Full impact of Covid-19 crisis on British tennis revealed as LTA confirms losses

The Lawn Tennis Association saw its income reduced by £30million in 2020 and suffered an operating loss of £5.2million.
The losses, which were reduced overall to £1.8million once gains in investments were taken into account, were largely the result of the wiping out of the grass-court season by coronavirus and measures put in place to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the domestic game.
The LTA received an annual surplus payment of just over £36million from Wimbledon thanks to the All England Club’s pandemic insurance – more than 75 per cent of the governing body’s income for 2020.
The surplus was nearly £10million lower than in 2019 while the LTA made just £676 from major events in 2020 compared to £14,372 the previous year, and commercial income was also severely reduced.
Losses were mitigated by the LTA saving £19.3million, but it invested nearly £5million to support coaches, venues, officials and tennis charities through the pandemic.
This year could turn out to be even more difficult, with Wimbledon set to take a major hit in income because of reduced spectator capacity and the same applying to the events run by the LTA at Queen’s Club, Nottingham, Birmingham and Eastbourne.
LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd said: “Last year was a challenging one for everyone but throughout the year we remained focused on reducing costs whilst continuing to support the tennis community. We made progress against our strategy of opening up tennis.
“This year we have the uncertainty created by a reduced capacity at the Championships and our own events, as well as the extra costs that Covid is imposing on our events.
“However, we will be continuing our efforts to make tennis a sport for everyone and transform the image of the sport in this country.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
WTA Tour
Aryna Sabalenka, WTA and Steve Simon slammed as tension in tennis continues to escalate
All is not well in women’s tennis.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz off the mark in Miami as Jimmy Connors explains why he is head and shoulders above his peers
Carlos Alcaraz up and running in Miami as Jimmy Connors waxes lyrical about Spaniard.
-
WTA Tour
WTA accused of ignoring request for meeting with Ukrainian players – ‘Just silence’
Ukrainian players want to meet with the WTA board.
-
Tennis News
Frances Tiafoe calls on rigid tennis to get with the times in order ‘to bring younger fans to the game’
Do you think tennis fans should be able to come and go and speak during matches?
-
French Open
Former world No 1 assesses Carlos Alcaraz’s chances of winning 2023 French Open
Can Carlos Alcaraz beat both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros?
-
Tennis News
Marcelo Rios not a fan of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as they are not ‘entertaining,’ describes tennis as ‘boring’
Marcelo Rios feels Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are “not entertaining” on the court.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz described as the ‘Mike Tyson of tennis’ due to ‘brutal power and speed’
Carlos Alcaraz 🤝 Mike Tyson.
-
WTA Tour
Victoria Azarenka rebuffs claims of tension in locker room, fires back at Iga Swiatek over Ukraine comments
Victoria Azarenka has hit back at Iga Swiatek over her comments.