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.

Member Directory promotion to LTA registered tennis clubs

The 2025 TIA Tennis Club Business Report will include a directory of TIA Industry Members. The report will be promoted and available to download by the LTA’s 2,254 registered clubs and will also include operational best practice case studies from TIA Operator Members. The report will be published in November.

If you are an Industry Member and would like your company / services to be included as a free advertisement in the Directory, the deadline for receiving artwork is Friday September 26th. Please contact phil@tiauk.org for details.

LTA One Team Bulletin

Download The Summer Edition of the LTA’s One Team Bulletin.

Emma Wells Tennis

Emma Wells Tennis, operating 27 public park tennis venues across London, servicing some 35,000 active tennis players, has become an Operator Member of TIA. Founding the business in Wimbledon Park, Emma is also the first international director of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR).

Emma’s mission is to make tennis accessible to all. Her community‑first programs serve women and girls, players with disabilities, and underrepresented groups—using park spaces to drive health, wellbeing, and social connection. She also strives to inspire more females to get involved in the sport at every level—from grassroots participation to leadership in coaching and operations.

www.emmawellstennis.com

ITF appoints Ross Hutchins as new CEO

The ITF announced in August that Ross Hutchins has been appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer. Hutchins brings significant expertise to the position with his extensive presence over the past two decades across tennis and management. Formerly a professional tennis player, Olympian, Davis Cup player and Tournament Director, Hutchins has held various executive level roles at the ATP Tour over the past 11 years and will bring vast knowledge and experience to the ITF. Currently ATP Chief Sporting Officer, he will join tennis’ global governing body at the end of October 2025.

Hutchins will succeed Kelly Fairweather, who announced earlier this year that he would be standing down after nine years at the ITF. Ross Hutchins, said: “It is an honour to be joining the ITF at such a pivotal time for the sport, and I am delighted to be taking on the role. After an enjoyable and fulfilling 11 years at the ATP for which I am very grateful, the time is right for a new challenge. The breadth of the work the ITF undertakes is inspiring, with its continual goal to drive the sport forward across all levels of the game and I am extremely excited and energised for the challenge ahead.”

Source: ITF News : Image courtesy Tennis Threads

Padel and Pickleball News

Applicant Advantage Padel has submitted plans to to build a tennis facility on an industrial/warehouse unit in Christchurch, Dorset. However, the application has received several objections from residents who are raising concerns. Rival business PicklePad Pickleball and Padel Centre, said it is strongly objecting to application because their own facility meets the current market demand. A statement says: “The proposed development seeks to meet a demand that is already being adequately served…establishing a near-identical facility in such close proximity would primarily attract users from outside the immediate area.”

A British farmer has transformed one of his potato storage warehouses into a padel court as part of a diversification project. Callum Stark farms 3,000 acres near Sutton-on-the-Forest in North Yorkshire and said the decision was prompted by the lower prices he was getting for his crop.“We weren’t getting paid enough really for the potatoes,” he said. Although he continues to farm his land, the courts have proved popular and are already fully booked. Mr Stark urged other farmers to consider options for developing additional income to help support their main businesses.

Eleven new Padel courts are set to open in Merseyside, with the first location to be launched in the spring of 2026. Sefton Council has appointed Sefton Padel to lead on the development, delivery, and long-term operation of the new facilities. The council said it has agreed Heads of Terms for a partnership with the new company, to develop and manage Padel facilities at three sites across the borough. Subject to obtaining planning consent, the local authority also confirmed 11 new Padel courts will be developed as part of a six-figure investment programme. Furthermore, the council said some of the new courts will be covered to allow for year-round play. Additionally, the council said nine existing lawn tennis courts will be refurbished to improve facilities for tennis players.

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

The TIA UK Limited AGM took place at The National Tennis Centre on July 3rd. As per the Rules of the Association, delegates voted for the current Directors to serve for a further year, together with the Chairman and the Company Secretary.

It was agreed to increase the fees for all membership categories for next year (1st February 2026 to 31 January 2027) by approximately 3% to keep up with the increased costs of running the Association.

Following the AGM, an insightful presentation was given by Stuart Maidment, LTA Support Lead for the Parks Investment Programme.

Download a copy of his presentation slides.

LTA Advantage Wimbledon Ballot 2026

If you are an LTA Advantage member, the Opt In window for the 2026 Wimbledon ballot is now open and closes on Sunday 31 August. Opt In is available exclusively for the LTA’s Fan+, Play+ and Compete Advantage members, Accredited+ coaches, venue volunteers and LTA licenced officials.

This is your chance to get tickets for the 2026 Championships. The ballot is centralised so everyone has an equal opportunity to be successful. If successful, you can choose the date, court and tickets you want – subject to availability – and you’ll be able to buy one pair of tickets.

To Opt In to the LTA Advantage Wimbledon Ballots, you’ll need to be a Fan+, Play+ or Compete Advantage member.

Opt In for your chance to buy tickets

Market intelligence for the UK’s fitness and swimming industries

Leisure DB has published its independent reports into the UK’s Fitness and Swimming Industries and these insightful documents can now be accessed free of charge

In the 12 months to 31 March 2025, the Fitness sector has shown strong growth across the board:

• Total gym numbers rose by 2.8%, reaching 7,202, just shy of the pre-pandemic peak.
• Membership, market value, and penetration all hit record highs, surpassing even last year’s benchmarks.

Woven throughout this year’s report are operator and thought leader interviews, for insight into the story behind the statistics.

In the Swimming Industry, the UK’s pool stock has shrunk again this year, with the decline more marked in the public than the private sector.

Interviewing operators and experts for the report, it is clear this year’s slower rate of decline fails to alleviate concerns over the bigger trend. This is the concerning headline of the State of the UK Swimming Industry Report 2025.

With expert commentary, interviews and advice throughout – plus a full breakdown of pool numbers and locations, openings and closures, public and private sector leaders, fees, facilities and more – the State of the UK Swimming Industry Report 2025 makes for a fascinating read.

Roehampton Club’s drinking water problem solved

As part of the Roehampton Club’s sustainability drive, the club has recently undertaken work to replace its four ageing outdoor drinking water systems, located at three tennis court areas and the halfway house on the golf course. Members were regularly complaining about the poor taste and questionable quality of the water. The units were difficult to keep clean, aesthetically outdated, and ultimately unfit for a club of this standard.

The Club worked with UK based company ‘Pure Hydration’ to procure a solution that didn’t just replace the old system, it redefined what a modern hydration experience could look like. The stations are crafted from marine-grade stainless steel, built to withstand the elements while housing sophisticated internal filtration and contactless dispensing technology. They also incorporate the ‘H2O intelligent smart telemetry system’.

This proprietary technology tracks every drop of water dispensed, every single-use plastic bottle avoided, and even the weight of CO₂ emissions saved—down to the gram. This live data not only informs the Club’s sustainability reporting but also gives members confidence in the quality of what they’re drinking.

Confidence in water quality has returned and through the H2O telemetry portal, both the Club and Pure Hydration now monitor in real time the environmental impact being made, hundreds of plastic bottles saved each week, 11,700 single use P.E.T. bottles avoided/saved since installation in Sept 2024 and measurable CO₂ reductions proudly logged and displayed. The Club’s Environmental Committee is pleased not only with the results but the sustainable impact in its quest to have the Club carbon neutral by 2030.

Read further insight on the Roehampton Club’s wider sustainability drive.

David Lloyd positions itself as the UK’s largest operator of padel

With interest in padel skyrocketing, David Lloyd Clubs is extending its padel programme, positioning itself as the UK’s largest operator of the sport. The health and wellness operator has seen demand for the sport building from 3,300 monthly players at its facilities in April 2023 to more 18,100 in April 2025 and it’s still growing.

David Lloyd Clubs currently operates 166 padel courts across 47 Clubs, including 31 UK locations and 16 across Europe and plans to have more than 220 courts by the end of the year, adding a further 19 clubs to its padel programme. When the rollout completes, more than 100 clubs will be offering padel.

Simon Pearson, group racquets manager at David Lloyd Clubs says: “As racquet sports sit at the heart of our heritage, and with the club environment offering so much more than just a game, we’re perfectly placed to grow padel in the UK and beyond. We see padel not only as a sport but as an extension of our broader lifestyle offering – fun, inclusive, and social.”

The majority of courts are outdoors played on all-weather courts, and accompanied by dedicated outdoor clubroom areas to enhance the communal and social feel of the sport.

The company has more than 800,000 members across its 105 UK clubs and 29 in mainland Europe, comprising three brands: David Lloyd Clubs, Harbour Clubs and David Lloyd Meridian Spa and Fitness in Germany.

Courtesy Health Club Management

New address for SAPCA

SAPCA has completed its move from Stoneleigh Park into new premises. Stoneleigh Park has served as the “home” of SAPCA ever since the association’s foundation in 1997, having its base first in a shared building, until the move to The Hexangle building in 2015.

The new address is:

The Sports and Play Construction Association
Units 115-119
Fort Dunlop
Fort Parkway
Birmingham
B24 9FE

The telephone number is: 0121 698 2187

Padel and Pickleball News

Rocks Lane Sports Centre in Barnes SW London has submitted a planning application for three new padel courts to compliment its existing four courts. Due to a “deteriorated” and “underutilised” artificial grass pitch, Rocks Lane Padel wants to repurpose the area to accommodate the new courts.

South Tyneside Council has given the go ahead for five floodlit padel courts to replace half of the South Shields Tennis Club, also known as Westoe Lawn Tennis Club. Padel Project UK Ltd will install the hard courts on the north of site, with the remainder of the site continuing its current use for caravan parking.

Birmingham is about to have two new Padel clubs in the city. Connect Padel Birmingham is opening its flagship site of four canopied courts at Moseley Rugby Club, a location evolving into a larger sports village. Also in July Core Padel is opening five indoor doubles courts plus a singles court in Tyseley. According to the Bandeja, Birmingham has a long history with padel, with one of the first (if not the first) UK indoor padel centres – Padel Nation – opening in the city’s Yardley district in the mid 2000s. It now has almost a dozen padel facilities.

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

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new partnership with the LTA that will open up the sport to more people across London. The new three-year collaboration will see a £500,000 investment from the Mayor and the LTA into Rally Together London, a programme which will train 250 people from under-represented backgrounds to join the tennis workforce and facilitate sessions for local communities, with a minimum of 50% to be female.

Rally Together London will recruit, train and deploy 200 tennis activators to deliver the sport. These activators will help grow the LTA’s Barclays Free Park Tennis programme which offers free, weekly sessions with equipment provided on public park courts, and LTA SERVES which takes tennis to the heart of local communities for young people who may never otherwise have played.

Through the partnership, a cohort of 50 new tennis coaches will be supported to achieve their LTA Assistant (Level 1) and Instructor (Level 2) qualifications to help grow participation in parks and community venues, and create employment opportunities, again with a particular focus on growing the number of female coaches in the sport.

The wider partnership will see the Mayor and LTA work together on various initiatives and campaigns to promote women’s tennis and women’s sport across the capital, such as the recent launch of the HSBC Championships with a pop-up tennis court on the city’s iconic Trafalgar Square.

Curtesy: LTA

Further £1 million to be injected into Scottish schools tennis to supercharge the sport

Every child in Scotland will have the opportunity to try tennis after further investment of £1 million was announced to supercharge the national schools programme, LTA Youth Schools. This builds on the investment already made which has taken LTA Youth into over half of Scottish schools.

The LTA, LTA Tennis Foundation, Tennis Scotland, sportscotland and the Scottish Government are working together to grow tennis in Scottish schools.

This new investment is intended to capitalise on growing participation in Scotland and recognise the inspirational achievements of Andy Murray and Jamie Murray over many years, contributing to the ongoing achievements of players including Gordon Reid, Jacob Fearnley, Cam Norrie and Maia Lumsden.

The new funding will be invested by the LTA Tennis Foundation and sportscotland into the LTA Youth Schools programme. Tennis Scotland and sportscotland Active Schools network will work directly with schools in Scotland, with the ambition of giving every schoolchild in Scotland the opportunity to pick up a racket and experience tennis, regardless of age, gender, ability, disability or background.

This investment will also create opportunities for children to continue to play tennis outside of their school by creating links to local clubs, parks and venues with affordable programmes.

Curtesy: LTA

Spring Forum presentations now available

Presentations from the Spring Forum have now been uploaded to the TIA website and can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

• Quality standards for Padel and other key sports construction issues – SAPCA
• The benefits of a volunteer workforce – Atlantic Racquet Centre
• How sport and sustainability are learning together – England Golf
• The sustainability challenge – Roehampton Club
• Artificial Intelligence in Sport – Pinsent Masons

No 1 Court debenture issue oversubscribed

In April The All England Lawn Tennis Ground plc (“AELTG”), owner of the tennis courts, Grounds and buildings at which The Championships, Wimbledon is held, announced the opening of applications for the issue of up to 1,250 No.1 Court debentures for the five years from 2027 to 2031 inclusive, priced at £73,000 each.

On May 27th the company announced that the issue had been significantly oversubscribed and that therefore, all 1,250 debentures will be allotted and issued. The AELTG will notify all applicants as to whether their applications have been successful. The debenture issue will raise approximately £74.050 million (net of VAT, nominal value and estimated expenses).

The proceeds of the issue will be used to help finance the AELTG’s capital expenditure including the continuing development and improvement of the facilities at the Grounds and the wider Wimbledon estate.

Advisers to the issue were Rothschild & Co and CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP.

Curtesy: AELTC

Yonex expands its manufacturing site

Yonex has announced the completion of its new tennis racquet factory, located on the same site as its existing factory and the Yonex Performance Innovation Center, the research and development facility that began operations in July last year in Nagaoka City. The factory is scheduled to start operations in December. Yonex will meet the increasing global demands in volume by cooperating with Yonex Performance Innovation Center (Blue Lab) and will deliver Made by Yonex high-quality products to support players at all levels. 

Yonex was the second most-used racquet brand at the French Open 2025. As part of its Global Growth Strategy, Yonex is placing a particular focus on expanding the tennis business in North America. Aiming to establish tennis as its second core business pillar, Yonex continues to strengthen both the product lineup and customer engagement, while working to further raise brand awareness and broaden the customer base. The construction of this new factory represents an important step in meeting the growing demand from customers worldwide.

Curtesy: Yonex

Padel and Pickleball News

Newcastle city centre is to get its first padel courts. Project Padel has been granted approval for a new outdoor facility in the Stephenson Quarter area behind Central Station. NCC has granted a temporary planning permission for the development lasting three years, until May 2028. It said that the courts were “not considered to be a suitable option as a permanent way forward with this site”, but were acceptable as a temporary installation. An opening date for the site is yet to be confirmed.

Nottingham Tennis Centre is planning to convert an existing tennis court into three new covered padel courts.

The Trilogy Rackets Festival is heading to the Hove sea front. Tennis, padel and pickleball will be showcased together from July 21-27 and players of all levels are invited to take part in the festival filled with tournaments, expert workshops, professional exhibition matches, live music and a guest appearance by Judy Murray.

Set against a stunning coastal backdrop, the festival will bring together well-known names in the world of racket sports, alongside grassroots players and fans. Game4Padel opened Hove Beach Park’s padel, tennis and pickleball facilities earlier this year and the park has since then become a thriving and busy hub for people to try out or hone their racket skills and socialise with other players.

Gosport to get first free-to-use outdoor pickleball courts. Gosport Borough Council has started work to transform old tennis courts at Privett Park into two purpose-built pickleball courts and four renovated tennis courts. This is part of the council’s £1 million investment in sports and leisure across the borough for this year.

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

Over 70 delegates registered for the Spring event sponsored by Pinsent Masons, representing operators, suppliers and organisations involved in tennis, padel and pickleball. Its main theme was to highlight the challenges and progress around sustainability, but also included sessions on the impact of AI in sport and the benefits of creating a volunteer workforce.

Richard Shaw (Chief Executive) and Colin Corline (Technical Lead) at SAPCA spoke about the importance of delivering quality standards in sports construction, particularly relevant to support the rapid growth of padel and how SAPCA is helping ensure the industry works to the highest standards 

Bella Phillips, Associate at Pinsent Masons outlined the opportunities created from the growth in technology but also the new set of challenges for people in charge of sport of harnessing Artificial Intelligence and how to keep abreast of rapid AI global expansion

Tom Vinall, General Manager of the Atlantic Racquet Centre highlighted how his club had identified, developed and retained a strong and effective volunteer workforce and provided some top tips for tennis and padel operators to enhance their own operations 

Owen James, England Golf Sustainability Manager, looked at some of the similarities between golf and tennis clubs in the area of sustainability, the need for diversification of the sporting offer and how England Golf is supporting its clubs to help grow the sport   

David Burditt lead of the sustainability drive at the Roehampton Club described how the club has developed a practical long-term plan and the benefits that had already been achieved, with the vital support and commitment of its members

A Sustainability Panel, chaired by Iain Lancaster of the LTA, including Louise Price of Price of Bath, Owen James, David Burditt, Richard Shaw and Désirée Fields of Pinsent Masons, outlined some key sustainability challenges but also highlighted successes within sport and tennis and how we can all play a part in convincing others that business and sustainability can work hand in hand  

Slides from the presentations can be viewed on the TIA website

TIA welcomes Tennis Volunteer Community

TVC, the independent network for volunteers working in tennis, is a new Affiliate Member of TIA. Established in 2021, TVC has 2700 members on its Facebook platform and connects with 5500 volunteers across GB via email and its website

For details on how to participate in TVC contact Simon Spalter, TVC Founder at tennis@eceltd.co.uk

Oxygen Consulting produces UK Padel Report and becomes newest TIA member

Oxygen Consulting, led by Ray Algar, is a strategic consultancy based in Brighton, UK. For 20 years, it has been dedicated to providing insightful analysis and actionable intelligence in the global sports, health, and fitness industries. By blending original consumer insights with rigorous market analysis and presenting them through compelling storytelling and thought-provoking reports, the company aims to drive strategic change and contribute to a more active and healthier world.

The UK Padel Report, published by Oxygen Consulting, presents the first independent analysis of this fast-growing racket sport. The 96-page report examines participation trends, maps court infrastructure across the UK, analyses pricing structures, and considers how padel can be made more inclusive and accessible.

The report is authored by Ray Algar, a UK-based sports analyst with over 20 years of experience investigating trends across the sport, health and fitness industries. It was launched at Savills in London and attended by more than 90 senior leaders from sport, leisure and property sectors. The event generated national discussion about how to scale padel in a way that is inclusive and socially impactful.

Key findings include:

• Court growth: The number of UK padel courts has grown from fewer than 40 in 2016 to 710 by the end of 2024. This equates to a compound annual growth rate of 43%.
• Access gap: 18% of venues are located in England’s most affluent areas, compared with just 3% in the most deprived. This reveals a 6.5 to 1 disparity in access.
• Infrastructure trend: Operators are increasingly selecting and investing in covered and indoor courts to enable year-round play and commercial resilience in the UK climate.
• Pricing variation: Peak-hour court prices range widely, from under £20 to over £80, reflecting the absence of a consistent or standardised pricing model.
• Motivations for play: Players cite enjoyment, skill development (competence) and fitness as the main reasons for playing padel.

The report contains no advertising and is available for immediate download. Price: £250, plus VAT.

Purchase your copy

TIA Summer Social and AGM

Our 2025 Summer Social and Annual General Meeting will take place at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre in Roehampton on Thursday July 3rd. All TIA members have been invited to attend and each member can send 2 representatives.

The AGM will take place at 11.00 followed by a talk from an LTA Executive (to be confirmed). A buffet lunch will be served at around 12.30 and members can access the LTA’s Padel courts or alternatively there is an opportunity to watch some tennis at the Lexus British Open being played at the NTC.

Members wishing to attend The Championships after lunch can do so through the LTA’s generous annual allocation of ground passes for TIA members. These passes are only available to members attending the AGM and have been pre-allocated.

Papers for the AGM will be circulated to members shortly

2024 LTA Finance and Governance Report highlights a strong year of achievements

The report shows that the LTA had another strong year for tennis participation and performance success delivered alongside stable financial results.  

The year saw the ITF rank Great Britain number one in the world for adult tennis participation per capita. Meanwhile eleven different British players featured in the top 100 in 2024, the largest number since 1978. More details of the year are covered below.  

Outside of participation and performance the LTA has also maintained a stable financial position. 

In 2024, once return on investments and tax had been taken into account the LTA Group recorded a loss for the year of £4.5m – this loss was entirely driven by the grants given by LTA Tennis Foundation to facilities and other charities. This included investment into the Parks Tennis Project of £5.8m in the year. LTA Operations was able to make a £2.4m donation to LTA Tennis Foundation to support this work.

Read the full report

Summary curtesy of LTA – 21st May

USTA unveils $800 million overhaul of US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium

The project is an $800 million investment in the US Open and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center that is entirely self-funded by the USTA, with New York City continuing to benefit from more than $1.2 billion in annual economic impact due to the three weeks of the US Open.

The transformation will take shape over three phases and be completed by the 2027 US Open, without interrupting play or fan access for the 2025-26 events. The enhancements include:

• A brand-new, visually striking Grand Entrance
• A 40% increase to the promenade-level concourse, adding significantly more open space for fans at the promenade and loge levels.
• Completely modernised concourses, with all-newly designed retail experiences and food and beverage spaces.
• Significantly increased access to restrooms on all concourses, and more escalators and elevators to all levels.
• An upward extension of the courtside-level bowl with 2,000 new seats, expanding the courtside experience from 3,000 to 5,000 seats.
• All-new club and restaurant areas, with enhanced dining options and premium hospitality spaces.
• Two new dedicated luxury suite levels.

$250-Million Player Performance Center will also be built to provide state of the art player support. The two-story, state-of-the-art facility will be built on the top two floors of a four-floor building on the west side of Arthur Ashe Stadium, adjacent to the practice courts.

Article curtesy of United States Tennis Association – May 19th

Padel and Pickleball News

Padel construction standards

SAPCA has produced the 4th edition of the Code of Practice for the construction of Padel courts

In conjunction with the LTA, SAPCA has produced this document to provide prospective clients, designers and specifiers with guidance on the basic construction requirements and specifications currently employed in building padel courts. The standards outlined throughout the document have been recognised and supported as the minimum level for the construction of padel courts in the UK.

Read SAPCA’s Codes of Practice

Padel continues drive to repurpose underused facilities

Swansea – an investment firm has lodged plans for padel courts at a prominent former glass site in Swansea. Swansea.com is behind the proposals for the siting of two temporary padel courts for a period of two years at the old Pilkington site, Quay Parade, Waterfront. 

Bury – applicants Love Padel is applying to covert a caravan storage facility into a five-court padel club and cafe

Padium to open its second UK club in Cardiff Bay

Construction has begun on Padium’s second UK padel club at another capital city. Having opened one of London’s most spectacular padel clubs in September 2023 in the shadow of Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers, Padium is now taking its premium facilities to Cardiff.

The new 35,000-square-foot club in Cardiff Bay Retail Park will feature eight indoor courts, making it the largest padel venue in Wales. The new venue will feature state-of-the-art courts, a cafe/bar, pro shop, co-working space, players’ lounge, luxury changing facilities and a spa with a sauna and plunge pools.

Article curtesy of The Padel Paper

PadelStars to open 10-court club at Surrey Sports Park

A premium 10-court covered padel facility is set to open next year at the University of Surrey’s Surrey Sports Park, subject to planning permission. The venue will be the biggest in the UK’s Higher Education sector and will be part of the operators PadelStars estate of facilities.

PadelStars opened their first club in Reading just over a year ago and now have facilities in Bracknell, Southampton, Bournemouth, St Albans, Chigwell, Folkestone, Basildon and Egham. The Surrey Sports Park club will be the first of its kind in the Guildford area, and will feature a large clubhouse, cafe, bar, extensive social area and retail offering. It will be the largest padel centre in Surrey.

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