Asian Tennis Federation
Members of ATF | |
Formation | 1958 [1] |
---|---|
Type | Sport Association |
Headquarters | Continental Federations |
Location |
|
Region served | Asia |
Membership | 45 Asian nations |
President | Yuriy Polskiy |
Website | asiantennis.com |
The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) is a non-profit organization affiliated with the International Tennis Federation was founded in 1958. It is a continental body of national tennis associations of Asian countries. The ATF's main objectives are to raise the quality standard of Asian tennis and to popularize tennis sport among the peoples of Asia. There are currently (in May 2024) 45 member associations who represents their respective nations. The ATF works closely with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and supports its member associations through the implementation of a wide range of programs.
Member Associations
The member associations of the ATF are[2]
Region (members) |
Area of Jurisdiction | Member Associations |
---|---|---|
East Asia ( 8 ) |
China |
|
Southeast Asia ( 11 ) |
Brunei |
|
South Asia ( 8 ) |
Afghanistan |
|
West Asia ( 13 ) |
Bahrain |
|
Central Asia (5 ) |
|
Board of directors
The board of directors is the elected group of members from national tennis bodies of Asian nations. As of May 2024 the current list of members is:[3][4][5]
Name | Designation |
---|---|
Yuriy Polskiy (Kazakhstan) | President |
Iroda Tulyaganova (Uzbekistan) | Vice President Development |
Jianbin Won (China) | Vice President East Asia |
Tep Rithivit (Cambodia) | Vice President Southeast Asia |
Salim Saifullah Khan (Pakistan) | Vice President South Asia |
Tareq Darwish Zainal (Qatar) | Vice President West Asia |
Eziz Dovletov (Turkmenistan) | Vice President Central Asia |
Naser Al Marzooqi (UAE) | Treasurer |
Anil Jain (India) | Member |
Arij Almutabagani (Saudi Arabia) | Member |
Cheon Jin Choi (Korea) | Member |
Mirzan Mahathir (Malaysia) | Member |
Ng Mui Soon Gilbert (Singapore) | Member |
Philip Mok (Hong Kong, China) | Member |
Sohaib Ismail (Jordan) | Member |
Challenges
Asia is by far the most populous continent but tennis still remains a sport under development. Besides a couple of Asian nations like India, China and Japan who have produced some world class players, tennis does not have a very long and fruitful history. The only Asians to ever win a single tennis grand slam are Li Na from China ( French Open 2011 and Australian Open 2014), Naomi Osaka from Japan (Australian Open 2019 and 2021, US Opens 2018 and 2021), and Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan (Wimbledon 2022). The only 2 nations that ever qualified for a Davis cup final are India(3) and Japan. No Asian nation has ever won the Davis Cup (excluding the Junior Davis Cups, 2 of which are won by Japan in 2011 and 2019).
Li Na grew up playing badminton and only switched over to tennis because a coach saw her potential for the sport. But the backward Chinese tennis coaching she received in her early days actually turned her against the game and she eventually quit for two years only to come back when China tennis authorities allowed her to take the reins and hire a coach to her liking without regards of the costs. "After Li Na had won the two grandslam tournaments, everyone start to know tennis in China. Especially in a country like China interest in the tennis sport is very much at the lead level compared to other Asian countries. If you weren't a lead level player, maybe you are wasting your time, taking away from study or education. But we've really seen in the last couple of years that mindset changing, in China in particular", said Ben Slack, Tennis Australia's head of international business.
The Women's Tennis Association announced in 2017 that it has signed a 10-year deal to move its finals tournament to Shenzhen, a dynamic city in China south, starting from next year. The deal will also see the total prize money on offer double to a whopping US$14 million.
Tennis is expensive and most Asian countries are still a developing economy, which means the standard of living is comparatively less and people spend their money on necessities rather than tennis racquets. There are currently 289 futures and challengers in a year in Europe, while Asia in comparison only has 61 of these tournaments. Even South America, where there are only twelve nations and players from the other continents rarely go due to remoteness of the location, has 81 ATP recognized tournaments[6] The number of tournaments in Asia is increasing and with it the level of the sport. In the next 10 years, the Asian region, should produce some exciting players.
Events
Types
- Asia Pacific Elite Trophy (U14)
- ITF & ATF Development Activities - U18 (Asia Oceania Closed B1 ITF WTT Juniors) - U16 (Junior Davis and Fed Cup + Roland Garros Junior Series Tournament) - U14 (World Junior Tennis Competition + ITF ASIA 14 & UNDER DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 - Regional Qualifying Event + ITF Asia 14&U Development Championships - Finals + ATF 14&U Tournament - Grade A by Regions + GSPDP/ITF/ATF 14&U Team to Europe + 14&U Championships + GSPDP Asian 14U Junior Championships) - U12 (ATF 12&U Team Competition by Regions + ATF 12&Under Team Competition - Finals + ATF 12U Intercontinental Team Competition)
- ATF 14&Under (Ind Tours)
- ATF 16&Under (Ind Tours)
- ATP Challenger
- ATP Tour
- Beach Tennis (Deactive)
- ITF World Tennis Tour (Juniors)
Championships
- Tennis at the Asian Games
- Asian Tennis Championships (Deactive)
- Asian Junior Tour (U18)
- Asian U16/U14/U12 Championships Individuals
- Asian U16/U14 Championships Team (Qualification for Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup and es:Copa Mundial de Tenis Juvenil)
- Regional U12/U14/U16 Championships
- Wheelchair Tennis (Qualification for World Team Wheelchair Tennis Cup)
ITF ASIA 14 & UNDER DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 - Regional Qualifying Event (WA & CA)
ITF ASIA 14 & UNDER DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 - Regional Qualifying Event (SA, SEA & EA)
ASIA PACIFIC ELITE 14U TROPHY 2025
ATF 14&U Series 1, Negeri Sembilan.
World Junior Tennis Competition - Girls 14&Under
World Junior Tennis Competition - Boys 14&Under
Junior Billie Jean King Cup A/O Pre Qualifying Event
Junior Davis Cup - A/O Pre Qualifying Event
ATF 16&Under
ATF 14&Under
Junior Billie Jean King Cup A/O Final Qualifying Events
Junior Davis Cup A/O Final Qualifying Events
ATF 12&U Team Competition - South Asia
ATF 14&U Tournament
GSPDP/ITF/ATF 14&U Team to Europe
GSPDP Asian 14U Junior Championships 2025
ATF 12U Intercontinental Team Competition
Asian Closed B1 ITF WTT Juniors
Junior Tour
Source:[13]
Ind Events
16&Under
14&Under
12&Under
Asian Junior Championships
Team Events
12&Under Team Competition
12&Under Intercontinental Team Competition
U16
The Asian U16 Tennis Championship is a junior tennis tournament for players under the age of 16, organized by the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF). The Asian Tennis Federation is a non-profit organization affiliated with the International Tennis Federation. The championship aims to provide a platform for young Asian tennis players to compete and develop their skills.
Organization: The championship is organized by the ATF.
Eligibility: It is open to players under the age of 16.
Purpose: It aims to provide a competitive environment for young Asian tennis players to develop their skills and talent.
Format: The championship typically includes various singles and doubles events for both boys and girls.
Venue: The championship is usually held in different locations across Asia.
Sponsors of ATF
This is a list of official sponsors of ATF:[14]
- Wilson
- California Products – Official Supplier of Court Surfaces
- Yonex – Official Racket of the Asian Tennis Federation
- Rebound Ace
- All India Tennis Association
- Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand
- Sri Lanka Tennis Association
- Qatar Tennis Federation
- Uzbekistan Tennis Federation
See also
- West Asian Tennis Federation
- Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup
- Davis Cup
- Fed Cup
- ATP Cup
- World Team Cup
- es:Copa Mundial de Tenis Juvenil (U14)
- es:Campeonato Sudamericano de Tenis (U12/U14/U16)
- es:Copa Davis Juvenil
- es:Copa Fed Juvenil
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-03-16. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "ATF Member Associations". Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "ATF Executive Body". Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ https://www.asiantennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ATF-COMMITTEES-AND-COMMISSIONS-2024_2025.pdf
- ^ https://www.asiantennis.com/executive-body/
- ^ "Among tennis leaders of the continent". UTF. Archived from the original on 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
- ^ https://atf.tournamentsoftware.com/
- ^ https://www.asiantennis.com/calendar/
- ^ https://www.asiantennis.com/itf-and-atf-event/
- ^ https://www.asiantennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ATF-16Under_Regulations-2024_.pdf
- ^ https://www.asiantennis.com/2025-itf-atf-development-activities/
- ^ https://www.asiantennis.com/2024-itf-atf-development-activities/
- ^ https://www.asiantennis.com/atf-junior-tour/
- ^ "Sponsors". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-02-06.