The 2023 ITF Conference and AGM: Interview with Luke Burden
Laykold’s Luke Burden joins the tennis world in Cancun, Mexico to discuss the future of the game.
The ITF held its AGM and Conference in Cancun this year on 24 September. Bringing together 147 national associations from around the world to debate on major policy initiatives and key topics impacting tennis globally, it marked the second highest turnout in history. Laykold’s Luke burden was there and took the time to fill us in on the global tennis conversation.
How important was it for you to have a seat at the table?
As a key part of the game and a market leader in court systems, it was an invaluable opportunity to connect to the sport’s leaders, hear what they are focused on and tell them about our innovations to help answer some of tennis’ challenges and ensure the game continues to thrive.
What insights can you bring us from the discussions?
The conference theme was ‘It Starts With You’ in recognition of the pivotal role national associations play in promoting participation, developing the game at the grassroots level and nurturing talent.
There was lots of discussion about the growing calendar of events which reflects a truly global and thriving game but also comes with its own challenges around scheduling and player welfare so there was some healthy debate on this.
What was Laykold able to bring to the table?
I had some good discussions around how we are innovating to support player welfare. The force reduction technology we have developed as part of our Gel court systems is transforming the impact of the game on athlete’s bodies. Less pressure on players’ bodies means less injuries, less retirement due to injury and longer careers. It also means stronger, fresher athletes, better play and better tournaments with the obvious knock-on commercial benefits. At a club level, players can play more regularly, are healthier, which means clubs are healthier and attract more players. This is good for the growth of the game as people adopt and stay within the sport for longer.
“We’ll continue to work closely with the sport in order to innovate to give tennis what it needs. For example, as we continue to see temperatures rise across the world, true court cooling is a very important future innovation.”
What is the ITF’s focus for the next 4 years?
The ITF’s focus is on digital transformation, development projects to grow the game and continuing to strengthen their established ITF World Tennis Tour and Junior Tour at the elite level as well as Wheelchair Tennis, Masters Tennis and Beach Tennis. The ITF also wants to foster greater collaboration and ideas sharing between tennis nations and partners which was one of the goals of the conference.
What role does Laykold have to play in this vision?
We’ll continue to work closely with the sport in order to innovate to give tennis what it needs. For example, as we continue to see temperatures rise across the world, true court cooling is a very important future innovation that will revolutionize the court surface and major event industry. Laykold chemists have been working for more than 10 years on ways to improve on the low return that Solar Reflectance technology offers. As of late 2023, we have a world patent pending on new court cooling technology, which will greatly support player welfare. This new system, which is effective at every level of the court system, doesn’t reflect heat, but dissolves it which will be game-changing.
The elections must have played a significant part this year?
Of course. It was interesting to hear all of the candidates’ pledges and we hope to see many of the visions and commitments discussed, come to fruition for the good of the game over the next 4 years. Congratulations to David Haggerty who received over 70% of the votes and was re-elected ITF President and to the new board of directors. They have a big and important job to do.
Finally a word on Cancun. How was the host city?
Cancun is always a fun place to visit but it was my first time visiting the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre and Museum which was great. There was a real buzz about the place. It was fantastic to be at the heart of international tennis in such a vibrant city.