The ITF vice-president was yesterday confirmed as one of a quartet of candidates vying for a four-year term in the role from 2015 to 2019.

The other nominations are All India Tennis Association and Asian Tennis Federation head Anil Khanna, ITF executive vice-president Juan Margets of Spain and Swiss Professional Tennis Association President Rene Stambach.

Haggerty, a former chairman of the United States Tennis Association and the US Open, is putting a strong focus on increasing revenue and the voice of the National and Regional Associations in a bid to ensure the continued growth of tennis around the world.

“My goal is to strengthen the ITF’s role as the world governing body for tennis and to increase revenue and communications throughout the tennis family so that we can ensure a healthy and viable future for our sport - from local development to elite athlete performance - without strain on the nations and regions supporting those athletes,” he said. 

“I believe that my experience, the strong relationships I have cultivated across the industry, and my lifelong passion for tennis have armed me with the tools I will utilise to drive the ITF and the international tennis family to even greater success with one of the most popular sports and some of the most exciting and prestigious sporting events in the world.”

The 73-year-old incumbent Francesco Ricci Bitti announced earlier this year he will step down as ITF President in September after 16 years in the position.

“As a tennis family, we have been incredibly fortunate to have been guided over the last 16 years by President Francesco Ricci Bitti and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his long and visionary service to our sport,” added Haggerty, the former chairman, chief executive and President of tennis ball manufacturer Penn Racquet Sports and tennis racquet specialist Head USA.

“As a former international player, ITF Board member, President of a National Association, leading businessman and marketer in the tennis industry, organiser of a Grand Slam tournament and a passionate tennis fan, I understand the challenges and the opportunities we face.”


Related stories
May 2015: Four candidates to replace Ricci Bitti as International Tennis Federation President
May 2015: International Tennis Federation Presidential contender seeks "reform" over "revolution" as four-horse race emerges