2007 ATP survey
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NEW PRESIDENT’S
LETTER
PAGE ONE:
Tennis in 2007 presents a curious contradiction.
On the one hand it is alive with changes as varied as the innovation
of electronic line-calling to the introduction of round robin and
on-court coaching at certain tour events; yet in other ways the
sport is steeped in complacency. This dichotomy is as much a challenge
for the International Tennis Writers’ Association (ITWA)
as it is for the sport as a whole, but ITWA begins 2007 better
equipped than ever to tackle that challenge.
With a global membership which represents almost every nation on
the tennis map, ITWA has a unique overview of a sport too often
undermined by special interest groups. ITWA members, like all journalists
and broadcasters, are in a position to work within tennis and yet
also see it as the rest of the world does – flaws and all.
That is a perspective too often lacking in a sometimes overly introspective
industry. ITWA remains committed to providing insight and advice
to the powers that control tennis and, and although every journalist
and broadcaster values his or her independence, the organisation
has a vital role to play in ensuring the long-term health of the
sport.
2006 saw ITWA continue the process of discussion and cooperation
with the governing bodies, and made great headway in key areas
like the provision of media training for young players, in order
to better equip them for what might well become a key area of their
professional life. ITWA looks forward to coming to an agreement
with the International Tennis Federation to ensure that media training
will be available to juniors from around the world through hands-on
training sessions and the ITF’s e-learning player education
programme. The joint aim is not to produce a generation of automatons,
programmed to remain tediously
“on-message” in every press conference, but rather to allow the
characters of young athletes to translate into entertaining, engaging copy.
It goes to the heart of why ITWA was formed seven years ago – to make
the working lives of those who cover the sport week-in and week-out easier.
At the same time it ensures that the sport does not fall victim to its greatest
threat; namely disinterest from a global audience which has more and more entertainment
options available to it.
Tennis, like any industry, needs to adapt and while the nature
of the sport’s structure means that the special interest
groups within it are bound to differ on the nature of that change,
ITWA remains a resonant voice because it is the one organisation
whose members spend their working lives looking at tennis from
the outside as well as the inside. Moreover, it a voluntary organization
that is beholden to no one but its members and it wields the power
to influence, on a worldwide scale, how the sport is covered.
We, along with the rest of the ITWA Management Board, will continue
to work hard in 2007 to ensure that ITWA’s voice is heard
louder and clearer than ever before.
Federer,
Mauresmo Captures
Both of ITWA's Year-end Awards
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The International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA) has recognized Roger Federer and Amelie Mauresmo’s incredible achievements on and off court during 2006 by giving them both of its annual awards.
The tennis writers voted both Federer and Mauresmo their Player-of-the-Year award and also honored them with ITWA's Ambassador for Tennis award, which recognizes players who go out of their way to advance the sport on a global level. It’s the third year in succession that Federer has received both of the organization’s annual accolades.
Among his tour high 12 titles, the top-ranked Swiss won three 2006 Grand Slams – the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. He also won the season ending Tennis Masters Cup-Shanghai and ended the season as World No.1 for the third year running.
ITWA’s 106 members (from 17 countries) voted for him as their Player-of-the Year ahead of two-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal.
“Roger’s dominance of the tour off clay was simply astounding,” said ITWA co-president Matthew Cronin. “He’s set to break Jimmy Connors all time record of consecutive weeks at No. 1 in February and with his remarkable all-round game, he has a fine chance to win the calendar year Grand Slam in 2007.”
Tennis journalists also recognized Federer’s consistent professionalism and his attempts at bringing new fans into the sport. He beat the likes of thoughtful American James Blake to pick up his third ITWA Ambassador for Tennis Award. “Roger’a behavior off court hasn't changed at all despite the [greatly] increased demands that he has to face,” said ITWA board member Marco Keller of Sportsinformation of Switzerland. “He still is as friendly and caring as when he was the up-and-coming kid, and is fully aware of the legacy that he has towards tennis. He’s willing to give as much as he possibly can.”
While she ended the year ranked No. 3, the 27-year-old Mauresmo had her best year at the majors, winning her first two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. The Frenchwoman also reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open and the fourth round of Roland Garros.
Despite a lingering injury, Mauresmo also came close to defending her Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships title, where she fell in the final to her great rival Justine Henin-Hardenne. But it was Mauresmo’s title runs in both Melbourne and London that convinced the writers that she was deserving of their Player-of-the-Year honor.
“It was a difficult choice because Justine reached the finals of all four Slams and won the Tour Championships, and Maria Sharapova also had a fantastic year, winning her second Grand Slam at the U.S. Open and three Tier One titles, but Amelie’s superior performance at the two majors sealed it,” said Cronin. “We expected Amelie, Justine and Maria to all be competing for the number one ranking during the 2007 season.”
Mauresmo faced tough competition for the Player of the Year award from Henin-Hardenne, Sharapova and Switzerland’s Martina Hingis, who finished anked No. 7 in her comeback year.
A true humanitarian, Mauresmo is a contributor to the Curie Institute of France (for cancer research) as well as the Phil Collins Little Dreams Foundation. She also finds extra time to promote the sport that she has been playing since the age of four and it is that professionalism which earned her ITWA’s prestigious Ambassador for Tennis award.
“Amelie is a hugely popular amongst those who cover the sport and a real asset to the game,” said ITWA’s co-President Eleanor Preston. “Her andour, wit and intelligence has earned the affection and admiration of the public and media alike.”
ITWA board member Cecile Soler of France’s Le Figaro added, "It's been thrilling to watch Amelie grow into a top class player and a well-deserved Grand Slam winner. From the girl then, to the woman now, she has remained bright, witty, warm and sincere. She’s someone you want to write about to inspire the young generation."
The International Tennis Writers Association was formed six years ago to represent the select group of journalists who travel the globe, week-in and week-out, covering tennis for the written and broadcast media. ITWA includes members from 17 countries and the coverage they provide brings tennis to millions worldwide. ITWA is committed to working with the sport's governing bodies, tournaments, agents and players both to improve the working conditions of tennis journalists and to gain recognition for the media's vital role in the promotion of the sport.