ITF names ‘Tie Break Tens’ as its official partner in short format tennis

• The ITF has partnered with Tie Break Tens in relation to short format tennis
• The partnership makes Tie Break Tens the “home of the tie break”
• Tie Break Tens is to be integrated into the ITF Junior Tennis Initiative programme, and provides an opportunity to engage with existing, lapsed and new players of all ages across the globe.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) today announced that it has formally recognised Tie Break Tens (TB10) as its official partner in short format tennis.

TB10 will be integrated into the ITF’s Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) programme in select nations, ensuring that young players are introduced to the format from the very start of their tennis journey.

The partnership will expand the reach of the dynamic TB10 scoring system across all levels of play – whether using red, orange, green, or standard yellow balls and on any court size.

Since its creation in 2015, TB10 has become a leading short-form version of tennis, staging events at iconic tournaments and venues such as Madison Square Garden, Indian Wells and the Australian Open. Featuring some of the sport’s biggest stars – including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Andy Murray – over 100 professional players have competed in 13 Elite TB10 tournaments to date, with over $2 million awarded in winner-takes-all prize money.

TB10 is a fast-paced competitive format, with eight or sixteen top players competing in a series of single tie-break matches. The compact format delivers excitement for fans and rapid-fire fun for recreational players. The format echoes the success of other modern sports formats such as T20 cricket, Rugby Sevens and 3×3 basketball. Importantly, TB10 is designed to complement the existing tennis calendar and tournaments, not compete with them. Fans will know in advance which players they are buying tickets or tuning in to see, and can watch a complete, two-hour tournament packed with world-class action.

David Haggerty, ITF President, said:

“The recognition of Tie Break Tens is a very exciting step for us. We hope integration of this dynamic format into the Junior Tennis Initiative will entice and inspire the next generation of players and encourage confidence in those high- stakes, fast-paced match moments.”

With the ITF’s endorsement, TB10 now has a formal role to play across the global tennis landscape – from inspiring new juniors to keeping recreational adult players engaged and continuing to bring world class and innovative competition to major stages around the world.