CLIMATE CHANGE: A BIG DEAL IN TENNIS SPORTS

Tennis was originally known as lawn tennis. It is a game in which two opposing players (singles) or pairs of players (doubles) use tautly strung rackets to hit a ball of specified size, weight, and bounce over a net on a rectangular court. This sport was invented in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England in the late 19th century and it is one of the most popular sports in the world today (Enclopedia Britannica, 2023).

It was believed that Tennis came into existence in Nigeria early 20th century (1904), the game of lawn tennis became popular when the local tournaments were fixed and played between clubs, Government department and other West African countries.

Tennis is a popular game loved by many From Wimbledon to the US Open,Tennis has a lot of worldwide tournaments.

THE EFFECTS OF TENNIS ON THE CLIMATE

Tennis may not be the first sport to come to mind when thinking about climate change. However, it has contributed to climate change in a number of ways. Some of them include:

1. Travel and Transportation: Tennis players, officials, and fans travel long distances to tournaments and this generates significant carbon emissions.

2. Construction and Maintenance: Constructing and maintaining tennis facilities, such as courts, stadiums, and practice facilities, involves resource-intensive processes. The use of heavy machinery, concrete, and other materials contributes to carbon emissions.

3. Waste Generation: Tennis tournaments generate substantial waste, including single-use plastics like water bottles and packaging.

4. Resource Use: Tennis equipment, including rackets and balls, relies on the extraction of raw materials and energy-intensive manufacturing processes, which have associated environmental impacts.

5. Water Usage in Tennis facilities: Maintaining tennis courts, especially at professional levels, often require significant water resources. This can strain local water supplies and lead to water scarcity in some regions.

6. Energy Consumption: Tennis courts, more often than not, require a lot of electricity to light and cool them, as well as run essential equipment like scoreboards as well as video screens.

TENNIS: A RECIPIENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS

Extreme weather conditions caused by climate change has affected tennis in several ways, including:

1. Incomplete Tournaments: There have been quite a number of instances where tennis tournaments are not completed as a result of adverse weather conditions, such as torrential rain and flooding at the venue. For instance, during the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, over 10 matches were paused as a result of excessive rainfall.

2. Heat Waves: Heat waves have huge effects on tennis as they affect players, non-players (such as the ball boys and girls) and even the tennis ball itself. The effects of heat waves were felt even more at the 2023 US Open where various players including Novak Djokovic, the World No. 3 and Daniil Medvedev, were reported to have been affected by the extreme heat during their games.

CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION EFFORTS

With the obvious effects of climate change, it is important that all hands be on deck to put in place mitigation actions. All four of the world’s Grand Slam tennis tournaments are uniting in the fight against climate change by joining the Sports for Climate Action Framework (UNFCCC, 2019). Signatories to the Framework, including the 4 Grand Slam tournaments, commit to five clear principles:

1. Undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility

2. Reduce overall climate impact

3. Educate for climate action

4. Promote sustainable and responsible consumption

5. Advocate for climate action through communication

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN TENNIS

1. Tennis Court Surfaces: Using eco-friendly court surfaces, like clay or artificial grass, can reduce water consumption compared to traditional hard courts.

2. Energy Efficiency: Implementing energy-efficient lighting and heating/cooling systems for indoor courts can significantly reduce energy consumption.

3. Recycling Programs: Encouraging recycling on and off the court can minimize waste. Providing recycling bins for players and spectators is a simple step.

4. Sustainable Apparel and Equipment: Promoting the use of sustainable materials in tennis apparel and equipment manufacturing can reduce the sport's carbon footprint.

5. Transportation: Encouraging carpooling or the use of public transportation to and from matches can reduce emissions associated with travel.

6. Tennis Ball Recycling: Tennis balls can be recycled into sports surfaces or used in charitable programs, reducing the number of balls that end up in landfills.

7. Promote Sustainable Events: Tennis tournaments and clubs can adopt sustainable event practices, such as using compostable food containers and minimizing single-use plastics.

8. Education and Awareness: Promote sustainability awareness and emphasizing the importance of responsible resource use and conservation.

9. Natural Landscaping: Landscaping around tennis facilities with native and drought-tolerant plants reduces water and maintenance requirements.

10. Community Involvement: Engage the tennis community in local environmental initiatives and conservation efforts.

CONCLUSION

Conclusively, climate change is a key global environmental issue that requires the attention of stakeholders across board including governments, public and private corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and Sports is not left out.

While Tennis has contributed to Climate Change over the years, there has been significant efforts to contribute positively to climate action by the wider tennis community in recent years.

Several noteworthy initiatives are being championed by Tennis organisations, players, and sponsors, etc., in order to mitigate climate change and environmental sustainability concerns and promote opportunities for sustainability in Tennis.

Murad Naser once said, "The environment is no one's property to destroy; it's everyone's responsibility to protect it".