The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the world governing body of tennis, one of the few truly global sports.

The objective of the ITF is to further grow and develop the sport worldwide, to develop the game at all levels at all ages for both able-bodied and disabled men and women, to make, amend and uphold the rules of the game, to promote the International Team Championships and competitions of the ITF, to preserve the integrity and independence of tennis as a sport, and to perform all without discrimination on grounds of color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, age, sex or religion.

The ITF has 205 member National Associations - more than most other international sporting federations. Member nations come from every continent, and each association is involved in organizing tennis and promoting the interests of the game.

The ITF also has six Regional Associations based geographically, which work within their regions and continents to assist the development and co-ordination of tennis:

• Asian Tennis Federation (ATF)
• Confederacion SudAmericana de Tenis (COSAT)
• Confederation of African Tennis (CAT)
• COTECC (Central America & Caribbean)
• Oceania Tennis Federation (OTF)
• Tennis Europe

Role of the ITF

In order to achieve its objective of promoting and developing the game of tennis, the ITF oversees the following five areas of the sport:

Administration and Regulation

The administering and regulation of the game through 205 National Associations affiliated to the ITF, together with six Regional Associations. The ITF is responsible for the Rules of Tennis, including the technical specifications for courts and equipment and the certification of tennis officials such as chair umpires. It also participates in the running and enforcement of an anti-doping program with the ATP and WTA Tour.

Organizing international competitions

The ITF controls the major international team events for all age groups and for Wheelchair Tennis, including the two largest annual international team sports events in the world - the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for men and the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas for women.

The ITF is involved at the highest levels of the game, including the 'the greatest show on earth' - the Olympic Games, to which tennis was reintroduced as a full medal sport in 1988, and the Paralympics.

In addition, the ITF works closely with the four Grand Slams - the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open - through its presence on the Grand Slam Committee, and supports each event with administrative, officiating and media services.

The most prestigious competitions in tennis, the four Grand Slams, plus the Japan Open, the Italian Championships and the International Championships of Spain are all official Championships of the ITF.

Structuring the game by sanctioning international circuits and events This includes:

• the ITF Junior Circuit
• the ITF Men's Circuit
• the ITF Women's Circuit
• ITF Seniors Events
• the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour
• the Hopman Cup

Developing the game through its worldwide development program The Grand Slam Development Fund and the ITF invest more than US$4 million per annum into initiatives for the growth of the game.

Promoting the game

The ITF markets tennis through television, PR, event management and sponsorship.