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By Adrianna Outlaw | Monday, December 21, 2015

 
Mary Pierce

Two-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce and Hall of Famer Mark Woodforde have been named to the ITF Board of Directors.

Photo credit: AFP

Mary Piece and Mark Woodforde are bringing their expertise to the International Tennis Federation.

The Grand Slam champions have been appointed to the ITF Board of Directors, subject to ratification by the ITF Annual General Meeting in June 2016.

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Pierce and Woodforde were each appointed for four-year terms as athlete members of the ITF Board. They will join the other 13 Board members alongside President David Haggerty.




“I am very proud and honored to join the ITF Board," the 40-year-old Pierce said. "I am convinced that their role in the tennis world is crucial, and I will do my best to bring as much as I can to their action. Thank you so much for welcoming me."

Last year, the ITF approved a change to the ITF Constitution mandating athlete representation on the ITF Board. The Tennis Federation agreed that two former players— one man and one woman—would be appointed by the Board for four-year terms to help the ITF have a better understanding of the players and their importance to tennis.

"They are the first athlete members of the ITF Board and will provide good insight into the needs of the players and help us to grow the game of tennis around the world," Haggerty said in a statement. "Their perspective and collaboration is very important to the ITF as we work to keep tennis strong and vibrant. Both Mary and Mark will also lead the ITF’s Athlete Commission and will be members of the ITF Olympic Committee."

Piece, who won the 1995 Australian Open and 2000 Roland Garros championships, reached a career-high rank of No. 3. She was a 2005 US Open finalist and helped lead France to the 1997 and 2003 Fed Cup championships. Since her retirement from tennis in 2006, she has worked as a coach and commentator, helped junior players in Africa, sponsors two ITF Pro Circuit tournaments in Mauritius, and participated in the ITF’s Worldwide Coaches Conference.

Former world No. 1 doubles player Woodforde won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles, eleven with long term partner Todd Woodbridge and one with John McEnroe, and was also a singles semifinalist at the 1996 Australian Open. Partnering Woodbridge, he won the gold medal in doubles at the 1996 Olympic Tennis Event in Atlanta and a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Tennis Event in Sydney. He represented Australia 24 times over 10 years in Davis Cup, played in three Finals and was part of the 1999 winning team.

The Woodies were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the Philippe Chatrier Award, the ITF’s highest honor in 2014. Since retiring from tennis in 2000, he has worked as a coach, tournament director and commentator.

"It’s exciting to be appointed to the ITF Board of Directors," Woodforde said. “Some of the proudest accomplishments of my career came when I played for my country in Davis Cup and the Olympic Games and was able to see at first hand the work of the ITF. My life continues to be centered around tennis as a commentator and coach. I think that this gives me both insight and perspective on the views of the players that I can share with the Board as we work together to grow tennis around the world.”

 

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