What will Brexit mean for GB Tennis?

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

What will Brexit mean for GB Tennis?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Jaggy1876 wrote:
Today strikes me as a fairly depressing day in British Politics and our life in general. I started thinking about the impact it will have on foreign travel, flight and accomodation prices, inflation, interest rates, house prices, food costs etc. Then I thought about Sport. Probably one of our most vulnerable sports being Tennis. With it already being a fairly elitist Sport surely this will increase even more with more players being squeezed out particularly when travelling to Europe for ITFs as many players do. Portugal, Spain, Greece, Turkey and even further afield outwith Europe where many of our players travel will all become more difficult and expensive.
I don't trust this Tory government in the slightest to sort this out but what are everyone's thoughts on how it will effect Tennis? I can't see another Andy Murray coming any time soon. Bobs 25 in the top 500 may be cut to 10 in the next few years I feel with even more saturation in June for the fat cats of Queens and Wimbledon.

It was actually 20 in the Top 500 but the point is well taken anyway.

As for this Tory government not being able to sort this out, in truth I wouldn't trust a government of any party to do so as I am still convinced that the other 27 countries will not offer any kind of deal that is favourable to the UK. I believe that Europe will define the outcome and the UK will have very little say in what happens.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Why would they offer anything, short term pain and long term unpredictability is all I see. Perversely I don't necessarily see Europe as necessarily being that much more expensive the euro is not likely to rocket in value anytime soon.

Turkey and Egypt become even more attractive futures tours, Croatia offering a step up in quality. So still plenty of entry level stuff to facilitate the first steps of transition for juniors.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

It's a fair question, Jaggy, but I fear that tennis will be the least of our problems.

paulisi · Tennis legend

There will be no impact to GB tennis - Jaggy you are being paranoid.

Etienne · Club Coach

Other than making it substantially less likely that British Tennis will acquire any more Konta's or Bedene's, I doubt the impact on tennis will be that big.

The rest of the country will obviously be poorer, economically, socially and culturally.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

paulisi wrote:
There will be no impact to GB tennis - Jaggy you are being paranoid.

Not being paranoid in the slightest the impact will be noticed in tennis when travelling, training and competing in Europe. I'm certain of that. It's already tough financially to manage this without the restrictions that will be coming. Interestingly the other thread and announcement on the regrading of ITFs will also coincide with this on a timescale level.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Why do you think it will be more expensive to train, travel and play in Europe? I'm trying to understand where you see the additional costs?

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

It's already been forecast we will likely be forced out of the Open Skies Regime regarding flights.

Etienne · Club Coach

It seems fairly safe to say that the pound will continue to decline in value compared to the Euro.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Why do you think it will be more expensive to train, travel and play in Europe? I'm trying to understand where you see the additional costs?

It's already about 20% more expensive than it was 18 months ago (thanks to the fall in the pound)

Of course, to be fair, it's about the same as it was approx 4 years ago, cheaper than it was 2009 and approx 40% more expensive, like for like, than it was about 10 years ago.

It all depends where you base it.

But given that most people have a relatively short-term view, then the increase in price has already been very marked and, as Etienne says, likely to get worse.

Etienne · Club Coach

I think there will be some solution to the open skies deal, as that is one where it really would suit no-one not to.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

We currently have a number of players based in France, Spain and elsewhere. I wonder what the impact on that sort of setup will be, and whether it will be as sustainable as it has currently been proven to be.
Might our young players wanting to set up in Spain go to the back of, or at least partway down, the queue becasue of the extra paperwork?
I don't know, but the uncertainty is, if nothing else, at best, not very helpful.
To quote Judy Garland though, people will just, 'have to muddle through somehow', until we have any idea what the final details and implications will be.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I wouldn't be too worried about the admin side of training camps. They already have quite a lot of non-EU students and that seems to be fine.

But if the fees are now 20% more (and rising), that's a big hike for British parents.

paulisi · Tennis legend

So you are all speculating on the exchange rate in 2 years time, that is very short termist and unlikely to be realistic, otherwise everyone would be currency speculators making millions.
As for air travel - given that both parties both rely on each other a compromise will come into place and will have little impact.