2024 Preview: Pride in Tennis Cup Returns

In 2023, Pride in Tennis hosted their inaugural nationwide tournament, which saw ten LGBTQ+ doubles teams from across the UK come together to compete for the Pride in Tennis Cup.

Set to return in 2024 (details to be confirmed), 2023’s event took place at the LTA’s Nottingham venue in September, where only a few months before, Britain’s Katie Boulter had taken home her very first WTA trophy. While Katie wasn’t there to cheer us on, we knew we were in the presence of greatness – in spirit, at least! The event has since been shortlisted for Competition of the Year at the Nottinghamshire County LTA Awards.

I have played with an LGBTQ social tennis group called FAST (Friday and Sunday Tennis) for about four years in London. In its 20-year lifespan, hundreds of gay men have played at FAST. Some even met partners through the group. While I’d played singles before, it was FAST that introduced me to doubles, so when the opportunity arose to captain the FAST 1 team in doubles, I could hardly refuse.

We went into the tournament to have fun – and we did, but we also won! I have played competitive tournaments pre-COVID, but the Pride in Tennis Cup felt different. It was more about participation and friendships than anything else. To meet other players from all over the UK was a real plus, and the team camaraderie and friendly banter was an added bonus. It was great that there were mixed gender teams, as too often events I have previously played have been exclusively CIS men.

The LTA had provided the courts and balls – so the event was free to those who participated. Tennis can be an expensive sport. But this event by being free to all who participated helped inclusivity and demonstrated the LTA’s commitment to opening up tennis to everyone.

Plans are underway for the Pride in Tennis Cup 2024. It’s down to FAST 1 to try and retain the title – or for one of the other LGBTQ+ teams to challenge us for it! The trophy, by the way, is currently on my sideboard, but we are hoping that we will be able to display it in the sport centre where we play, in the hope that others will see it and be persuaded to join us.

We think displaying it locally would be a great way to celebrate FAST’s success and reach more LGBTQ+ people who don’t yet know about us. 

About the author – Malcolm Bryant (he/him) plays at FAST tennis in London every Friday and Sunday. He is also an avid runner and has 20 years worth of experience as a senior civil servant.