Tennis becomes the first sport since curling in 2008 to be added to U SPORTS programming
Tennis Canada and U SPORTS on Friday announced exciting news for university tennis in Canada, as tennis becomes the first tryout (P3) sport in the program’s history. This collaboration, which began this fall, will improve the student-athlete experience, giving tennis players more opportunities to compete at a higher level within the Canadian education system.
The decision to unite tennis with U SPORTS stems from a shared vision to provide competitive opportunities and promote positive experiences for all involved in the sport. By enhancing existing college tennis events and exploring new options, we hope more people will continue to play tennis during and after their college years.
quotes
“We are pleased to announce our exciting partnership with Tennis Canada, which represents the integration of tennis into U SPORTS’ new model sport program as an experiential sport. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in our commitment to promoting athletic and academic excellence while expanding opportunities for student-athletes across the country. In collaboration with Tennis Canada and our members, we look forward to serving as a catalyst in developing top-tier talent in Canada and promoting the values of excellence and equality within our university communities.
–Lisette Johnson Stapley, Chief Sports Officer at U SPORTS
“Joining U SPORTS as a pilot sport is an important moment for Canadian tennis. This collaboration holds tremendous potential for the sport, and we are thrilled to work alongside U SPORTS to enhance the Canadian Universities Tennis Championships. This will not only open new doors for student-athletes, but will also enhance Growth in participation in tennis at the collegiate level.
–Ryan Burzon, Director of Professional and National Events at Tennis Canada
additional information
- As an experiential sport, tennis will be part of the Partnership Sports category in the new U SPORTS Sports Model programme. Within this classification, there are three subcategories: trial sports (P3), invitational sports (P2), and conference sports (P1). Most sports under the Sports Partnership umbrella are primarily funded by the appropriate National Sports Organization (NSO) and operated in partnership with U SPORTS.
- Throughout 2024, Tennis Canada will work with U SPORTS to build the reputation of university tennis in hopes of elevating the sport to the level of a sports partnership. Once a sport reaches the P1 subcategory, it can then advance to the National Primary Championship Sports category, which includes sports such as hockey, basketball and soccer.
- Tennis Canada will continue to host the annual University Tennis Championships in collaboration with U SPORTS.
