Srishti Kiran Achieves Global No. 1 Ranking in Under-13 Tennis

Srishti Kiran Achieves Global No. 1 Ranking in Under-13 Tennis

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Why in News

  • Srishti Kiran from Bengaluru achieved a historic milestone by becoming the World No. 1 in the Under-13 category in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior World Rankings.
  • Her rise was powered by five consecutive ITF junior titles and a runner-up finish at the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J100 in Guatemala.
  • She also attained an ITF junior ranking of No. 357, the highest among Under-13 players globally, despite competing in only eight ranking tournaments, fewer than the ten tournaments considered for rankings.

International Tennis Federation

  • The International Tennis Federation (ITF), founded in 1913, is the global governing body for tennis, wheelchair tennis, and beach tennis.
  • It administers and regulates the game, organizing international competitions like the Davis Cup for men and the Billie Jean King Cup for women.
  • The ITF World Tennis Tour acts as the transitional pathway between the junior circuit and the elite professional tours of the ATP for men and the WTA for women.

The Grand Slams

  • The four major tournaments, collectively known as the Grand Slams, are the absolute pinnacle of professional tennis.
  • The Australian Open is held in Melbourne and played on hard courts.
  • The French Open or Roland Garros is held in Paris and is the only Grand Slam played on clay courts.
  • The Wimbledon Championships is held in London, founded in 1877, and is the oldest tennis tournament in the world played on grass courts with a strict all-white dress code.
  • The US Open is held in New York City and played on hard courts.
  • The Grand Slam Board serves as the joint governance body of the four Grand Slam tournaments and the International Tennis Federation, coordinating rules and tournament administration.
  • The four Grand Slam tournaments are open to internationally ranked players with a ranking of 500 or better based on merit and without discrimination, though players below 14 years of age are ineligible.
  • There is no limit on the number of Wild Cards a player may receive during their career.