The International Tennis Federation (ITF), the governing body for tennis on a worldwide basis, introduced an apprentice-level Circuit for men in 1976 and for women in 1984 in an ongoing effort to provide young players with an avenue to the international game.
Today, there are more than 375 men's ITF Circuit events and 350 women's ITF Circuit events held annually in 80 different countries around the globe, including China, Iran, Kenya, Lebanon, Liechtenstein and Vietnam.
The USTA, the national governing body for tennis in the United States, is one of more than 200 national federations that are members of the ITF. Through the USTA Pro Circuit, which it owns and operates, the USTA stages the largest number of ITF Circuit events in the world. This year, players from more than 50 countries will be competing in 96 USTA Pro Circuit events for $3 million in prize money.
