ITF condemns racism in tennis

The International Tennis Federation has condemned any forms of racism in tennis.

After the death of George Floyd sporting organisations across the world have stood to fight against racism.

“The ITF is against any form of racism in our sport and in society. Recent events have rightly sparked global discussion and reflection for individuals and organisations,” it said in a statement.

“Tennis is lucky to have players, coaches, officials and administrators who have shown themselves as leaders, not only for the past two weeks but for decades, using their platforms to raise awareness and inspire change.

“We take our responsibilities as a governing body seriously and recognise there is more work to be done. Inclusivity is one of the ITF’s core values and through our Advantage All programme, our long-term goal is to eliminate discrimination, bias and barriers of any forms and at all levels of the sport.

“The ITF invests each year more than $10 million into the global development of our sport, creating opportunities for everyone to play, train and, if they have the talent, pursue a career as a professional tennis player, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, or where they are from.

“Tennis is a truly global sport and we remain committed to creating a culture around it that is accepting and inclusive to all.”