Washington, D.C., and Madrid, Spain, July 10, 2024 – In an incredible step for semi-professional tennis, IBP Tenis and the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) have announced a landmark collaboration focused on expanding opportunities for semi-professional men’s and women’s players. The PTPA will partner with IBP Tenis, the largest national tennis circuit in Spain, to elevate prize money and conditions across IBP Tenis Circuit’s semi-professional tournaments, providing players from around the world greater opportunities to earn a living and a more sustainable pathway to the professional tour.
As a result of the partnership, all IBP Tenis Circuit 500-category tournaments will be elevated to category 600, increasing tournaments’ prestige and significantly boosting prize money for participants and champions. Furthermore, the PTPA and IBP Tenis will work together to explore new ways to enhance the professional tour pipeline, fostering integration and providing players with more opportunities for development and competition.
“The PTPA and IBP Tenis share a commitment to advocating for, and contributing to, the best vision and structure of tennis globally,” said Ahmad Nassar, PTPA Executive Director. “We believe in the positive impact IBP Tenis can have on player development and opportunity in Spain and beyond, and we are proud to support their efforts to strengthen player pathways to the professional tour.”
“IBP Tenis is continuously considering new ways to bring innovative and meaningful benefits to our players,” said Guillermo Aylon, Head of Development at IBP Tenis. “Our work with the PTPA will not only boost players’ earning potential; It will foster increased transparency and education around players’ rights.”
The PTPA and IBP Tenis’ efforts will be further enhanced by the organizations’ respective partnerships with Universal Tennis. Universal Tennis became the Official Rating and Platform for IBP Tenis in 2023, allowing all IBP Tenis matches to count toward players’ UTR Rating, the world’s most accurate singles and doubles tennis rating system. The PTPA and Universal Tennis also announced a strategic partnership in 2023 focused on creating and expanding opportunities for the global tennis community. Together, the entities will continue to explore new ways to deliver value to players worldwide and the sport as a whole.
IBP Tenis has played a crucial role in the development of Spanish tennis since its inception in 2017. Supported by the Fundación Blanco Paris, IBP Tenis is dedicated to growing the game, supporting youth, and integrating sport with solidarity. The IBP Tenis Circuit includes more than 70 tournaments with a total prize pool exceeding €200,000 annually.
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About the Professional Tennis Players Association
The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) is a global organization that unites and mobilizes tennis players to foster transparency and fairness in professional tennis. As an independent entity, the PTPA is dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the rights of professional men’s and women’s tennis players throughout their careers. By prioritizing crucial aspects such as health and safety, schedules, rules, purses, benefits, and education, the PTPA endeavors to build an equitable and sustainable competitive environment for present and future generations of players. Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, the PTPA operates on a global scale. For more information, visit www.ptpaplayers.com and connect with @ptpaplayers on social media.
About IBP Tenis
IBP Tenis is a foundation dedicated to the promotion of tennis in Spain, operating as a non-profit organization. Its core values include promoting tennis, ensuring equality and parity, providing equal prize money for male and female players, and fostering solidarity within the tennis community. IBP Tenis Circuit features both amateur and semi-professional tournaments, with over €200,000 in prize money distributed across more than 100 events throughout Spain. It is one of the cornerstones of Spanish tennis, supporting the development and success of players nationwide. For more information, visit IBP Tenis and follow their activities on social media platforms like Instagram: @ibptenis.
Media Contacts
For PTPA: david@mvppr.com
For IBP Tenis: rmadrid@ibptenis.es