Thomas Bach to Receive Philippe Chatrier Award at World Tennis Champions Awards

Thomas Bach, Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee, will receive the Philippe Chatrier Award at the 2026 World Tennis Champions Awards presented by UNIQLO.

The ceremony will be held Saturday 4 July at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, where World Tennis will also celebrate its 2025 World Tennis Champions, including Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Tokito Oda and Yui Kamiji.

The Philippe Chatrier Award is the global governing body’s highest honour. Named after former World Tennis President Philippe Chatrier, the award was established in 1996 and is presented to individuals or organisations who have made exceptional contributions to tennis on and off the court.

Bach is being recognised for his longstanding support and advocacy for tennis through the Olympic Movement. Previous recipients of the award include Stan Smith, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Rod Laver, Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, Juan Antionio Samaranch and Esther Vergeer.

Thomas Bach said: "I would like to thank World Tennis and its President David Haggerty for this prestigious award. Receiving this Philippe Chatrier Award is very emotional for me.

“Tennis has played a very important role throughout my life. As a passionate junior tennis player following in the footsteps of my mother, as a great fan of the shining stars of tennis of my generation, as a partner of many prominent players when having been Promotion Director of adidas, as a longtime good friend of Philippe Chatrier and finally, as IOC President, being able to offer to this wonderful sport the place it deserves at the Olympic Games."

Source: World Tennis

David Haggerty, World Tennis President, said: "We are delighted to present Thomas Bach with this year's World Tennis Philippe Chatrier Award. During his twelve years as President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas recognised the importance of tennis within the Olympics and the special role our sport plays in inspiring people around the world.

"Beyond the Games, he has shown a genuine passion for tennis, regularly engaging with our athletes and remaining closely connected to the sport throughout his presidency. It is especially fitting that Thomas receives the award that bears Philippe Chatrier's name. Having known and worked with Philippe, who spearheaded tennis’s return to the Olympic Games, Thomas ensured an enduring partnership between tennis and the Olympic Movement. We are delighted to recognise his contribution with this honour."

Bach represented Germany as a fencer and won gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games before combining a legal career with his growing involvement in the Olympic Movement. In 2013, he became the first Olympic champion to be elected President of the International Olympic Committee, serving in the role for 12 years.

Throughout his presidency, Bach was a strong supporter of tennis and wheelchair tennis. The Olympic Games and Paralympics provide a global platform for the sport, while also helping support World Tennis’ mission of growing the game around the world.

A tennis player in his youth, Bach’s love of the game grew during the era of Steffi Graf and Boris Becker. He regularly attended major tournaments, engaged with athletes and presented Olympic tennis medals.

World Tennis also credited Bach with helping strengthen the role of athletes in Olympic leadership, creating opportunities for the next generation, championing greater diversity across the IOC, and promoting governance aimed at keeping sport inclusive, fair and free from discrimination.

In addition to Bach’s recognition, the World Tennis Champions Awards will honour the 2025 World Tennis Champions, selected by World Tennis using objective year-end performance criteria.

The singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka; the doubles champions are Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, and Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini; the wheelchair champions are Tokito Oda, Yui Kamiji and Niels Vink; and the junior champions are Ivan Ivanov and Kristina Penickova.

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Source: World Tennis

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