The ITF World Tennis Tour consists of
lower-rung tournaments and serves as a transition circuit
between the junior and senior game, allowing more professionals
a chance to earn a living while helping them move up the ladder
to play on the men's ATP Tour and the WTA Tour for the women.
But with the shutdown of the tennis circuit since early March
due to the novel coronavirus, those depending solely on
tournament winnings have been left in a precarious situation.
Georgia's Sofia Shapatava, the world's 375th ranked women's
singles player, started a petition seeking financial assistance
from the ITF while also pleading with the body to communicate
better with the lower-ranked professionals.
"The panel will provide a forum for players to provide their
input and have their say on how the tour is run and will be a
further opportunity for the ITF to engage with the player
community," the London-based governing body said.
While tennis is a lucrative sport for those at the top, those in
the lower echelons often struggle to make ends meet.
The men's ATP, the WTA, which runs the women's circuit, the ITF
and the organisers of the four Grand Slams have come together to
work on creating an emergency relief fund for those struggling
during the shutdown.
"It is vital that the views of players are represented at all
levels of the sport and across the globe," ITF chief David
Haggerty said.
The men's and women's players will each elect a panel of seven
current player members, who will have voting rights. An ITF-appointed
chair and an ITF-appointed coach will also be in the panel but
neither will have a vote.
Men's players with an ATP ranking of below 350 and women's
tennis players with a WTA ranking no higher than 151 will be
allowed to nominate a fellow player or stand in the election.
The elected members will serve two-year terms on the panel,
which will advise and make recommendations to the World Tennis
Tour Committee, which in turn reports to the ITF board.
Australian Mark Woodforde, a 17-time Grand Slam doubles
champion, will chair the men's panel while the women's panel
will be led by multiple Grand Slam winner Mary Pierce of France.
"There would be no tennis without the players, so it is vital
that their voice is heard and that their views are considered
when making decisions about how to run the Tour," said Pierce.
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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