Tennis has the power to inspire and transform lives. Through our commitment, we’re breaking barriers, boldly celebrate the positive change that tennis has brought in the lives of women and girls, on and off the court. With your support, we can ensure even more victories as we drive equity in coaching, leadership, and competition.
Whether you’re a regular player, an avid fan, or new to the sport, you can play a role in advocating for equal opportunities and resources for women and girls in tennis.
TAKE ACTION FOR CHANGE
Significant progress has already been made with much more to come, so now is the perfect time to get involved. Help create more opportunities for women and girls as participants and leaders.
Find out about our early progress to learn how, with the support of National Bank, we’re paving the way for more women and girls to enjoy the benefits of the sport and grow in their tennis journey.
- Equal Prize Money at the National Bank Open by 2027
- Over 30 organizations provided funding via the GSE Community Tennis Grants
- Growth of the UNMATCHED Conference (welcomed 575 attendees this year)
- Increased Gender Parity at Leadership Levels (more women than men on SMT; 40% women representation on the Board)
OUR COMMITMENT
Tennis Canada partnered with National Bank on our Game. Set. Equity. strategy beginning in 2023. This ambitious and holistic strategy details how Tennis Canada will advance equity for women and girls at all levels of the tennis ecosystem in Canada, from the playground to the pro tours.
This commitment marked the beginning of a new era for Canadian tennis – the first time in Tennis Canada’s history that our sport has a long-term road map for creating sustainable change for women and girls in all areas of tennis, from grassroots, to coaching, leadership, and beyond.
“Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of our corporate values. Our partnership with Tennis Canada is long term and allows us to implement actions that have a positive impact towards a more inclusive society. This commitment is the beginning of something big! To allow more women and girls to enjoy the benefits of the sport. To grow in their tennis journey. And to get the exposure and recognition they deserve. We believe in setting clear goals and working with those involved to help achieve them. It’s such a great privilege to be one of the ambassadors, to be involved in this evolution, and to actively contribute to the commitment towards gender equity in tennis,” says Lucie Blanchet, Executive Vice-President, Personal Banking and Client Experience at National Bank of Canada.
The Game. Set. Equity. strategy will be delivered over a 5 years through 5 key pillars that align with the ITF’s Advantage All strategy. The pillars are complementary; achievement in one area drives critical momentum for broad scale achievement across all areas:
By 2027, Tennis Canada aims to:
IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL TENNIS ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER INDUSTRY PARTNERS, WE WILL INVEST IN BESPOKE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PROVEN TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN WOMEN AND GIRLS AS PARTICIPANTS AND LEADERS IN TENNIS.
- Ensure that 50% of our Under-12 program participants are girls
- Increase the number of self-identifying girl and women registered competitors at Tennis Canada events to 40%
- Develop 500 certified women instructors
- Collaborate with 100 community partners across Canada delivering tennis programs for girls
- Establish a youth leadership council to guide the development and implementation of retention initiatives for girls in tennis
- Increase the number of active women and girl certified coaches and officials in Canada to 40%
WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL GENDERS AT TENNIS CANADA ON CREATING AND PROMOTING SAFE AND INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES FOR WOMEN TO THRIVE WHILE MAINTAINING EDUCATION EFFORTS IN THIS REGARD. THIS IS ABOUT TRAINING AND EDUCATION AND ALIGNS WITH SPORT SAFETY AND OUR EDI WORK.
By 2027, Tennis Canada aims to:
- Ensure that 100 % of Tennis Canada’s board members, employees and volunteers are safe sport certified and provide ongoing education in unconscious bias and gender equity
- Have 100% of Tennis Canada’s Board of directors, staff and volunteers trained and using the Game.Set.Equity guidelines within the daily work environment
ACHIEVING AND SUSTAINING GENDER PARITY IN LEADERSHIP ROLES, BOTH ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION AND THE BUSINESS OF TENNIS IN CANADA.
By 2027, Tennis Canada aims to:
- Achieve and retain a minimum of 40% women members on the Tennis Canada board, Senior Management Team, and general management teams across the organization
- Increase the number of women national event tournament directors to 50%
- Increase the number of active women coaches and officials to 40%
- Collaborate with Provincial Tennis Associations (PTAs), Tennis Development Centres (TDCs), and community partners to advance gender equity within the broader tennis community
- Grow the number of certified women/man officials to 40%
STRIVING TO BE BEST-IN-CLASS BY ADVANCING COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT WOMEN IN TENNIS.
By 2027, Tennis Canada aims to:
- Offer equal prize money to both women and men players at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers beginning in 2027. On the pathway to equal prize money, the expansion to a 12-day model will see an increase in prize money for women’s players from 2025 onwards.
- Offer equal prize money at Challenger events for both women and men
- Increase overall attendance for the WTA edition of the National Bank Open in Montreal and Toronto to be on par with the ATP Tour edition
LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND ACHIEVING WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ PARITY OF VOICE ON OUR OWNED CHANNELS AND PROPERTIES, AND IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR MEDIA/BROADCAST PARTNERS.
By 2027, Tennis Canada aims to:
- Ensure Tennis Canada produced creative content includes a minimum of 50% self-identified women and girls
- Ensure that the women’s edition of the National Bank Open receives equal domestic broadcast coverage as the men’s tournament
- Collaborate with broadcast partners to reach 50% representation of women as on-air talent
Women in tennis — Inspiring stories
We are telling the stories of five women for whom tennis has played a major role and contributed towards victories in their personal and professional lives.
Each of these triumphs is a step towards equity and we are rallying the tennis community to ensure more victories are possible through the advancement of our women and girls programming. So, stay tuned, more stories to come.
Be part of the movement
There are multiple ways to become a champion of equity within the Canadian tennis community. Every gesture counts, so let us inspire you to take action for change.
Game. Set. Equity. Initiatives
Find out how to participate and get involved in your region.
Learning and Resources
Support your equity work with data, facts, helpful resources and e-learning to enable change throughout our tennis ecosystem.
Coming Soon
The Colour of Equity
Show your support by adding our exclusive Game. Set. Equity. crewneck to your wardrobe and wear purple for equity. Proceeds go towards advancing opportunities for women and girls in tennis.
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Be Part of our Tennis Nation
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT OUR GENDER EQUITY INITIATIVES.
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Let’s Rally for Equity!
The official colour of International Women’s Day, purple has been used by feminist movements for decades and is traditionally used to symbolize equality.
