New Leadership Announced

Paul Newman has joined Sebastian Fest as a ITWA Co-President after voting in the annual ITWA board members election. Click here for a complete list of our 2011 board members.

Co-Presidents' Message

What can we say as we look forward to a 2011 that promises an extraordinary tennis season? One thing is certain: our members, all respected and well-travelled journalists, share the privilege of living in one of the greatest eras in tennis history. Only a few of our members can recall legends like Laver, Emerson and Rosewall, but the Sampras-Agassi years are fresh in the memory for many. Now we are in front row seats for the Nadal-Federer era. There are many stories to be told. The public at large want to know all about how these two great players are rewriting tennis history year after year. We are there to see and uncover those stories, to write them, to be the eyes ears and hearts of our readers.

Nevertheless, "being there" is becoming more and more complicated every year. Many of us like the advantage of having an iPhone App that allows us to see the tennis highlights wherever we are and whenever we want. The problem would be to think that an App or a TV image could replace the brain, the soul, the knowledge and the experience of a journalist on site. We know how important journalism is to tennis; we must continue to ensure that everyone else in tennis appreciates that too.

ITWA exists in order to help our members do their job better. We have had lengthy and beneficial discussions with the governing bodies and our members in recent years. Our members will be electing a new board in May. The current board asks only one thing: that members keep talking and let us know what they like and what they don’t, what works well and what needs improving. The virtual forum at www.ITWA.org is the right place to be connected 24 hours a day from every corner of the world. Use it!

Sebastian Fest and Marco Keller
ITWA co-Presidents

NADAL, CLIJSTERS NAMED
2010 ITWA AMBASSADORS OF THE YEAR

International Tennis Photographers Association Rafael Nadal is awarded the ITWA's 2010 Ambassador of the Year plaque by ITWA Board Member Linda Pearce, left, and Co-President Sebastian Fest.

International Tennis Photographers Association Kim Clijsters, winner of the ITWA's 2010 Ambassador of the Year, receives the award from ITWA Board Members Cecile Soler, left, and Paul Newman.

Melbourne, 18 January 2011

Rafael Nadal and Kim Clijsters were presented here today with the International Tennis Writers Association’s top awards. The 24-year-old Spaniard and the 27-year-old Belgian were voted ITWA’s Ambassadors of the Year for 2010 and accepted their trophies after their first-round victories at the Australian Open. Nadal was presented with a silver clock, while Clijsters received a silver photo frame.

The awards appeared to inspire the players, who both won their matches without losing a game. Nadal beat Marcos Daniel 6-0, 5-0 after his Brazilian opponent retired with a knee injury, while Clijsters beat Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-0.

ITWA represents more than 100 of the world’s leading tennis journalists. Its awards recognise a combination of achievements on the court, conduct that shows tennis in the best possible light and co-operation with the media.

Nadal won three Grand Slam titles last year and became one of only seven players who have won all four of the game’s biggest prizes. He was also one of ITWA’s Ambassadors of the Year for 2008.

Clijsters won the ITWA award for a third time. Having crowned a remarkable comeback after a two-year break to win the US Open in 2009, the Belgian had another outstanding year in 2010, retaining her New York title and winning the season-ending WTA Championships in Doha.

Sebastian Fest, co-president of ITWA, said: “Kim and Rafa are great champions, but they are also wonderful ambassadors for their sport. We know it is impossible for them to grant every interview request, but they are always very helpful in all their dealings with the media.”

DOWNLOAD COMBINED 2011 ATP/WTA CALENDARS

Click here to download the combined 2011 ATP/WTA calendars as a .pdf file.

Click here to download the combined 2011 ATP/WTA calendars as a Word .doc file.

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Photos courtesy of the International Tennis Photographers Association.