ITC

History

It began with six men and a vision in 1974. That vision? Use tennis as a vehicle to reach out to underserved Israeli children, regardless of background, religion or ability to pay. Two years later, the first of 14 Centers opened in Ramat Hasharon. Today, the Israel Tennis Center is the largest tennis school in the world and one of the largest social service organizations for children in all of Israel.

• 1974

  Six founders begin work to build the first center. They are (left to right): Rubin Josephs*, USA; Dr. Ian Froman, Israel, Freddie Krivine*, England; Joseph D. Shane*, USA; Dr. William H. Lippy, USA; and Harold Landesberg*, USA.

• 1976

  The Israel Tennis Center, Ramat Hasharon opened on April 25, 1976, with 14 tennis courts. Leah Rabin cut the ribbon to the Center, and 250 children signed up to participate.

• 1977

  Canadians Joe Frieberg, Ralph Halbert, Harold Green and more, raise money to build Canada Stadium at Ramat Hasharon, Israel’s first stadium.

• 1979

  The Kiryat Shmona, Jaffa, and Arad Centers all open.

• 1981

  The Israel Tennis Centers in Jerusalem and Ashkelon open.

• 1982

  The Israel Tennis Center in Haifa opens.

• 1985

  Ethiopian children come to the Ashkelon and Arad Centers.

• 1986

  Israeli Davis Cup team qualifies for the 1st time to the world group.

• 1987

  Amos Mansdorf wins the Riklis Tournament, the first Israeli to win the title. He achieves career high ranking of 18 with 6 ATP singles titles.

• 1989

  The Israel Tennis Center in Tiberias opens.

• 1990

  The Israel Tennis Center in Ofakim opens.

• 1991

  The Israel Tennis Centers in Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva open.

• 1995

  Indoor facility of three courts is built at the Kiryat Shmona Center.

• 1997

  Coexistence Program expanded to Jewish, Arab, Bedouin and Druze children.

• 2001

  The Israel Tennis Center in Yokneam opens. Residence Academy for talented players opens at Ramat Hasharon.

• 2003

  Anna Smashnova reaches career high singles ranking of 15 in the world.

• 2004

  Shahar Pe’er wins the Australian Open Girls’ Singles.

• 2006

  Andy Ram wins Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Championship with Vera Zvonareva

• 2006

  Tamir Segal from Kiryat Shmona and Rachel Elmoualem from Ashkelon are awarded first Gold Medals at “Special Olympics” Berlin Tournament.

• 2006

  Israeli Fed Cup team qualifies for the 1st time to world group 2.

• 2007

  Israeli Fed Cup team qualifies for the 1st time to world group 1, the best 8 teams in the world

• 2007

  Israeli Davis Cup team beat Chile 3:2 in Ramat-Hasharon center and qualifies back to the world group after 13 years.

• 2008

  Israel Tennis Center receives award from the Prime Minister for its contribution to Israel’s children.

• 2009

  The Israel Tennis Center in Galil-Sajur opens.

• 2009

  Israeli Davis Cup team reaches the semi final of the world group, its best achievement ever in Davis Cup.

• 2010

  The Israel Tennis Center in Akko opens.

• 2010

  Shahar Pe’er reaches career high singles ranking of 14 in the world.

• 2010

  Elad Gevandschnaider from Beer-Sheva center won the Silver Medal in the “Special Olympics” European championship held in Poland.