Tennis
Tennis is a racket sport played on a rectangular court where players hit a ball over a net in singles or doubles competition.
Previously referred to as lawn tennis, tennis became a popular sport within Australia by the mid-1870s.
The Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia was formed in 1904 to oversee tennis in six Australian states and New Zealand. 1, 3, 4
Discover more about tennis
Clearinghouse evidence base
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make tennis more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about tennis.
Evolution:
- The Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia [1904-1926]
- Lawn Tennis Association of Australia [1926-2007]
- Tennis Australia [1986-]
Participation
An estimated 1,118,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in tennis at least once in 2025. 2
An estimated 187,000 Australian children [aged 0-14] participated in tennis at least once in 2025. 2
An estimated 469,000 Australian women and 648,000 men [aged 15+] participated in tennis at least once in 2025. 2
Explore further participation statistics for tennis through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
Tennis Australia, opens in a new tab is the organisation recognised by governments at all levels as the national controlling body for the sport of tennis in Australia.
History
The Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia was formed in 1904 to oversee tennis in the six Australian states and New Zealand. Its establishment enabled Australasia to compete in the Davis Cup and host the Australasian Championships, which later became the Australian Open.
In 1926, the organisation became the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia. Tennis Australia was adopted as its trading name in 1986 and became the organisation's official name in 2007. 1, 3, 4, 5
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2024-2025[PDF • 15.68 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2023-2024[PDF • 5.33 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2022-2023[PDF • 4.97 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2021-2022[PDF • 19.68 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2020-2021[PDF • 4.56 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2019-2020[PDF • 11.84 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2018-2019[PDF • 5.71 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2017-2018[PDF • 4.34 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2016-2017[PDF • 5.46 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2015-2016[PDF • 5.92 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2014-2015[PDF • 10.05 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2013-2014[PDF • 8.66 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2012-2013[PDF • 16.04 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2011-2012[PDF • 3.94 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2010-2011[PDF • 3.82 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2009-2010[PDF • 31.89 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2008-2009[PDF • 2.16 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2007-2008[PDF • 4.3 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2006-2007[PDF • 3.51 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2005-2006[PDF • 3.71 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2004-2005[PDF • 6.81 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2002-2003[PDF • 28.56 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2001-2002[PDF • 1.93 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 2000-2001[PDF • 26.23 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1999-2000[PDF • 26.62 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1998-1999[PDF • 33.8 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1997[PDF • 13.68 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1996[PDF • 13.66 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1995[PDF • 15.63 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1994[PDF • 10.47 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1993[PDF • 11.44 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1992[PDF • 8.29 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1991[PDF • 16.16 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1990[PDF • 3.95 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1989[PDF • 6.3 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1988[PDF • 9.19 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1987[PDF • 10.72 mb]
- Tennis Australia Annual Report 1986[PDF • 9.45 mb]
- Lawn Tennis Association of Australia Annual Report 1985[PDF • 7.12 mb]
- Lawn Tennis Association of Australia Annual Report 1984-1985[PDF • 8.13 mb]
- Lawn Tennis Association of Australia Annual Report 1983-1984[PDF • 4.44 mb]
- Lawn Tennis Association of Australia Annual Report 1982-1983[PDF • 3.64 mb]
- Lawn Tennis Association of Australia Annual Report 1981-1982[PDF • 2.93 mb]
- Lawn Tennis Association of Australia Annual Report 1980-1981[PDF • 1.97 mb]
- Tennis Australia Women and Girls Strategy 2022-2027[PDF • 8 mb]
- Tennis 2020 : facility development and management framework for Australian tennis (2012)[PDF • 1.16 mb]
- Tennis Australia Strategic Plan 2004-2008[PDF • 414.88 kb]
- Tennis Australia Strategic Plan 2002-2004[PDF • 10.16 mb]
- Our Vision : connecting more people to tennis [no date][PDF • 71.68 kb]
- Look Inside Australian Tennis (2010)[PDF • 6.9 mb]
REFERENCES
- Fast facts, opens in a new tab, Australian Open, (accessed 9 January 2026).
- AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 15 May 2026).
- A History of Australian Tennis, opens in a new tab, Google Arts & Culture/Tennis Australia, (accessed 9 January 2026).
- Occasional Paper 177: Australia’s First Tennis Match, opens in a new tab, Naval Historical Society of Australia, (1 January 2024).
- Annual Reports, Tennis Australia.
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