Tennis has evolved constantly in the last 50 years, breaking down old barriers to become an avant-garde sport in certain areas and increasingly committed, supportive and inclusive. Because a tennis ball can have an even greater impact off the court, a number of illustrious players have used their careers for greater causes over the years
Billie Jean King has campaigned for gender equality, Yannick Noah for young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and Felix Auger-Aliassime for the education of children in Togo, showing that tennis is at its best when it serves the community. And all those involved have understood this, with professional players, leagues, federations and club amateurs leading committed initiatives serving to rally people together and create a positive social impact.
To celebrate BNP Paribas’ 50-year commitment to tennis, we will be publishing articles on 50 major solidarity stories from the last half-century. We will also be sharing plenty of other content highlighting the finest solidarity initiatives having harnessed tennis for the cause of inclusion, equality or education.