The International Tennis Federation (ITF), the global governing body responsible for overseeing many of the sport’s most important international competitions, has officially rebranded itself as World Tennis in a move aimed at strengthening its global identity and modernising its image.

The organisation, which governs prestigious team events such as the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup, as well as tennis competitions at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, announced the name change on Thursday.

World Tennis President David Haggerty said the rebranding marks an important milestone in the organisation’s evolution and reflects its ambition to play a central role in shaping the future of the sport worldwide.

“Today is an opportunity to redefine our role at the heart of world tennis and pledge our commitment to ensuring a strong, sustainable future for this brilliant sport,” Haggerty said. “World Tennis reflects who we are, our global footprint and unique mandate.”

The move follows a growing trend among international sporting federations to adopt simpler and more globally recognisable names. In recent years, several major governing bodies have undergone similar transformations, including World Athletics, World Aquatics, World Gymnastics and World Rugby.

The decision to change the organisation’s name was formally approved in October last year when national tennis associations voted in favour of the proposal during the governing body’s annual general meeting.

Headquartered in London, World Tennis works closely with the ATP Tour, WTA Tour and the four Grand Slam tournaments — the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open — to coordinate and support the professional game around the world.

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Chief Executive Ross Hutchins explained that the new identity is designed to better communicate the organisation’s international reach and clarify its role within the sport’s broader governance structure.

“A lot of people think of the T7 as seven governing bodies when in fact they are not seven governing bodies. They all serve different purposes, and together they help make up the entire ecosystem of tennis,” Hutchins said.

He added that the rebranding reflects the organisation’s increasingly global nature and its mission to promote, develop and govern tennis at every level, from grassroots participation to elite international competition.

The announcement comes just days before the start of Wimbledon, one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments. This year’s championship, which begins on Monday, is set to attract significant attention, particularly with the return of Serena Williams to singles competition after an absence of nearly four years.

With its new identity, World Tennis hopes to strengthen its presence across continents while continuing to guide the growth and development of the sport for future generations.