ITF Boss: Hosting Team Events Key to Unlocking India's Tennis Potential

"India is a huge country. It's got a huge tennis history, and it's got massive tennis potential in terms of skill. This trip has been great for me because we're working with AITA and with the regional state associations to have plans to further grow the game in the near future. Because there is so much potential and we want to work with the various Indian bodies to really bring that to reality," he shared after a meeting with the officials.

Moss met with officials from the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) to discuss plans to bring more ITF World Tennis Tour events to Bengaluru. The discussions focused on creating additional opportunities for Indian athletes and strengthening the tennis structure in the region.

Lauding the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium, Moss said, "This is my second time in Bangalore. I was here a couple of years ago. It's great to have the W100 here for the second year. The facilities here are fantastic. Great feedback from the players already about the high standards here. I'm very excited to see this tournament play out this week."

On the importance of the competition to the broader ecosystem, Moss added, "The World Tennis Tour is the essential pathway -- the main artery to the top. Hosting nearly 1,200 tournaments across 75 countries annually, it provides a structured pathway for players to progress from junior and entry-level events to the professional circuit. It's extremely important that we have tournaments in as many countries as we can."

In recent months, the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium has hosted several major events, including the Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs, the Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 1, and multiple ITF competitions.

Moss spoke about the importance of international team events in building interest in the sport, referring to India's exploits in the Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 1 earlier in the month as an example.

"When you have a team competition, you have players representing their countries. And as you saw just a couple of weeks back, it means players do extraordinary things when they're playing for their country. A wonderful atmosphere, and from everything that I've been told and everything I can see, it follows a run of events here that are really starting to be a catalyst for more interest in tennis here. So, I think they're fundamental to the growth of tennis in emerging countries," he explained.

- IANS