ATF Proposes Grand Slam-Type Event to Raise Money for Player Development

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) held its annual meeting at the Mina A’Salam Hotel in Dubai, India this past week as representatives from all over the world came to discuss the future of the ITF.

At the meetings, Asian Tennis Federation President Anil Kumar Khanna proposed the idea of adding a Grand Slam-type event at the end of the season, which would both help the ITF’s financial problems, as well as provide money for tennis development across the world.

“The ITF is not a financially successful body. Right now, it is not making a surplus, at best it if making $500,000 a year and our development expenses have gone down significantly to what it was 10 years ago,” Khanna told the Gulf News. “So basically what the ATF is telling the ITF is that it must make a profit of $50 million, like the Grand Slams are making a profit of $100 million, at least for the sake of its 201 member nations, so that it can have worldwide development.”

The money raised by an event like this would be spread throughout all the countries that are part of the ITF, including Asian nations. It would be a two-week long event at the end of the Grand Slam season, and would funnel some money outside of Europe and towards some less developed nations.

“This can be generated through its own Grand Slam-like tournament, a two-week event which can be called the ITF World Championship. Even if the ITF can make even $50 million, we will be happy,” Khanna said. “That money will not belong to one nation, it will belong to 201 nations. It will be money well spent in Asia, in Africa, in Central America, in South America. Today, we find tennis getting centered around only Europe, making it easier for Europe-based players to succeed.”

The goal is help spread the sport internationally and increase the worldwide brand of the game.

In a separate announcement, the ITF did indicate that the Grand Slams would be increasing their contributions to the ITF by $2 million a year through the Grand Slam Development Fund.