Rafael Westrupp
{{Short description|Former Brazilian tennis governing body president}}
{{Citation style|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rafael Westrupp
| image = Rafael Westrupp (2023).jpg
| caption = Westrupp in 2023
| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|May 12, 1980}}
| birth_place = Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| office = President of the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) (2017-2025);President of the South American Tennis Confederation (COSAT);Vice-President of the International Tennis Federation (ITF)
| predecessor = Jorge Lacerda (CBT);Camilo Pérez López Moreira (COSAT)
| successor = Alexandre Farias (CBT)
| occupation = Administrator, Sports executive
}}
Rafael Westrupp (born May 12, 1980) is a sports executive and administrator that was the president of the Brazilian Tennis Confederation (CBT) from 2017 to 2025, having been re-elected in 2021. He is also the current president of the South American Tennis Confederation (COSAT) and vice president of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).{{Cite web |title=Tênis Integrado |url=https://cbt-tenis.com.br/entity/president |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=cbt-tenis.com.br}}
Professional life
=2014: Expansion of the "Jogue Tênis nas Escolas" program=
In 2014, Westrupp took part in expanding the "Jogue Tênis nas Escolas" program to the interior of Santa Catarina. This initiative, created by the Confederação Brasileira de Tênis (CBT), aimed to promote tennis in public and private schools while training teachers to include the sport in school curricula.{{Cite web |last=Redação |title=Revista TÊNIS Programa "Jogue Tênis nas Escolas" chega ao interior de Santa Catarina |url=https://revistatenis.uol.com.br/amp/artigo/programa-jogue-tenis-nas-escolas-chega-ao-interior-de-santa-catarina_10881.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Revista TÊNIS}}
=2015: Director of the WTA Florianópolis=
In 2015, Westrupp became the tournament director for the WTA Florianópolis, an event that brought top female tennis players to Brazil. Under his management, the tournament remained on the calendar until 2016, and he worked to attract more international stars, strengthening the event’s relevance in the Brazilian tennis scene.{{Cite web |last=Redação |title=Revista TÊNIS WTA de Floripa é mantido em julho no biênio 2015-16 e diretor prevê maior chance de estrelas no torneio |url=https://revistatenis.uol.com.br/amp/artigo/wta-de-floripa-e-mantido-em-julho-no-bienio-2015-16-e-diretor-preve-maior-chance-de-estrelas-no-torneio_11329.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Revista TÊNIS}}
=2016: Replacing Jorge Lacerda at CBT=
In July 2016, it was announced that Westrupp would replace Jorge Lacerda as president of the Confederação Brasileira de Tênis (CBT). His appointment marked a new phase for the organization, focused on modernizing management and expanding opportunities for tennis development in Brazil.{{Cite web |date=2016-07-27 |title=Rafael Westrupp substituirá Jorge Lacerda na Confederação Brasileira de Tênis |url=https://gauchazh.clicrbs.com.br/esportes/noticia/2016/07/rafael-westrupp-substituira-jorge-lacerda-na-confederacao-brasileira-de-tenis-6908104.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=GZH |language=pt}}
=2017: Elected President of CBT=
In 2017, Westrupp was elected president of the Confederação Brasileira de Tênis (CBT). His tenure focused on modernizing the organization and improving conditions for the sport’s development in Brazil. One of his major challenges was managing the Olympic Tennis Center, which he deemed unfeasible due to high maintenance costs.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-14 |title=Presidente da CBT afirma não ter como gerir Centro Olímpico de Tênis: "Inviável" |url=https://ge.globo.com/google/amp/tenis/noticia/presidente-da-cbt-afirma-nao-ter-como-gerir-centro-olimpico-de-tenis-inviavel.ghtml |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=ge |language=pt-br}}
=2019: Election to COB and CBT Re-election=
In 2019, Westrupp was elected to the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) Board of Directors, strengthening his influence in the national sports scene.{{Cite web |last=Redação |title=Revista TÊNIS Rafael Westrupp é eleito para Conselho de Administração do COB |url=https://revistatenis.uol.com.br/amp/artigo/rafael-westrupp-eleito-conselho-administracao-cob_15100.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Revista TÊNIS}}
=2020: COB Presidential candidacy=
In October 2020, Westrupp, alongside former volleyball player Emanuel Rego, launched a bid for the presidency and vice-presidency of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), advocating for greater transparency and governance reform.[https://istoe.com.br/rafael-westrupp-e-emanuel-lancam-chapa-para-presidente-e-vice-do-cob/ Istoé]{{dead link|date=February 2025}}
=2022: President of COSAT=
In 2022, Westrupp was elected president of the South American Tennis Confederation (COSAT), further establishing his presence in the Latin American tennis community.{{Cite web |title=Rafael Westrupp é eleito presidente da COSAT |url=https://www.lance.com.br/tenis/rafael-westrupp-eleito-presidente-cosat.html.amp |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=www.lance.com.br |language=pt-br}}
=2023: ITF Vice President=
File:2023-08-11 Brasil enfrenta Coreia do Sul em mundial de tênis disputado em Brasília 01.jpg
In November 2023, he was elected vice president of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), recognizing his contributions to the sport in South America.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=Presidente da CBT, Rafael Westrupp é eleito vice-presidente da Federação Internacional de Tênis |url=https://ge.globo.com/google/amp/sc/tenis/noticia/2023/11/24/presidente-da-cbt-rafael-westrupp-e-eleito-vice-presidente-da-federacao-internacional-de-tenis.ghtml |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=ge |language=pt-br}}
=2024: Participation in International Events=
During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Westrupp attended the men’s tennis medal ceremony and shared words of encouragement with Novak Djokovic.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-13 |title=Entrevista: Presidente da CBT revela o que falou a Djokovic na entrega da medalha em Paris |url=https://ndmais.com.br/tenis/entrevista-presidente-da-cbt-revela-o-que-falou-a-djokovic-na-entrega-da-medalha-em-paris/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=ndmais.com.br |language=pt-BR}}
File:2024 Summer Olympics men's singles tennis tournament's podium, 2024-08-04 (59) (cropped).jpg final at the 2024 Summer Olympics]]
=Honors=
Westrupp has also participated in tributes to Brazilian tennis figures, such as the ceremony honoring Dadá Vieira during the Florianópolis Challenger.{{Cite web |title=CBT homenageia Dadá Vieira durante Challenger de Florianópolis |url=https://www.tenisnews.com.br/126511/cbt-homenageia-dada-vieira-durante-challenger-de-florianopolis |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Tenis News |language=pt-br}}
References
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Category:Brazilian sports executives and administrators