It is with great sadness that Tennis Canada has learned of the passing of John Beddington, former Tournament Director and Chairman of the Canadian Open. Beddington passed away peacefully last Wednesday, October 15, at the age of 83.
“Everyone associated with Tennis Canada and Canadian tennis mourns John’s passing,” said Gavin Ziv, Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Canada. “The word trailblazer is sometimes used too often, but in John’s case it is absolutely fitting. He dedicated his life to the growth of our sport both in Canada and on a global level. His influence on our flagship WTA and ATP 1000 tournaments, the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto and Montreal, cannot be understated and their growth into the prestigious, world-renowned events they are today is in large part down to him. His legacy in Canadian tennis is enormous, and he will be remembered for the incredible footprint he leaves behind on our sport.”
A visionary leader and devoted tennis enthusiast, Beddington, a British-Canadian, had a career in tennis administration spanning more than half a century and he was instrumental in shaping the sport of tennis in Canada into what it is today. Having previously been Tournament Director of the Commercial Union Grand Prix Masters (now the ATP Finals), he joined Tennis Canada in 1979 and served as Executive Vice President and was the Tournament Director (and later Chairman) of the two Canadian Open, now known as the National Bank Open presented by Rogers (NBO). The tournaments in Toronto and Montreal have evolved into world-class events on the WTA and ATP Tours, and much of the success can be attributed to Beddington's influence throughout his tenure. His relationships with players, agents, and the Tours helped attract the best tennis players to Canada, making the event a must-see for players and fans alike.
Beddington travelled the world promoting the Canadian Open. His leadership enabled the tournament to grow exponentially, with the financial success of each event generating profits that were directly invested in the development of tennis in Canada. The innovative concept he developed, alternating between the WTA and ATP Tours in Toronto and Montreal, is still in place today and is one of the elements that makes Canada’s flagship tournament truly unique and special.
In 1997, following his 17 influential years with the federation, Beddington co-founded the Masters Tennis event which was successfully staged each year at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He was later inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006, an honour he considered one of the most prestigious of his career. In 2023, Beddington received the Golden Achievement Award, presented annually by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sport globally in the areas of administration, promotion, development, or education, and who has demonstrated an exceptional and enduring commitment to the sport.
Alongside his distinguished career, Beddington was deeply passionate about philanthropy, raising over $1 million to support Tennis Canada and its grassroots programs. His generosity and dedication helped establish numerous tennis initiatives across the country, and his legacy will continue to change lives through the sport he loved so much.
Tennis Canada recently named its Player Fitness Centres after Beddington. A small virtual ceremony was held in his presence to commemorate the moment.
John Beddington is survived by his spouse, Roseann Madden Beddington, and their children David Paull Madden Beddington and James Edward Beddington.
The feature image was taken during the Club's annual pre-Championships Tennis Family Dinner in 2023. John is seen here with directors Peter Michael Reichel and Anja Vreg from the WTA (Photo: ©AELTC/Andrew Baker)
