LTA announces an improved domestic competition calendar for tennis in Britain

RedSquirrel · Satellite level

LTA announces an improved domestic competition calendar for tennis in Britain

the addict · Tennis legend

Well, well. Is there a possibility that the LTA do listen to other people. It's taken a long while, but a step in the right direction for a change.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Excellent to hear, 15 of mens and womens plus the trophy series in 2022 feels right or at least a big step up.

I was never sold by the Murray trophy anyway being honest, its been done before anyway around 10 or so years ago and failed after two or three years.

Focus on 2022 feels good, maybe for all of us as I for one am really struggling with much enthusiasm for events this year, as much as I would normally, and not just tennis, football as well and other sports

the addict · Tennis legend

Just to note, the costs quoted are for joint mens and womens events, but presumably individual events would be rather more than half those costs.

junior · Intermediate Club Player

Pointless

Shhh · Challenger level

On the face of it this looks excellent news. There are more events attend as a spectator for one thing (I wish they would work on increasing their support).

When we had more events some years ago the downside was they just provided a comfort zone for British players to exist in. From a selfish point of view though, I still think it is great news.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Given that the LTA do not support a system of team tennis, they are - in my view - obliged to do this.

So very pleased. And - especially, as Shhh says - from a spectator point of view

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I have often said that if marketed correctly, especially by encouraging school groups to attend and offering them clinics while they are there, these tournaments could be the best tool for encouraging young people to take up the sport and increasing participation numbers.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
I have often said that if marketed correctly, especially by encouraging school groups to attend and offering them clinics while they are there, these tournaments could be the best tool for encouraging young people to take up the sport and increasing participation numbers.

Absolutely. The Surbiton event used to be swarming with school kids on official 'tennis' trips.

Brilliant all round.

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Well this is surprising but welcoming news. Out of the 15 events I wonder what sort of balance between 15k and 25k will be. Id say you want at least 10 of them to be 15ks as will offer more to Developing players than too many 25ks.

Shhh · Challenger level

This will sound greedy but, I read this in the mens game as 15 x 15k's or 25k's. What about challenger level, could there be more on top of this or will it just be those played in the grass season?

the addict · Tennis legend

Yes, it is just ITF tournaments. I checked the 2019 figures, just in case. Hopefully they'll add some extra challengers as well.

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

I assume we won't be seeing any ITF tournaments this year, like the LTA had hoped. Will be interesting to see what the 2022 calendar looks like.

wimdledont · Challenger level

This is a very welcome development, which will make a huge difference to players starting out their careers.

Today sees an announcement from Amazon Prime that they will be donating the "7 figure sum" that Channel 4 are paying them for the US Open final rights to further the development of (possibly specifically women's) pro tennis in the UK. Hopefully, a lot of this windfall could be used to further develop this area.

With the emergence of she-who-must-not-be-named-until-tomorrow-unless-jinxed as something approaching potentially the biggest sporting star in the world, (well, Martina N said it first) there could even be some interest from commercial broadcasters/streaming services in paying for the rights for a search for a second one. A vast legion of very young girls will be pestering their parents for tennis racquets, Monday morningish...

With the active participation and sponsorship of a competent multimedia/streaming/broadcast partner, this could very conceivably pay for itself, or even become an income generator for the LTA. Football clubs do not lose money by putting on football matches.