The world tennis association is following a trend in global sport.
The world tennis association is getting a new name: from 2026, the organization previously known as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) will officially be called “World Tennis.”
An “overwhelming majority” of representatives from national associations voted in favor of the change at the ITF’s annual general meeting, according to a press release on Thursday.
The choice falls on “World Tennis”
Among other things, the name change is intended to “better reflect the organization’s role as a global governing body and guardian of the sport, as well as its important function in promoting and developing tennis worldwide together with its member countries,” the association said: “The name ‘World Tennis’ was chosen after extensive research and interviews with stakeholders from across the sport.”
The world governing body was founded in 1913 under the name International Lawn Tennis Federation and adopted its current name in 1977.
With this latest change, the ITF is following a trend. Among others, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) renamed itself World Athletics in 2019, and in 2022, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) became World Aquatics.
