Led by experts in climate science, sport, geography, management, and sustainability, the new research partnership will examine the impacts of rising temperatures, flooding, and other adverse weather conditions on events, facilities, communities and participation levels.
The new research partnership – titled ‘Break Point: What Can Tennis Do to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change?’ – will identify practical solutions to ensure tennis and padel continue to adapt and thrive.
Climate change is already negatively affecting major sporting events around the world, with both the French Open and the Australian Open experiencing disruption from extreme heat and humidity in recent years. Events this summer in Britain have also seen impacts, with this year’s Lexus Eastbourne Open and The Championships, Wimbledon impacted by periods of extreme heat.
Likewise, there is increasing risk of flooding for some community venues as a result of more extreme rainfall and rising sea levels, with more observed instances of flood damage at grassroots venues in recent years.
The Break Point project will focus on the thousands of tennis and padel venues that form the foundation of the sport in Britain, including across clubs, parks, schools, universities, community facilities, and commercial operators. It will initially analyse the impact that the climate crisis will have on these venues, before moving on to engage participants, volunteers and coaches to understand how behaviours may change.
A set of recommendations and resources to support mitigation and adaptation will also be developed for tennis in Britain.
Image provided by LTA.
Lead researcher, Dr Mark Doidge, Reader in Sociology of Sport at Loughborough University, explained: “We are already experiencing the impact of climate change on sport. This year’s super El Niño is predicted to produce record hot days and wildly unpredictable weather. Tennis, like all sport, needs to adapt and soon. This project will help the LTA identify those tennis venues that are most impacted and it’s great to bring an interdisciplinary team together to achieve it."
Jack Baker, LTA Head of Public Policy and Sustainability, added: “We know that the climate crisis is already impacting tennis and padel at all levels around the world and across Britain. This project with Loughborough University will allow us to properly understand the implications of a range of climate impacts for tennis and padel in Britain, and what adaptations and interventions we might need to consider in order that we can support a thriving sport for generations to come."
Denise Ludlam, Environmental Sustainability Strategic Lead at Sport England, added: “Grassroots facilities are the heart of their communities, providing accessible places for people of all ages and backgrounds to be active, connect with others and get active. We welcome this project between Loughborough University and the LTA, which will help build a clearer understanding of how the climate crisis could affect thousands of tennis and padel venues across Britain, and help venues adapt and become more resilient.”
The research team also includes Loughborough academics Professor Dapeng Yu, an expert in flood risk analysis and hydrodynamic modelling, and Dr Richard Hodgkins, a specialist in climate literacy and climate modelling.
