The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has published a new long-term action plan, laying out its proposals on how to grow the sport in a sustainable way across the globe.

The new strategy, entitled ITF 2024, was announced at the federation’s annual conference in Zagreb, Croatia this week. It details plans to develop, grow and promote tennis around the world through good governance, inclusiveness, innovation, ambition and collaboration.

Increasing the amount of investment in grassroots has been named as one of the key development areas.

In all, ITF has identified eight strategic priorities under three separate areas:

Leadership

• Integrity - Uphold the highest levels of Integrity, Governance and Transparency

• Investment - Strengthen the financial position of ITF and its member nations

• Development - Increase ITF development funding and expertise to grow tennis around the world

Management

• Davis Cup and Fed Cup - Create more revenue for investment in Tennis Development

• Olympics - Elevate tennis in the Olympics

• Opportunity - Provide opportunities to play at all levels of the game

Collaboration

• Partnership - Increase cooperation and collaboration with all partners

• Communication - Engage, listen to, understand and work more closely with our National and Regional Associations

Launching the new policy paper, ITF President David Haggerty said: “It has been important to create a structure to allow us to become a more efficient and effective organisation, and give us more opportunity to realise our primary goal of developing, growing and promoting tennis around the world.

"ITF 2024 will provide the framework for strategic and sustainable growth over the next eight years, as we work together to strengthen our sport.”

Haggerty added that ITF’s priorities are growing and leading the game by inspiring more people to play, follow and watch tennis and by upholding the sport’s values and integrity.

The ITF 2024 agenda follows on from the restructure of the ITF at the start of the year.

As a result of the realignment, a new ITF Integrity and Development department was set up to take on the responsibility for tennis development, governance and anti-corruption.