.
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