Can tennis achieve net zero?

For an industry predicated on travel, there’s no guarantee of success, but setting ambitious goals has provided direction and motivation, Epps said, and the ATP is doing what is within its control to get there.

Through a partnership with Infosys, players can track their carbon footprint through an app and choose to offset by buying carbon credits. Over 200 players signed up in the first year, with the top 10 published on the ATP website. 

The top three include the US’s Ben Shelton and Britain’s Cameron Norrie, each of whom received their share of a $100,000 prize pool, to be donated to environmental sustainability initiatives of their choice. 

The app also helps educate about sustainability and has improved players’ and their teams’ awareness of the impact of their profession on the planet.

Tournaments

When it comes to a major redesign of the international schedule, Epps said this is part of conversations “at the top”, with the ATP Challenger Tour a way to show the art of the possible in terms of a more regional approach that percolates upwards. 

The tour could also collaborate with other global sports such as golf or Formula One to showcase its environmental agenda and create efficiencies at scale. 

There is a dependency on other industries. For example, the faster aviation decarbonises, the less reliance there will be on carbon-offsetting schemes.

National governing bodies have their own initiatives, too. The Lawn Tennis Association’s Environmental Sustainability Plan commits it to halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040, improving resource efficiency and biodiversity.When it comes to the tournaments, each has its own sustainability agenda, with many seeking to reduce their environmental footprints through waste reduction. Wimbledon has committed to reaching net zero by 2030.

Adapt

Annual reports on progress in this area are not forthcoming, so we will watch this space.

Mainstream tennis media is so far not overly consumed or concerned by this issue. Christopher Clarey, former tennis writer for The New York Times, does not know of many articles that have been written on this subject. 

The focus has tended to be on goods and equipment such as sustainable tennis balls, and each tennis brand has its own sustainability model.

The effects of climate breakdown, with soaring temperatures and flooding, will affect players at all levels. Protests will probably continue to disrupt play if tennis cannot show that it genuinely cares and is willing to adapt and fully engage with the issues.

Educate

It’s great when players speak up on social issues. For example, in an interview with The Times, world singles number one player Novak Djokovic highlighted his campaign to spread the prize money to reach a wider pool of players and address the financial inequality in the sport.

Many players have considerable charitable commitments and causes, but it would be fantastic to see them speak up on environmental issues too, which is quite an ask when a career depends on international travel, not to mention the laser-like focus needed to reach peak performance. 

However, to show an interest and speak up about concerns authentically can make a real difference, with a likely ripple effect, as the ATP may show.

Tennis players can use their social platforms to help educate and inspire millions of fans around the world, whilst also encouraging the corporate leaders of the sport to keep making bold decisions to positively shape the future direction of travel.

This Author 

Laura Slater is a tennis coach based in West London. This article originally appeared in the Resurgence & Ecologist magazine.