At the association’s AGM in July, Jonathan Booth and Jake Whalley were elected as Directors following the resignations of Rob McCowen and Jan Booth. Jonathan was also appointed as the association’s new Company Secretary

Jonathan Booth is a Director at Sunbaba, a UK-based events branding company that provides large-format print, signage, and on-site production (installation and de-rigging) for festivals, concerts, and major live events across the UK and Europe, with recent projects for clients including CarFest, VIP Nation, and international concert tours. At Sunbaba, Jonathan leads strategy and business development, steering the company through its busiest periods and driving growth through external partnerships and innovation programmes, including a recent technology-led push to adopt AI across the business’s design, production and client workflows.

Jonathan is keen to bring a fresh, commercially minded perspective to the TIA UK Board, supporting its continued relevance and value to the wider tennis, padel and pickleball industry.

Jake Whalley is Head of Marketing at MRH Sport, the exclusive distributor of Bullpadel in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Over the past seven years, he has worked across both Babolat and Wilson in a variety of grassroots, trade marketing and commercial roles, spanning the UK and European markets. Jake’s career has been built around growing participation, supporting retailers, clubs and coaches, and helping brands connect more effectively with players at every level of the game. His role at MRH Sport focuses on supporting the continued growth of padel across the UK through retailer partnerships, club activations, events, grassroots initiatives and player development programmes.

As a TIA Board member, Jake aims to bring a fresh perspective from the padel sector, alongside practical experience in marketing, grassroots development and industry engagement. He is passionate about helping grow participation across all racket sports and believes there is significant opportunity for the industry to learn from the growth of padel while continuing to strengthen tennis and emerging sports such as pickleball.

Chairman Steve Matthews welcomed Jonathan and Jake as new Directors and thanked Rob and Jan for all their efforts, insight and friendship over many years, supporting the industry body.

Given the increasing inter-connection between suppliers of tennis, padel and pickleball with clubs and venues, the AGM also agreed to increase the number of Directors from 5 to 7 to allow for enhanced involvement of sector specific interests to help frame future strategy.

The AGM also approved the proposal from the Board to hold the current membership fee rates for the 27/28 membership year.

LTA seeks new revenue sources

The LTA has entered venture capital investing through a partnership with Redrice Ventures as it seeks new revenue sources beyond Wimbledon distributions. The agreement marks the first time the governing body for tennis and padel in Great Britain has entered venture capital investing, with investments expected to focus on areas including coaching platforms, automated line-calling technology and sports nutrition.

The move comes as the LTA explores alternative sources of long-term revenue alongside distributions received from the Wimbledon Championships. The All England Club distributes 90 per cent of its surplus to the LTA, but payments to the governing body have come under pressure as player prize money at the tournament has increased.

In 2025, Wimbledon prize money exceeded the amount distributed to the LTA for the first time. The LTA’s income from Wimbledon fell four per cent year-on-year to £48.6 million, although total revenue increased by two per cent to £104 million.

Scott Lloyd, Chief Executive of the LTA, said the organisation was assessing opportunities within the wider sports investment market, stating, “There’s no doubt that this wider sports investment market now is particularly vibrant. The LTA is starting to think about how we can drive longer-term financial returns.“

For the UK sports industry, the move reflects a broader trend among governing bodies seeking alternative funding models and external investment alongside traditional revenue streams such as events, sponsorship and broadcasting.

The Women’s Tennis Association established an investment arm backed by CVC Capital Partners in 2023, while British Cycling created a separate commercial business in 2025 to attract external capital.

London-based Redrice Ventures has existing links to the sports sector. Former British tennis player Sir Andy Murray and Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee are Associate Partners at the firm, whose portfolio includes UK sportswear company Castore and running footwear brand HYLO.

Curtesy: The Sports Industry Daily

Campaigners given green light for further legal challenge

A campaign group has been given the green light to launch a second legal battle over the expansion of the Wimbledon tennis site onto land occupied by the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club. Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) brought High Court legal action against the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), the venue which hosts the annual tennis tournament, over its plans to build 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seater stadium on the site immediately opposite the tennis club.

The AELTC acquired the freehold of the land occupied by Wimbledon Park Golf Club in the 1990s, and eventually purchased the club in 2018 for £65 million, with the course permanently closed in 2023. Planning permission for the expansion of the tennis club were approved in 2024.

But campaigners have argued the land was subject to a statutory trust under a 150-year-old law which restricted its use for ‘publicly accessible leisure and recreation’. In March, Mr Justice Thompsell ruled the land was “unencumbered by any statutory trust” but the Court of Appeal has granted SWP permission to challenge the ruling.

A spokesperson for the All England Club said the decision was “disappointing news”, but it was “confident that the Court of Appeal will recognise the strength of the High Court ruling, which found by a wide margin that the golf course land had never been held under a statutory trust”.

Barristers for SWP told the High Court in January that a statutory trust exists under the Public Health Act 1875, meaning the land must be used “for the purpose of being used as public walks or pleasure grounds” and therefore the development could not go ahead. Lawyers for the club said the land was never subject to a trust and, if it was, it did not survive the club’s 1993 purchase of the freehold.

Curtesy: Golf Business News

Saudi Arabia’s new mega tennis complex

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to develop its National Tennis Centre, located 45 kilometres west of Riyadh, comprising 30 courts along with major event venues and community spaces. Construction of the National Tennis Centre is already underway, designed by sports architecture firm Populous. Positioned within the picturesque landscape of the Tuwaiq Mountains, the centre is set to incorporate green facades, enhancing its natural surroundings.

• 30 tennis courts in total
• 28 hard courts
• 2 clay courts
• 33,000 total seats across the complex
• 15,000-seat Centre Court with retractable roof
• 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena with retractable roof
• 5,000-seat Court 1
• 2,000-seat Court 2
• 6 competition courts
• 6 indoor courts
• 14 practice courts

At the heart of the development is a 15,000-seat Centre Court arena, featuring a retractable roof, capable of hosting high-profile tennis matches as well as a variety of other major events, including concerts and esports competitions.

This aligns with Saudi Arabia’s strategic objectives under Vision 2030, which emphasise enhancing sporting infrastructure to elevate local talent and foster greater sports participation across the Kingdom.

Curtesy: The Hotelier

‘St George’s Park’ for tennis and padel

The Times reported in June that the LTA is seeking to buy the neighbouring plot of land to its Roehampton HQ and build a ‘St George’s Park’ for tennis and padel. According to the Times, the LTA is proposing to build 36 outdoor courts of each main surface on the Bank of England site that currently stages Wimbledon Qualifying.

The LTA has commissioned the architectural firm Woo, which was involved in the London and Paris Olympics and the redesign of the Nou Camp, to bring the vision to life.

The freehold was put up for sale by the Bank of England in January. Although not on Green Belt, the site is designated as Metropolitan Open Land which brings similar building constraints.

Scott Lloyd commented, “We have ambitious plans – a national network of covered public tennis and padel courts and a new development in Roehampton to create an equivalent of the FA’s St George’s Park, with the best training, sports science and recovery facilities, and an academy, all together on the same site.”

Surge in IP rights for Padel

The Times has reported that businesses are rushing to secure intellectual property rights linked to padel as the sport is attracting more investors, entrepreneurs and celebrity backers eager to capitalise on its explosive growth. Trademark filings for new Padel-related products in the UK surged 148% to 270 in the year to the end of March, up from 109 in the year prior, research from Matthys and Squire, the IP law firm has shown. Over the same period, just 23 new tennis-related brands were registered.

The boom has fuelled a wave of new businesses seeking to establish brands across a broad range of products and services including covered padel clubs and academies, racket manufacturers, specialist clothing brands, professional tournaments and hospitality concepts incorporating Padel-themed identities.

Curtesy: The Times

Padel and Pickleball News

Sheffield

A padel club backed by cricket star Joe Root has netted £1.2 million support to serve up expansion plans. Play Padel is set to open a second Sheffield site to include eight indoor courts. The venture, which will neighbour Sheffield’s Meadowhall Shopping Centre, is earmarked to open in October and will operate alongside the business’ existing courts at Abbeydale Tennis Club.

Play Padel was founded by five childhood friends – entrepreneurs Alex Fleming, Chris Milland and Harry Bliss, alongside decorated England batter Root and former Rotherham United goalkeeper Cameron Dawson – and has attracted players including Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis Hill. The firm’s expansion has been supported by a loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, and the South Yorkshire Debt Fund, which is managed by FW Capital for South Yorkshire Pensions Authority.

Barking

A large indoor skatepark in Barking could be demolished for padel courts. It comes as skaters have launched a petition to save the space for extreme sports and the climbing wall which operated in the same building has already seen demolition commence.

The facility is operated by GLL under its brand name ‘Better’ who said that the centre has operated at a financial loss since GLL took it over some 13 years ago, despite a range of initiatives to increase revenue

Swansea

The Ninja Warrior adventure park in Swansea could be replaced by 6 indoor padel courts, in a move that would end the obstacle-course attraction’s four year run at the retail park. The venue is a large unit shared with Aldi, on the site of a former Toys R Us

Aberdeen

A former Ikea store in Aberdeen could be set to be converted into padel tennis courts under ambitious new plans from Slazenger. The property, which was vacated by Ikea in March when the furniture giant moved, is the subject of a planning application seeking to change its use from “retail” to “padel club”.

Lodged with Aberdeen City Council by Mike Ashley-owned Slazenger, the proposals outline 11 individual courts, with showers and changing facilities also included.

Planning documents state the facility would offer coaching and training and feature a shop selling and hiring out equipment. Slazenger has reported that it has already opened 10 facilities across England and Wales, and is now turning its attention towards Scotland, where plans for a similar venue have already been tabled for the Braehead Centre in Glasgow.

The post Industry News – July 2026 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

A full house audience with representatives from property, sport, investment, operations and the wider padel eco-system were presented with the findings of the 2026 padel report produced by Oxygen Consulting at a forum held on 10 June at Savills PLC.

One of the strongest themes from the evening was that while the UK clearly needs more courts and better infrastructure, this alone will not determine which operators and venues flourish. The next phase of padel will be shaped by those who think carefully about the full player experience: how venues create a compelling sense of place, how they help players feel they belong, and how they support regular, enjoyable and sustainable participation.

The forum also discussed the importance of ensuring that padel spreads beyond affluent communities. There is a useful parallel with the UK low-cost gym sector, where significant new demand was unlocked only when high-value, low-cost operators began serving a much broader audience, including many people who had never used a gym before.

Affordability matters because it will help determine whether padel becomes a genuinely mass-participation racquet sport across the UK or remains a more premium leisure activity concentrated in higher-income communities. In that sense, courts may be the infrastructure, but convenient access, affordability and community are likely to become the real advantage.

2026 UK Padel Report is now available via the Oxygen Consulting website. This 69-page independent, ad-free report includes new player price-sensitivity research and explores how pricing, access, venue formats, participation enablers and emerging operating models can help padel build financially resilient venues, encourage repeat play and support wider participation, physical activity and better public health.

For commercial organisations, the 2026 UK Padel Report is priced at £250 plus VAT. Complimentary access is available on request for registered charities, universities and relevant non-commercial partners.

You can access the report here

MRH Sport becomes latest TIA member

MRH Sport is one of the UK’s leading racquet sports distributors, specialising in premium brands across padel and pickleball. Based in the UK, the company works closely with retailers, clubs, coaches, events and governing bodies to support the continued growth of racquet sports nationwide.

As the exclusive distributor of Bullpadel in the UK & Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, MRH Sport is responsible for bringing one of the world’s most specialised and recognisable padel brands to market. The company also distributes MAXE Pickleball and continues to invest heavily in supporting the rapid development of emerging racquet sports through grassroots initiatives, retail partnerships and major event activations.

Beyond distribution, MRH Sport is committed to growing participation through marketing, education and community engagement. From supporting coaches and ambassadors to delivering retail experiences, product launches and international event activations, the business works across every level of the sport to help brands and partners succeed.

Jake Whalley, Head of Marketing, said “MRH Sport is delighted to join the Tennis Industry Association and looks forward to collaborating with fellow members to help strengthen the future of racquet sports throughout the UK”

Farewell ITF – welcome World Tennis

The International Tennis Federation has officially become known as World Tennis with the sport’s global governing body outlining its ambitious vision to boost participation by 30%.
Founded in 1913, the ITF sets and enforces the sport’s rules, regulates international competition and runs the ‌Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, tennis at the Olympic Games and the tournament levels below the main Tours. It also oversees the development and growth of the sport worldwide, and in announcing the name change pledged to reinvest 85% of all income it generates each year for the next decade.

In an open letter, World Tennis president David Haggerty and CEO Ross Hutchins outlined five strategic priorities:

• Growing participation
• Powering future stars
• Elevating official national competitions
• Ensuring a sport fit for the future
• Investing to grow the game

“Tennis is already one of the world’s largest sports. But we want to shout from the rooftops to anyone who hasn’t discovered us yet, ‘Tennis for all!’ and most importantly, tennis for you,” the letter read.”If more people play, watch or follow, everyone in the game benefits. That’s the future we’ll be striving for.

“We believe it’s possible to increase global participation from 106 million people playing tennis to 140 million by 2035. That’s an increase of more than 30%. We want to be ambitious, but we do think ‌it’s realistic too.”

Explaining the need for a change of name, former professional player Hutchins said it was about being ‘recognisable’ and separate from organisations such as the men’s ATP Tour and women’s WTA Tour. “The ITF isn’t well known enough or isn’t understood enough by audiences that can have a difference and a positive impact to our game,” Hutchins said.
“World Tennis shows the global nature of us, shows the focal point of us as an organisation.”

Article curtsey of Reuters

Wimbledon experience returns to NY

New York again hosted a four-day immersive activation in June dubbed “The Wimbledon Court in Central Park”. Expert groundstaff from SW19 built a pop-up grass court for the “Wimbledon Court Invitational”, an exhibition match that saw two pairs of tennis icons—Andre Agassi and Genie Bouchard taking on James Blake and Caroline Wozniacki—go head-to-head in a friendly doubles match.

Club Agronomist Mark Ferguson explained that they used different grasses to create the pop-up – a hybrid Bermuda grass which was more suited to the NY climate, than the perennial ryegrass installed at SW19, whist trying to replicate the same playing conditions and surface characteristics.

There was also an array of tennis-themed activities celebrating the Wimbledon experience – fans had the chance to play on the Wimbledon Court, as well as the chance to enjoy Wimbledon’s traditional strawberries and cream, alongside various fan engagement activations, off the court.

“We are delighted to bring Wimbledon to the US for a fifth successive year, giving New York’s devoted tennis fans a flavour of Wimbledon,” said Usama Al-Qassab, Marketing and Commercial Director at The All England Lawn Tennis Club. “Whether they are watching the unique exhibition matches we have planned, enjoying the rare opportunity to play on a Wimbledon grass court, coming to New York for the first time ever, or tasting some of Wimbledon’s traditional food and drink, our four‑day event will bring the celebration of ‘tennis in an English garden’ to New York’s iconic Central Park.”

Image Curtesy: The Experiential Group

Padel and Pickleball News

Kirkby

People in Kirkby will soon be able to play padel locally as the result of a £2.5m investment towards the creation of a 32,000 square foot retail and leisure space in the town centre. This space would have room for six to eight padel courts, changing rooms, a café and social space and community use areas.

Marlow

A new padel centre for Marlow, Bucks has been approved, against the advice of planning officers. Officers said the centre would be “inappropriate development in the green belt”, but the county council’s planning committee gave it the go-ahead. The application has come from the team behind Padel Maidenhead and include the demolition of a burnt-out house and the creation of eight covered padel courts and two uncovered courts.

Officers advised that permission should be refused as the project would be “inappropriate development in the green belt” that would “detract from the established open and rural location”, however the applicants said there were special circumstances to justify building in the green belt, including the sport’s popularity and the lack of alternative sites.
The planning committee agreed and voted unanimously to approve the project.

Curtesy: Padel Maidenhead

Renfrew

A proposal at Renfrew will see units on an industrial estate  turned into an indoor padel facility, after Renfrewshire Council granted planning permission, subject to conditions. The site, which previously operated as retail space, will now be reclassified from Class 1A (Retail) to Class 11, covering leisure uses such as sports courts and gyms.

In its decision notice, the council said the scheme aligns with the local Development Plan and that no issues were raised which outweighed the presumption in favour of approving the application. However, strict conditions have been attached, most of them centred on noise control. Developers now have three years from the date of the decision to start work on the conversion.

Shoreham

A harbour wharf is being turned into a padel centre.  Flude Property Consultants said that Club Padel had bought more than an acre of land at Fishermans Wharf, in Shoreham. Planning consent has been approved for an indoor padel club featuring six courts, changing rooms, parking and a high-end bar overlooking the courts. Works have commenced and the club is set to open in autumn 2026.

Milton Keynes

Willen Lake and UK PADEL have announced that a new padel centre will be opening later this year, comprising of 4 covered and 2 outdoor courts. The addition of padel courts further enhances Willen Lake as a destination that brings together sport, leisure and nature with walking trails, water sports, cafés and open green spaces already attracting families, couples and individuals throughout the year

Smash Padel secures investment for expansion

Smash Padel, which operates five venues including in Oxford and Bicester, plans to grow to 20 sites across the UK following a funding round led by Middleton Enterprises, an investment firm founded by entrepreneur Jeremy Middleton. The expansion will include the launch of new centres in underserved communities with three more locations expected to open before the end of the year. Smash Padel’s existing venues are in Oxford, Bicester, Whitstable, Mid Sussex, and Cardiff, with a Taunton site scheduled to open in summer 2026.

Image curtesy Smash Padel

The post Industry News – June 2026 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

Our 2026 AGM takes place at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre on Thursday July 2nd. All TIA members are invited to attend with the meeting starting at 11.00 followed by a networking lunch. Papers for the AGM will be forwarded to members in early June.

Premier Sports Surfaces partners with TIA

Essex based contractor, Premier Sports Surfaces, is the latest TIA Partner Member. Formally known as Tennis 2000, the company was established in 1989 and 30 years later has expanded its services to encompass all manner of sports surfaces to enable communities, schools and clubs to thrive. The company specialises in creating high performance sports facilities for tennis, multi-sports and mini pitches, working closely with clients to help deliver their long-lasting vision. 

The company is a Principal Contractor of SAPCA and is looking forward to working closely with the TIA to help promote its expertise and products into the wider tennis UK market 

www.premiersportssurfaces.co.uk

LTA Tennis Foundation launches ‘Levelling the Court’ fund to support talented players

The LTA Tennis Foundation has launched Levelling the Court, a new funding stream designed to support talented and emerging players from low-income households to create more equal access to performance pathway development opportunities in tennis.

Levelling the Court will support initiatives that identify, develop, and elevate talent from underserved communities, alongside offering targeted grants to young players already on the LTA’s performance pathway who face financial barriers to training, travel, and competition. Funded by LTA Tennis Foundation, the programme will be delivered by the LTA’s Performance team, to deliver the greatest possible impact in opening up access to talented players.  

The first grants of up to £2,500 will open in July for 10–14-year-olds who meet the eligibility criteria. Players included on the Regional Player Development Centre long list, or those participating in the Wheelchair Player Pathway NAGP 14U programme, will be eligible to apply. This initiative is supported by an initial investment of £100,000, with a commitment to grow this, and an ambition to expand access to more age groups over time. 

Keep up to date with all the latest news from the LTA Tennis Foundation by joining their community.

Courtesy: LTA Tennis Foundation  

The International Working Group on Women and Sport will hold its 9th Global Summit in Birmingham from July 9-11, gathering up to 1200 delegates from over 75 countries on advancing women and girls in sport. This event offers access to expertise, research and networking opportunities for leaders and policymakers in the sports sector. 

The Summit draws together leaders, policymakers, and researchers from a range of organisations including National Olympic Committees, International and National Federations of Sports, Sports Councils and Ministries, Brands, Sports Franchises, Sector Suppliers and Academia. 

The IWG Global Summit offers access to world-class expertise, effective strategies, and influential networks that have the potential to accelerate progress. It presents a distinctive opportunity to: 

• Access global best practice in advancing women and girls sport. 
• Network with leaders from across the sports systems around the globe. 
• Access cutting-edge research, case studies and practical strategies. 

If you are interested as a delegate or as a potential event sponsor further information can be found via: www.iwgglobalsummit2026.org.

LTA Annual Report and Accounts show growth of tennis and padel in 2025

The LTA has published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2025. With the launch of a new grass court calendar, record high participation figures and strong performances from British players on the professional tours, 2025 was a successful year for British tennis, despite ongoing financial uncertainty and competition from other sports and leisure activities.

Financial results

The LTA entered 2025 with uncertainty resulting from the new grass court calendar, including the staging of a new high-profile WTA 500 event at The Queen’s Club, and the expiry of a number of existing commercial deals.

Through prudent financial management, increased commercial returns (revenue up 37%) and strong performances from the LTA’s own events (revenue up 24%) the Group was able to make additional investment in participation, performance and marketing activities during the year, as well as donating £3m to the LTA Tennis Foundation in support of our aligned vision of Tennis Opened Up.

The Championships at Wimbledon, organised by a joint Committee of Management on behalf of both the LTA and AELTC, act as a showcase for British tennis and provides important funds for the British game, used to support the LTA’s initiatives from grassroots to professional tennis. 

In 2025, there was a fall in the surplus received from the Wimbledon Championships of 4% compared to the previous year.  The surplus income received from the Championships makes up 46.5% of the LTA’s income this year down from nearly 60% in 2018 as the LTA’s other revenues have grown at a faster rate.

Overall, the LTA Group reported an operating profit of £0.3m at year end, compared to a loss of £6.7m in 2024. The LTA is a not-for-profit organisation and each year aims to invest as much of its revenue back into its operations as possible, in order to drive the biggest impact and growth in tennis and padel.  Nevertheless, there remain challenges for 2026 and beyond including; increasing costs in staging major events, inflation risks in the wider economic environment, and a strong need to continue to invest in facilities, participation initiatives and the player pathway.

The percentage of the LTA’s income derived from the Wimbledon Championships remains critical to its ability to support British Tennis.  In the year ahead the LTA remains committed to actively and successfully exploring opportunities for revenue growth from new sources, including investment opportunities, to ensure that tennis in Britain can continue to compete with other sports domestically and other leading tennis nations.    

Read the full report

Courtesy: LTA

Padel and Pickleball News

Lyndhurst

A golf club faces having to demolish padel courts after planning chiefs refused a retrospective application for the unauthorised development. Hamptworth Golf and Country Club had already completed construction of a 37-metre-wide building housing indoor padel courts, along with four outdoor courts, before submitting the planning application to the New Forest National Park Authority. Work started on the padel courts at the site in Hamptworth on June 14 last year.

The authority has now refused permission, only three months after an enforcement notice was issued to the New Forest golf club concerning the courts. Planning officers ruled the building would cause “detrimental and harmful” damage to the “protected landscape’s character and tranquillity”, introducing excessive development into the National Park.

The club argued the facility was needed to secure its long-term viability, explaining that it employs 24 people and serves as an important local amenity. However, Landford Parish Council pushed for refusal, stating the development did not require a countryside location and would have “adverse impacts on the special qualities of the National Park”.

Neighbouring residents complained about light pollution from the 6.2-metre high floodlights and noise from the courts. Those using the courts can be heard from properties more than 140 metres away, the decision notice said.

Planning officers concluded the development could not be considered a “limited extension” of the golf club as the padel and tennis courts offered a “completely unrelated, diversified provision” that could operate independently of the golf course. The plans were refused on May 15. The club has six months to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate. If an appeal fails or is not lodged, the enforcement notice – issued on February 10 – will require removal of all structures to restore the site to its former condition.

Stoke on Trent

An ‘underused’ skateboard park at a recreation ground is set to be replaced with padel courts. Pointon Park has submitted plans to remove the skate park at the Felthouse Lane site and construct two outdoor padel courts in its place. Objectors and leisure officers have raised concerns over the loss of a free facility for young people and its replacement with a paid-for facility aimed primarily at adults. But the Pointon Park charitable company, which runs the site, says there has been ‘relatively little interest’ in the skate park since it opened 12 years ago, and that recently it has become a magnet for graffiti and anti-social behaviour.

Planning officers believe the application complies with policy and that the new padel courts will help sustain the park as a whole.

Leeds

Padel courts could be built on top of a city centre multi-storey car park in Leeds if plans are agreed. Developers behind the Merrion Centre have submitted proposals to the council for eight rooftop courts at the shopping complex. Applicant Town Centre Securities said the scheme would support the rapid growth of the sport in the city.
The development would result in the loss of 128 spaces at the car park, which currently has room for around 960 vehicles.

According to the plans, the courts would be created on the eighth floor of the 1960s car park, close to student accommodation, restaurants and shops. Seven indoor courts would be housed in a detached aluminium-framed structure at the site, with one outdoor court, a reception area, bar and shower facilities also included

The planning report said the scheme would promote healthier lifestyles and represented “a sustainable and appropriate form of development within a highly accessible city centre location”. Leeds City Council is considering a full planning application which is out for consultation until 3 June.

The post Industry News – May 2026 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

The 2026 Spring Forum, sponsored by Pinsent Masons was rated a thought provoking and networking success by attendees. A new format was adopted this year to enable more discussion and input from attendees so that everyone could learn from different experiences and opinions. The Forum had a focus on Padel and on new technology, using key facilitators to provoke debate.

Ray Algar of Oxygen Consulting looked at the long-term sustainability of Padel, given the rapid increase in built and planned Padel facilities. Sharon Orrell of the LTA (supported by Tom Murray and Steve Yeardley) considered the impact of Padel on tennis and tennis clubs and Brian Flasck of Zenniz UK highlighted how modern technology can help clubs streamline operations and boost member engagement.

Annual General Meeting / Summer Social

TIA Members are reminded that this year’s AGM will take place at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre on Thursday July 2nd at 10.30. A buffet lunch will be provided for all attendees after the formalities. Papers for the meeting will be circulated to all members in early June

Wimbledon passes

The LTA has again kindly provided a number of ground tickets to the Championships for TIA Industry members on Thursday July 2nd. If you wish to request a ticket, get in touch with phil@tiauk.org as soon as possible. Tickets are allocated on a first come first serve basis and are only available if the person requesting the ticket is also attending the TIA AGM at the National Tennis Centre on the same day

Zenniz Smart Court

Zenniz, the complete Smart Tennis Court System is the newest member of TIA. Zenniz is a single platform to engage players, elevate coaching and to grow your club’s revenue. The system enhances every practice and match with real time performance tracking, electronic line calling and immersive video in one system.

Brian Flasck is its UK Manager who facilitated the discussion on new technology at the TIA’s recent Spring Forum. He would be pleased to speak to any rackets club or venue that wants to generate revenue and boost player engagement

www.zenniz.com

Croeso i Abertawe

Welcome to Swansea Tennis Centre – the newest addition to our growing list of Operator Members. One of the first ITI centres built in the 1980’s it has 4 indoor acrylic and 4 all weather outdoor floodlit courts. With the Council facing financial challenges in 2011, users and volunteers formed Tennis Swansea 365, a not-for-profit organisations that operates the centre and provides tennis and multi-sport opportunities for the people of Swansea.

As well as a true ‘pay and play’ community operation, the centre is also home to Swansea Tennis Academy, an LTA accredited performance programme which has a reputation for producing national and international players through high quality training, strength and conditioning and tournament support programmes.

01792 650484
enquiries@swanseatenniscentre.co.uk

LTA Tennis Foundation generates over £21m of social value in 2025

THE LTA Tennis Foundation has published its latest Annual Report, showcasing the charity’s work and impact throughout 2025. With support from its learning and evaluation partner, Bean Research, it received the first full set of impact data from its Grant Making Framework. The results highlight the scale of the charity’s impact, with more than £21m of social value generated in 2025.

Tim Lawler MBE, LTA Tennis Foundation Chair of Trustees, said: “It has been an amazing year for the LTA Tennis Foundation. In a short space of time, we have seen outstanding impact generated through our funding, driven by an incredible network of partners. I hope you enjoy reading more about the difference achieved together. Thank you to everyone who continues to support our work to improve lives through tennis.”

Further details and the full Annual Report can be found on the newly-launched LTA Tennis Foundation website. 

Curtesy ‘Charity Today’

East Glos and West Worthing clubs honoured at the 2026 LTA Awards, presented by Lexus

First launched in 2015 the LTA Awards honour the extraordinary contributions of volunteers, coaches, officials and players who give their time, energy and expertise to grow the game of tennis and padel at every level. More than 3,000 nominations were submitted across 14 award categories, reflecting the depth of talent, service and innovation within British tennis and padel.

The Club of the Year award, went to TIA Operator member East Glos Club for growing their membership and coaching programme, as well as diversifying their playing offer by integrating padel courts within the venue.

And another TIA Member, The West Worthing Club was given the ‘Protect Where We Play’ Award, recognised for outstanding commitment in setting the standard for environmental sustainability in sport, reducing the carbon footprint and safeguarding community spaces.

“It was great to win this award,” said Carole Naunton, Volunteer Director at the Club. “Tennis clubs can be quite energy-intensive, especially with things like floodlighting. Support from the LTA, such as funding for LED lighting, can really help reduce costs. We’ve also installed solar panels, which are saving us around £30,000 a year in energy bills. That’s made a huge difference, allowing us to reinvest into facilities and run more participation events.”

The LTA Awards, presented by Lexus, celebrate the passion, dedication and impact of the people who make tennis and padel thrive across Britain.

Curtesy: The LTA

US Tennis Participation Report 2025

The 2025 US tennis Participation Report was published this month – here are some key 2024 numbers

Curtesy: USTA

Padel and Pickleball News

The following is an extract from a recent article from the European Business Magazine

The Padel Gold Rush – key takeaways on the Padel Economy

• The 24-Month ROI: Premium indoor clubs are reaching break-even in record time due to high-density court layouts.
• The €6B Valuation: The global industry has tripled in value since 2022, driven by massive infrastructure expansion in the UK, Germany, and the US.
• Daily club openings in 2022 was 3 per day increasing to an average of 9 per day in 2026

Why Padel Works as a Business

The economics of padel are unusually attractive. A padel court is cheaper to build than a tennis court, requires less space, and accommodates four players simultaneously. This generates significantly higher revenue per square meter because courts can be booked across twelve to fourteen hours a day.

For investors who understand subscription economics, padel clubs have an immediately recognisable financial profile: high frequency of use, a loyal local customer base, and predictable booking revenue.

Where the Money Is Going

Qatar Sports Investments (QSI)—the group that owns Paris Saint-Germain—has been the most prominent institutional backer through Premier Padel. Their involvement reflects a pattern of sovereign capital treating padel as a strategic media asset.

While Spain remains the “Capital of Padel” with over 17,300 courts, the geography is widening. Italy has surpassed 10,000 courts, and the UK saw a record-breaking 2025, surpassing the 1,000-court landmark. In the US, while still in the early stages, player participation surged to over 500,000 this year, with a massive pipeline of “Tech-Hub” clubs slated for 2027. Just as smart money is hunting for the “Next Wrexham,” institutional investors are realizing padel offers a cleaner, more predictable exit strategy than professional football.

Who Is Playing Padel — and Why

Over 35 million people now play padel worldwide, across more than 130 countries. The demographic profile is unusually broad for a racket sport — 40% of players are women, one of the highest female participation rates in any competitive sport, and 54% of players are aged 26 and above. It spans office workers booking Friday evening courts and elite footballers unwinding after training. Jürgen Klopp famously used padel sessions with his coaching staff to brainstorm tactics. David Beckham, Messi and Neymar are all regulars. Serena Williams has picked up a racket. Celebrity association has accelerated mainstream adoption in ways that most sports take decades to achieve.

The reason people play comes down to three things: accessibility, sociability and the 92% return rate — meaning nine out of ten people who try it once come back. Unlike tennis, which requires years of practice before a rally feels satisfying, padel’s enclosed glass walls mean the ball stays in play far longer. Beginners can have a genuinely enjoyable game within an hour of picking up a racket. It is always played in doubles, which makes it inherently social — a workout and a social occasion in one. Players burn 500–700 calories per hour, which keeps the fitness crowd engaged. The combination of low barrier to entry, high enjoyment, and strong community culture is what drives retention — and what makes padel’s growth feel structural rather than seasonal.

The Technology Layer

What distinguishes the current “Padel Gold Rush” from a simple property play is the technology infrastructure. Booking platforms like Playtomic now influence 37% of all club engagement, turning venues into data-rich businesses.

We are also seeing a “Hardware-to-Software” revenue loop. Smart rackets with embedded sensors from brands like Bullpadel and Head allow players to analyze their game via AI coaching apps. In Europe, this tech-forward approach is merging with the banking revolution. Tier-1 clubs are increasingly transitioning to Wero to bypass the high fees of legacy US card giants, finding an “invisible” 100-basis-point margin improvement in the process.

The Olympic Question and the Horizon

Padel’s governing bodies are actively pursuing inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. If successful, current valuations will look conservative. The sport that began as a workaround for a lack of space is rapidly running out of ceiling. For investors, the question is no longer whether padel is a real asset class. It is whether they got in early enough.

Curtesy: European Business Magazine

Powerleague secures £22.5m financing to drive expansion of its padel plans

Powerleague Fives has secured a £22.5m refinancing package from Barclays to support the expansion of its rapidly growing padel business. Some of the funding will also be invested in its football facilities. Powerleague – the UK’s largest operator of small-sided football venues – said it will use the funding to develop new padel courts, regenerate existing football pitches, enhance off-pitch facilities and “improve the overall player experience” at sites nationwide.

Michael Evans, CFO of Powerleague Fives, said: “We have been working with Barclays – and specifically its Hospitality and Leisure team – for the past four years. They have been incredibly supportive of the business’s growth plans as Powerleague has transformed from a company emerging from a CVA into a business now facilitating more than 150,000 games every week.

Powerleague currently operates 44 clubs across the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Curtesy: Powerleague

The post Industry News – April 2026 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

Our annual Spring Forum sponsored by Pinsent Masons takes place on Thursday April 23rd at 30 Crown Place, Earl Street EC2A 4ES. Coffee from 10.15 / Forum between 11.00 and 13.00 / Network lunch between 13.00 and 14.30

The event takes for the form of a roundtable discussion with all contributions welcomed. The key themes and their facilitators are:

Ray Algar, Managing Director, Oxygene Consulting on the long-term financial sustainability of padel if significant facility development produces a sharp reduction in court pricing

Brian Flasck, UK Manager Zenniz on how modern tech can help clubs streamline operations, generate revenue, and boost player engagement

Key Executives from the LTA on whether padel is impacting the sustainability of tennis and what the LTA is learning from the popularity of padel to support overall tennis growth

There are a few places left for this free event – if you wish to reserve a place contact phil@tiauk.org immediately

Grass court maintenance course

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has introduced a new on-line training course: ‘Introduction to tennis grass court maintenance’.

The course has 3 modules all designed to give participants a new understanding or to build upon current knowledge in this specialist area. The modules incorporate: requirements of tennis grass courts and personnel / court and player requirements / introduction to Performance Quality Standards / maintenance activities / machinery and settings / safe use / storage and safe disposal / application and effects of incorrect use

Cost is £52.00 for GMA members and £74.00 for non-members (including VAT)

LTA One Team Bulletin

The LTA’s Spring 2026 edition of its One Team Bulletin is now available online.

If any TIA Industry Members supporting local tennis activity have a suitable story to post on the LTA’s Bulletin, let phil@tiauk.org know

AGM / Summer Social

Our AGM and Summer Social will be at The LTA’s National Tennis Centre on Thursday July 2nd. As usual the AGM will be followed by a networking lunch. The LTA has again kindly provided a number of ground tickets for Wimbledon to be allocated to those full members attending the AGM. If you plan to attend the AGM and would like to be allocated a ground pass for the afternoon, please contact phil@tiauk.org as soon as possible

Padel and Pickleball News

Nottingham

Plans to turn a former industrial unit into a padel centre have been given the go-ahead.
Nottingham City Council’s planning committee approved an application on Wednesday from Meadow Lane Services to redevelop a former metal fabrication site on Lenton Lane, next to Clifton Boulevard. According to planning documents, the centre will consist of eight padel tennis courts, a fitness studio and a cafe, along with 58 parking spaces.

Bury

JD Sports is to build a new sports pavilion with padel courts. The major sports fashion brand is set to get the greenlight on a brand new sports pavilion, featuring a gym and padel courts on its work campus in Bury. JD Sports Fashion Plc wants to create an exercise haven in the middle of Pilsworth Industrial Estate.

The scheme includes a canteen, cafe, and indoor gym, alongside outdoor features such as a multi-use pitch, two padel courts, and a running track. Plans submitted to Bury Council at the end of last year say they would bring ‘economic and social benefits’ to a currently disused plot of land at the junction of Hollins Brook Way and Pilsworth Road.

Cleethorpes

Padel courts are planned for the former Cleethorpes zoo. An application for five outdoor padel courts at the former Jungle Zoo site, off Kings Road, have been submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council. The plans include a clubhouse which will be built using shipping containers. It will house a pay station, changing rooms, toilets and storage facilities. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, four of the proposed courts would be covered by a canopy to allow use all year round. The proposal has been submitted on behalf of East Coast Padel, which operates a similar facility in Hull.

Melton

Plans to convert a workshop building into a sports and wellbeing hub have been given the go-ahead.

Melton Borough Council approved proposals for six padel courts, a pilates and yoga studio, a wellness clinic and coffee shop in the former Pera Innovation research and development workshop in Melton, Leicestershire.

Planning documents submitted on behalf of the applicant, Obstrat Limited, said the hub would “enhance the attractiveness, competitiveness and long-term resilience” of the Pera Business Park. The workshop, built in the 1960s, was most recently used as a recycling pilot plant, documents said. They added that the workshop was in “need of investment to maintain it”.

The post Industry News – March 2026 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

2026 Spring Forum

Our 2026 Spring Forum sponsored by Pinsent Masons will feature a refreshed format, prioritising structured debate and maximising contributions from attendees. The programme will centre on several key emerging topics across the tennis, padel and pickleball sectors, with discussions led by invited subject‑matter specialists. Final details of speakers and themes will be confirmed shortly.

The Forum will take place on Thursday, 23 April, at the offices of Pinsent Masons in central London. Coffee is at 10.00 and proceedings will run from 11:00 to 13:00, followed by a networking lunch.

Formal invitations will be issued shortly to all TIA members and selected guests. However, those wishing to secure early participation are encouraged to reserve a place by contacting phil@tiauk.org, as capacity will be limited under the new event structure.

New face at CopriSystems

CopriSystems has announced Nick Harrison as their new CSO for sport. Experienced in sports technology, education and brand visibility at elite level, Nick brings a fresh and exciting approach to the table and his passion for delivering innovative solutions is what makes him a good match for the team at CopriSystems.

Whether looking to build tennis and/or padel courts from scratch or enhance existing multi-court facilities, CopriSystems can provide you with the covering technology you need, designed to your exact specifications. As Principal Contractors, approved by SAPCA, they can also offer a full turnkey project solution, preparing the groundworks, court surfacing, changing room fit-outs and installing the internal fixtures to create the optimum environment for play.

Whether you opt for a fully enclosed structure with retractable side walls, an open canopy, a dutch-style barn or are repurposing a disused warehouse, CopriSystems has over 35 years’ experience and plenty of expertise to create flexible spaces that inspire people to play and are comfortable to play in, no matter what the weather or time of day.

nick.harrison@coprisystems.com

Zenniz joins TIA

Brian Flasck, Zenniz UK Manager is excited about the increasing role of technology in sport and for tennis in particular. To help players better understand and improve their game, there are now smart tennis court solutions designed for just that purpose. Providing video replay, shot statistics, and match analytics, and more, these new technologies are helping players analyse their game like never before. What was once reserved for elite professionals is now available to any tennis club.

Since 2017, Zenniz has been providing clubs advanced, AI-powered solutions that transform tennis courts into data-driven smart tennis courts that help players and coaches. Popular features of Zenniz include:

• Video Replay: HD video recording, cutting out the dead time between points, allowing you to filter replay by shot type, outcome, view in slow-motion and even live-stream online.
• Performance Analytics: Tracks every shot, providing detailed data on shot placement, speed, consistency, net clearance, and movement patterns
• Automated Line Calling: Uses a combination of cameras and audio technology to provide instant, accurate, and fair in/out calls which is certified by the ITF.
• Interactive Coaching Drills: Provides drills and practice modes giving players and coaches real-time feedback and measurable data to help players track progress and improve skills.

Players access everything via their Zenniz app on their phone, enabling them to analyse their match at any time, such as when sitting on the sofa or riding the train.  Reviewing past matches and preparing for the next time on court is what players and coaches appreciate most about Zenniz.

To learn more about how Zenniz can elevate the tennis experience at your club, please reach out to Brian Flasck at brian@zenniz.com.

Plans for sweeping Australian Open changes

Tennis Australia has “plans to push for a series of transformational changes” to the Australian Open, including “making women’s matches best-of-five sets, rather than best of three, from the quarterfinals onward.” Other proposed changes include “remaking the look of the tennis court, beginning with getting rid of the umpire’s chair,” replacing it with a “seat on the side of the court.” TA said “beginning next year, the player benches will change into mini performance centers.” They will have “heating and cooling technology, the ability to measure a player’s physical condition, and screens that might give players access to the same data the coaches have, if the rules on data collection are adjusted to allow it.”

Curtesy: The Athletic

Craig Tiley moves to the US

Craig Tiley has been appointed as the new chief executive of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) after 13 years at Tennis Australia. Former Australian Open tournament director and Tennis Australia chief executive Tiley will replace Lew Sherr, who has joined Major League Baseball’s New York Mets. South African Tiley, 64, will formally assume his responsibilities at USTA later this year after helping to ensure a smooth transition of leadership at Tennis Australia.

Calling all Golfers!

Come and support the TIA UK’s official charity and enjoy a great day of golf with colleagues or friends at the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust’s annual fundraising Golf Challenge.
This year being held at a new venue – Sundridge Park Golf Club in Bromley on Wednesday 29th April.  Open to teams or three or four and individuals, the day comprises a shotgun start for 18 holes of golf, hospitality including an after golf meal, an auction with amazing prizes conducted by the entertaining Marcus Buckland and in the presence of special guests including the Trust’s President Dame Elaine Paige.

The main purpose of the day is fundraising to support disabled people who play tennis via DMTT’s grant aid programme and is the Trust’s major event of the year. For further information please contact Gilly@dmtt.org.uk and see its website page.

If you are unable to come on the day but have something from your business you would like to donate as an auction or raffle prize, either for the Golf Day or another of our fundraising events, please let Gilly know.

LTA Tennis Foundation announces new grants awarded to improve lives through tennis

LTA Tennis Foundation (LTA TF) has just completed its fifth grant funding round, awarding £1.6m in grants to 22 organisations. This round saw the highest number of applications to date, reflecting the growing demand for organisations seeking to use tennis to make a positive social impact.

Reflecting on the latest grant round, Tom Gibbins, Head of Foundation Development said: “We are delighted to welcome so many new partners to the LTA Tennis Foundation through this latest round of funding, and to continue supporting existing partners as they grow their programmes and deepen their impact.

“This is our fifth funding round, and the significant increase in applications shows both the need and the appetite to use the power of tennis to improve lives. We’re excited to work alongside our new and returning partners and to see the positive changes these funded programmes will create for people and communities across Britain.” 

Full list of grantees:

• Bright Ideas for Tennis  
• Community Action Derby  
• Dan Maskell Tennis Trust  
• EA Tennis Group CIC t/a National Tennis Association 
• Give it Your Max  
• Global Diabetes Initiatives 
• Greenhouse Sports 
• The Hertfordshire Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders
• International Community Organisation of Sunderland
• Karmabank CIC 
• Kingsbury School Sports Partnership CIC 
• Krimmz Girls Youth Club 
• Rackets Cubed 
• Single Homeless Project 
• Sport in Mind 
• Stoke City Foundation 
• Strike9 C.I.C. 
• The Coalfields Regeneration Trust 
• The Federation of London Youth Clubs 
• The Queen’s Club Foundation 
• Tim Henman Foundation

Padel and Pickleball News

According to Playomic (a racket sports booking platform) there are at least 1220 padel courts in Britain compared to just 69 in 2019. Bookings on its padel platform have grown from 16K – 25K per month in 2023 to 175K – 200K throughout 2025.

Source: The Sunday Times

2026 UK Padel Player Survey

Oxygen Consulting (publisher of the UK Padel Report) is conducting this independent player survey to help padel in the UK move from rapid growth to sustainable, accessible participation.

As more courts and venues open, the sport benefits from additional player-led evidence on what leads to regular play, what gets in the way, and how factors such as price, availability, venue experience, and court type influence participation. Your responses will inform insights shared with venue operators, local authorities, sports organisations, and investors shaping the next phase of padel in the UK.

To ensure players’ voices are represented in UK-wide research on padel. Your input will help influence clearer priorities for how the sport develops.

It takes less than 10 minutes to complete and the findings and insight will be shared in the forthcoming edition UK Padel Report.

Three £50 Amazon vouchers up for grabs as well if you complete and submit the survey.

Slazenger Padel Clubs

Stuart Perris, MD of Slazenger Padel Clubs for the Fraser Group has announced growth plans for 2026, which he hopes will result in 150+ courts nationally. 2 developments are confirmed for Mansfield (12 courts) and Leeds South (14 courts) with further expansion in key UK cities including Cardiff, Exeter, Hull, Liverpool, York and Gillingham.

Warrington

A Warrington hotel has been given the approval to restore two disused outdoor courts to join the padel tennis craze. Full planning permission was sought from Warrington Borough Council’s planning department for land to the rear of Village Hotel, located on Centre Park. The hotel chain wants to convert the existing tennis court area to accommodate five padel tennis courts with a cover.

The post Industry News – February 2026 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

The Tennis Industry Association UK (TIAUK) has produced its latest Industry Report 2025/26, highlighting key themes and issues in tennis, padel and pickleball. The report includes several case studies demonstrating how leading clubs have implemented practical solutions to address some sector-wide challenges. In addition, it provides contact details of all its members supporting tennis, padel and pickleball in the UK with top-class products and services.

Download the report here

Printed copies of the report are free and can be ordered via phil@tiauk.org

£1750 raised for TIA’s official charity

The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust was the recipient of £1750 raised from an auction at the 2025 Tennis Industry Xmas Lunch, sponsored by Padel XTRA. Items included a tennis ball signed by Carlos Alcaraz, a pair of Eclipson tennis shoes signed by Hubert Hurkacz (donated by Yonex), framed prints of tennis cartoons, a signed Tim Henman shirt and a signed copy of dame Elaine Paige’s book ‘Memories’. Price of Bath also donated tennis ball Xmas baubles for the festive occasion.

Dame Elaine entertained the audience with some great memories from the entertainment and tennis worlds, ably assisted as usual by the event’s Master of Ceremonies, Marcus Buckland. Held at the prestigious Queen’s Club for the eighth consecutive year, attendance was the largest ever for this annual event.

One Team Bulletin

Access the Autumn Edition of the LTA’s ‘One Team Bulletin’

All England Tennis Club extends 36-year IBM deal with AI at core of plans

The deal announced in December will see IBM continue to develop digital experience for fans of Wimbledon. IBM will continue to take the lead role developing artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud for the tournament in its role as digital transformation partner. The long-standing relationship has seen IBM introduce rudimentary stats for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) in the early 1990s, the first website for Wimbledon grand slams in 1995, and the initial use of AI in 2017.

Now, IBM’s Watson AI, sitting in IBM Cloud, is personalising content in a bid to encourage fans who try out digital platforms to do so again and again. Usama Al-Qassab, commercial director of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, emphasised the importance of IBM’s AI technology: “As we look to attract the next generation of Wimbledon fans from around the world, the AI-powered capabilities of IBM will be key to ensuring our future digital experiences are relevant, personalised and engaging.”

To grow revenue through sponsorship, ticket and merchandise sales and more, the industry must attract more spectators and increase interactions with existing fans. Two digital initiatives at AELTC – Likelihood to Win and Match Chat – drove a 16% rise in fan engagement with the Wimbledon tournament in 2025. Match Chat is built using IBM’s Watsonx AI technologies, including a collection of artificial intelligence agents and large language models (LLMs) trained on the Wimbledon editorial style and tennis jargon. The Likelihood to Win tool uses AI to offer fans a projection of which player is most likely to win, with probabilities dynamically updated throughout matches.

According to IBM, 20 million fans closely followed all the grass court action via the app and website last year, with the app seeing a 19% increase in engagement. IBM commissioned Morning Consult to produce a global survey, which engaged more than 20,000 fans across 12 countries. The survey found that 86% of tennis fans worldwide see value in AI-powered features such as real-time insights and personalised highlights. More than half said they wanted AI-driven commentary and insights for all events, whether past, present or future. Around one in five tennis fans said they use apps tailored to the sport, with fans significantly more likely to reach for apps while attending a sports event.

Curtesy: Computer Weekly

Dates for the Diary

• SAPCA Annual Conference and Awards Dinner – Thursday 26th February 2026
  sapca.org.uk
• Grounds Management Association Industry Awards – Thursday 12th March 2026
  thegma.org.uk
• SAPCA AGM – Thursday 19th March
• TIA Spring Forum – Thursday 23rd April 2026 – details available soon
• TIA Summer Social and AGM – Thursday 2nd July 2026
• TIA 2026 Tennis Industry Xmas Lunch – Wednesday 2nd December 2026

Padel and Pickleball News

Hounslow

Hounslow Council is moving forward with plans to deliver a total of six new padel courts to the Council’s racquet sports offer, at two of the Council’s leisure centres. Hanworth and Isleworth Leisure Centres plan to convert 2 of their 4 tennis courts to 3 padel courts at each site.  The estimated capital cost for the new courts is £950,000 and the projected additional income across the two leisure centres is £1.4 million.

It is currently estimated that the new courts will be available for spring/summer 2027 and Council partner, Lampton Leisure, will manage the new offer on behalf of the Council.

Council’s current usage data shows a significant decline in tennis participation, with court occupancy falling by 27 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels. The Council believes this presents an opportunity to repurpose existing assets to meet changing community needs and preferences.

Hull

Plans for a pickleball centre have been approved in Hull. The new courts will be built in an empty industrial unit in Sutton Fields. The application is by We Do Tennis CIC, which has numerous sites across the country and also runs pickleball sessions in East Yorkshire.

We Do Tennis said: “Pickleball is massive in America, and we’ve seen the same incredible momentum building here in the UK”

Radlett

7 indoor padel courts are planned at the Encourt Padel and Wellness Club in Ventura Park, Radlett, Herts

Sunderland

True Padel Sunderland has agreed to expand into the adjacent unit at Adderstone Group’s Wessington Retail Park, enabling the club to significantly expand its offer and meet rapidly growing demand.

True Padel currently occupies a 23,000 sq. ft. unit at Wessington Retail Park, housing five doubles courts and two singles courts, alongside café, lounge and function spaces. The expansion will see the club grow to over 33,000 sq. ft., creating space for the addition of four new padel courts or eleven courts in total as well as the introduction of specialist padel physiotherapy services.

Once complete in Spring 2026, the expanded facility will make True Padel Sunderland the largest dedicated indoor padel club in the North East and one of the largest indoor padel centres in the UK, significantly increasing its capacity to accommodate players and expand its programme of sessions and activities.

The post Industry News – January 2026 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

New TIA report due out next week!

Our Industry Report for 25/26 is due to be published next week. The report includes insight into the tennis, padel and pickleball market with an update from the LTA on its participation statistics. The report also includes a directory of all TIA members

Copies of the report will be sent to members and key contacts and a digital version of the report will be available to download via the TIA website in the new year

www.tiauk.org

International tennis week is worth £5m to Eastbourne

The LTA’s Lexus Eastbourne Open bought in £5m of economic benefit to the town in 2025, representing an increase of 3.5% on the previous year. The revelation comes in a report using the industry gold standard methodology “EventImpacts” to calculate the total amount of new money injected into the local economy of a city or town by visitors (spectators, players and event staff) attending an event.

Some of the benefits identified include:

43% of tournament spectators stay overnight, which is by far the biggest percentage of visitors to one of the LTA’s summer grass court events. Total nights (39,301) for people attending or working the event is worth £3.6m to the local accommodation sector.

There was a 3% increase in spectators staying in the hotel sector: 24% of total spectators and attendees, compared to 21% in 2024.

14,446 spectators visited Eastbourne just for the day (representing a 2.6% increase year on year).

This year saw more than 46,283 total spectators watched in person – making it globally one of the best attended in its category on both the ATP and WTA Tour

Non-spectators (event staff / players / those on site who were not ‘spectating’) had a total non-accommodation spend of £448,010 (which was a 45% increase on 2024).

Curtesy Sussex World

Wimbledon to get exemption from ticket resale crackdown

Wimbledon will be given an exemption from the clampdown on ticket resales for its “debenture” tickets, in what would be a victory for the organisers of the annual tennis tournament.

The championship organisers, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), had previously said ministers’ proposed ban on reselling tickets for more than face value would prevent it from being able to reinvest debenture proceeds in maintenance of its facilities.

Recently, the government officially confirmed the ban on for-profit resale of tickets.

However, in response to a consultation on the issue, it recommended “narrow” exemptions for charity resales and debentures.

Debentures guarantee the ticket holder a seat on either Centre Court or No 1 Court for every day of the tournament for five years, along with the use of certain restaurants and bars. The holder is allowed to sell or transfer the ticket if they are unable to attend Wimbledon, allowing them to recover some of the cost, which can be as high as £116,000.

Almost 3,800 debenture seats are available across Centre Court and No 1Court for the five-year period starting next year, and these can be bought and sold privately or via a stockbroker.

The championships’ organiser has said its debenture programme is always oversubscribed and allows Wimbledon to have a general admission price lower than those of other international tournaments. In 2025, a daily grounds pass cost £30, giving access to lower courts and public viewing areas.

The AELTC received £61.7m for the first instalment in its issue of 2,520 debentures for the 2026-30 period, with further instalments due in February 2025 and February 2026, according to its most recent annual report. It said it would use debenture proceeds to pay off part of a loan.

Under the government’s proposals, reselling tickets for profit on the secondary market is to be outlawed, as part of a long-awaited crackdown on touts and resale platforms such as Viagogo and StubHub.

Curtesy: The Guardian

Padel and Pickleball News

Peterborough

Plans to make an empty warehouse into a padel centre have been approved by Peterborough City Council. Smash Haus Padel Ltd was given permission on 4 November to construct four padel courts in an empty warehouse.

The venue will have a reception area, toilets and a storage area for nets and kit on the ground floor, as well as a small refreshment area for drinks and light snacks. It is the third padel development to be approved in Peterborough over the past few months, with others in the process of being built in Stanground and the Peterborough One Retail Park.

Smash Haus Padel’s planning application stated: “Given the identified shortfall in provision within the city, the proposal will improve the range of leisure facilities potentially creating the first padel courts available to use within Peterborough.
“This will assist in promoting the image of the city given the high demand for courts and to attract visitors to the city who wish to play.”

The post Industry News – November 2025 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

It’s that wonderful time of year again! A limited number of tickets are now available for our Annual Festive Lunch on Wednesday, December 3rd — hosted at the prestigious Queen’s Club, West Kensington. Enjoy a sparkling afternoon of delicious food, drinks, and great company as we celebrate the season in style.

Tickets: £90 + VAT for non-members (special discount for TIA members!)

To book your spot, email phil@tiauk.org — but hurry, tickets are limited!

Let’s raise a glass to the festive season together!

We are pleased to announce that Padel XTRA is our Xmas lunch sponsor this year. Will Wells, CEO, says it is a great opportunity ‘to celebrate all the brilliant people who make the tennis and padel racquet sports industry what it is’.

Padel XTRA is a premium padel club operator pioneering scalable growth across the UK and emerging international markets. At Padel XTRA, they’re on a mission to make padel the UK’s favourite racquet sport – alongside tennis, of course – and judging by their development pipeline, set to become a significant player.

Led by tennis industry veterans Jon Southcombe and Steve Matthews, alongside Team GB padel player Will Wells, Padel XTRA opened their first club this year 6,000 miles away in Vietnam, a country with only a handful of courts, in a city, DaNang, which had never seen padel! It’s been a hit with expats and tourists, whilst locals are now converting from pickleball to padel!

2026 will see a significant roll-out of new Padel XTRA clubs across the UK and are keen to look at suitable development sites, particularly alongside existing leisure facilities, clubs and parks.

www.padel-xtra.com

Spring Forum – Save the date

TIA UK Spring Forum for 2026 will be held on Thursday 23th April at the offices of Pinsent Masons. Look out for further details.

SAPCA Technical Conference

Our colleagues at SAPCA are holding its 2025 Technical Conference at the East Midlands Conference Centre, which sits within the Nottingham University campus on Thursday 27^th November between 9.30 and 16.00. The day offers opportunities to hear from experts within their fields and network with the sports and play construction industry. The day activities will be followed with an informal networking dinner.

Highlights this year will include:

• England International footballer, Karen Bardsley, talking about how excellence in facilities breeds excellence on the pitch
• Manchester City Heads of Grounds showing us the operations of a world class facility
• Richard Earl from TGMS will talk us through the recently released Sport England’s Natural Sportsturf Guidance
• Ed Hunt from UK Athletics will highlight developments in athletics
• Alastair Cox from the FIH will be show the work being done alongside FIFA on the multi-sport concept
• The ever-popular session from Prof. Paul Fleming on the latest research in sports surfacing from Loughborough University
• An update on the SAPCA Tennis Code of Practice

Further details and booking via the SAPCA website

The International Tennis Federation will change its name to “World Tennis” as of 2026.

The switch was ratified this month by member national tennis associations voting at the governing body’s annual general meeting. “The change will provide a clearer identity that is more relevant to players, fans, partners and tennis stakeholders around the world, and brings the brand in line with a majority of sport’s most prominent global governing bodies,” the ITF said in a statement. ITF president David Haggerty added: “World Tennis better reflects who we are today; the global governing body and guardian of tennis, working hard with our members to deliver tennis for life.”

Founded as the International Lawn Tennis Federation in Paris in 1913, the organisation became the International Tennis Federation in 1977.

Padel and Pickleball News

London

AT Sports’ RollX court made its debut in London this month to help grow the game of pickleball worldwide.  AT Sport’s Tracy Lynch was on-site to celebrate alongside Emmanuel Otu, ambassador for Pickleball Lambeth, who has been instrumental in helping grow the game across London. The RollX court was featured at Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) in London, where Lotto Sport hosted a pickleball event that showcased its portable court system.

Glasgow

Tennis stars including British number one Jack Draper have urged Glasgow City council not to turn indoor courts into padel courts. Glasgow Life, who run the council’s sport operations, intend to convert two of eight indoor courts at Scotstoun Leisure Centre into facilities for padel. However the plans have been criticised by Tennis Scotland. It says any move would harm development of young players.

Draper and Scotland’s British number three Jacob Fearnley are among the signatories to a letter sent from Tennis Scotland to the local authority. In the letter – Tennis Scotland’s chief executive Blane Dodds says existing and future tour-level events could disappear from the calendar if plans proceed.

Blane Dodds claims Tennis Scotland and their partners are willing to provide an interest-free loan for the creation of a four-court padel facility at Scotstoun, so that the eight-court indoor tennis arena can remain in situ. The letter states: “There is a need for more additional community-accessible indoor tennis courts in Glasgow, not fewer… the national strategy is to increase the number of indoor tennis courts. Removing indoors tennis courts is counter [to] this national strategy.”

Tennis Scotland say the two sports are not compatible to share facilities, and that “no evidence has been presented to show that a shared environment between tennis and padel is conducive to playing either sport”. Instead it proposes providing an interest-free loan to fund a four-court, covered padel facility on the grounds of Scotstoun and that it is confident any loan would be repaid within three years.

Curtesy: BBC News Scotland

Coventry

Coventry City Council is inviting experienced developers and operators of padel tennis to apply to take on a commercial lease to offer the sport in two key locations – War Memorial Park and Longford Park. This opportunity will see the successful applicant awarded a 15-year commercial lease at each site, subject to negotiation. The leases will cover each site for permitted use as padel courts, with the addition of food and beverage provision at Longford Park.

The Council seeks proposals from operators who can design, build and operate a minimum of four courts at each site. Applicants are encouraged to include Go CV pricing offer as part of their community access provisions. The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is 12 pm, Friday 14 November. Submissions must be made via the CSW-JETS portal.

Frinton on Sea

Long-established Frinton Lawn Tennis Club in Essex has set out plans to revamp its facilities to offer a greater range of racket sports to players. The club offers 24 tennis courts, six of which are uncovered hard courts and two courts under an air dome, two squash courts, a croquet lawn, as well as a gym and a swimming pool. The club has now revealed plans to turn two of its outside tennis courts into two padel courts.

Bury

Bury Council planners have approved an application from Love Padel Ltd for five new padel courts and a clubhouse on a former caravan centre in Radcliffe.

Wiltshire

Pure Padel has obtained approval for indoor and outdoor padel at Royal Wooton Bassett. The company claimed its new facility, which would come with a customer kiosk and canopies, would offer an “outdoor social space to foster a sense of community among padel players.”

The five indoor padel courts, two outdoor courts and nearby kiosk will be built at the Royal Wootton Bassett sports ground within the next three years. However, Wiltshire Council has specified that mitigation strategies to protect local trees must be followed, and a replacement playing field must be implemented and available for use before work on the courts can begin.

Glasgow

The Forge Retail Park Cineworld closed last year and Glasgow’s first indoor padel complex is set to replace it. Pure Padel has lodged planning applications to transform the sprawling 40,000 sq ft space into the city’s biggest indoor padel complex. It will boast a competition court alongside dining and drinking areas, plus social spaces. It will also mark the company’s most ambitious venue to date.

The post Industry News – October 2025 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.

Dame Elaine Paige to star at tennis industry event

This year, the annual Tennis Industry Xmas lunch will be attended by Dame Elaine Paige, award winning actress, singer, producer and radio presenter. Dame Elaine has made a unique and major contribution to the stage musical starring in more smash hit West End & Broadway musicals than anyone else of her generation. She has starred in many iconic shows such as Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Billy, Anything Goes, Piaf, Sunset Boulevard, The King & I, Sweeney Todd, Follies, Evita, Cats and Chess.

Dame Elaine’s passion for anything tennis is also well known and she has guided the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust (the TIA UK’s official charity) as its President since 2010.

Dame Elaine has defined musicals, set standards and in 1995 was awarded an OBE for services to Musical Theatre by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In June 2025 she was made a Dame for services to Music & Charity by His Majesty King Charles III.

The Xmas lunch will be held in the President’s Room at the prestigious Queen’s Club in West Kensington on Wednesday December 3rd. You are advised to reserve your place as soon as possible as spaces are limited and for the last 2 years the event has been oversubscribed!

Tickets can be reserved by emailing phil@tiauk.org

TIA Strategy re-fresh

The TIA UK’s original strategy covered the period 2017-2021 and was updated and extended in 2019 and 2022 to cover the period of the pandemic. With finance and membership emerging largely intact from the pandemic with a range of activities being maintained, the Board determined it would be useful for David Carpenter (former TIA Director) to review and update its strategy for the next 5 years 2025 – 2029.

Download the updated strategy

Professional Tennis and Transnational Law

Désirée Fields of TIA business partner Pinsent Masons, has contributed a chapter on the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of IP rights in tennis published by Cambridge University Press. The book is the FIRST EVER tennis law book and covers a variety of subjects in contractual and regulatory areas.

Download the publication

ITF names ‘Tie Break Tens’ as official partner in short format of sport

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has appointed Tie Break Tens (TB10) as its official partner in short-format tennis, with the format set to be integrated into the governing body’s Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) programme. Tie Break Tens is a format of tennis which is played in 10-point tiebreak matches, without games or sets, with the winner being the first player to reach 10 points and lead by a margin of two.

Tie Break Tens was launched in 2015 and has hosted 13 events, which have featured a number of high-profile players like Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Rafa Nadal, Iga Swiatek and Andy Murray. “TB10 will be integrated into the ITF’s JTI programme in select nations, ensuring that young players are introduced to the format from the very start of their tennis journey,” ITF said in a statement. Its recognition is understood to potentially allow the format to be included in the Olympic Games in the future alongside standard tennis.

Updates to Padel Code of Practice

The SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts has now been updated and can be downloaded (alongside all other codes) from the SAPCA website.

The code now has a new section on maintenance, which is key to ensuring that facilities remain in good condition and therefore fit and safe to use. Elsewhere, there are further enhancements to guidance regarding the design and construction of suitable base works for the UK market.

It is the second update to the code this year and follows the addition of information regarding the supply and construction of covered structures – such as canopies and tensile frame buildings – and guidance highlighting how site-specific designs are paramount.

Colin Corline, SAPCA’s Technical Lead, said: “The recent updates are an example of the importance of the SAPCA Codes of Practice – and the way they are kept relevant and updated to reflect best practice in a dynamic market.”

Padel and Pickleball News

Greenwich

A padel club’s plan to install four outdoor courts on empty land that used to be occupied by Eltham police station has been approved by Greenwich Council. Eltham police station, which was built in 1937 and closed in 2022, was knocked down soon after permission to demolish it was granted, but the plot has been vacant since then.

Alongside four floodlit courts, planning permission has been granted to the London Padel Club to build a bar/lounge and seating area, toilets and changing facilities, office space, storage, outdoor seating and parking for cars and bikes. Although the proposal has been approved, the application was only for temporary planning permission of five years, meaning the club only has permission to operate until 2030.

Greenwich Council has also received an application to build facilities for pickleball, another racquet sport that is growing in popularity. ClubPickle wants to build an indoor pickleball facility and clubhouse by the Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range. The Greenwich pickleball club would have 12 indoor courts alongside a clubhouse, café, toilets and showers. ClubPickle already operates one of London’s largest pickleball clubs in Acton, west London.

Hull

Plans to turn an industrial unit into an indoor pickleball centre has been submitted to Hull City Council. The application launched by We Do Tennis CIC proposes establishing eight indoor pickleball courts. We Do Tennis CIC has numerous sites across Yorkshire.

Edinburgh

Powerleague is to open a padel centre at its Edinburgh football centre. The new padel centre will operate on a pay and play model and will feature three covered courts following a £600,000 investment. Operating on a pay and play model it features three covered courts, allowing year-round play, as well as a viewing area and bar, with prices starting from £7 per person. The opening is part of Powerleague’s expansion into racket sports and follows the business’s announcement of a £2.2 million investment to develop its padel offering across the UK.

Earlier this year, Powerleague opened padel courts in Paisley, Birmingham, Manchester and Shoreditch. Christian Rose, CEO of Powerleague, commented: “Powerleague Edinburgh Portobello is already a vibrant hub for sport and community on Edinburgh’s coast, and our introduction of Padel is a fantastic addition to this.

Farnham

A 13-court indoor padel and pickleball centre is set for Farnham following a £2.75m investment. Work is underway on a new padel and pickleball centre in Farnham, Surrey, following a lease agreement between Rainier Developments and Hurlands Pickleball + Padel Club. The £2.75m project will provide 13 indoor courts – 10 for pickleball and three for padel – at the Farnham Trading Estate. Set to open in January 2026, the plans also include social spaces, yoga, Pilates studios, treatment rooms, changing facilities and a club shop.

Islington

A disused north London car park site could become padel courts. The UK’s first female-founded padel club could soon arrive in Islington after plans were submitted to transform a former car park site.

House of Racquet UK Ltd has filed an application with Camden Council to build four outdoor padel courts on the Black’s Road Hammersmith car park site in Tileyard Road. The application – with a total cost given as up to £2 million – outlines four enclosed courts plus service buildings including a café and toilets. While the planning application has not yet been approved, House of Racquet says it hopes for a decision by mid-October.

The post Industry News – September 2025 appeared first on Tennis Industry Association UK.