Surrey Sports Park and Team Surrey are set to benefit from a major boost to university tennis and padel after the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) announced increased investment for the next funding cycle.
The LTA has committed £1.6 million to British university tennis and padel through to the end of the 2028/29 academic year, representing a 15% increase on the previous funding cycle. The funding will be match-funded by universities, unlocking a further £1.6 million to support participation, workforce development and competition opportunities across the university game.
As an official LTA Partner University, the University of Surrey is part of a growing network helping to shape the future of tennis and padel in the UK.
The new funding cycle will focus on three key priorities:
These priorities closely reflect the growth already being seen across Team Surrey’s tennis and padel programme.
During the 2025/26 academic year, 753 unique students participated in tennis or padel activities at Surrey Sports Park, compared with 303 students recorded in 2024/25. While the latest figure includes both tennis and padel, it highlights the significant growth of racquet sports across campus.
Padel has been a major part of that growth, with 110 students engaging in padel activity during the year, establishing the sport alongside Surrey’s well-established tennis programme.
Students can now access opportunities at every level, from complete beginners through to performance competition. The programme includes Learn to Tennis, Friday Night Lights, Social Sunday, the IMS Tennis Ladder, Black Tennis Mentors UK sessions, pan-inclusive tennis, BUCS and Development Tennis, as well as recreational, coached and competitive padel.
The programme is also developing the next generation of coaches and leaders. Currently, 15 students are coaching or assisting, while a further 17 student activators support recreational, competitive, inclusive and community delivery.
Competition has also expanded. Team Surrey continues to field six BUCS tennis teams - four men’s and two women’s - alongside Development Tennis and a growing range of non-BUCS competition opportunities. In padel, students can progress into the University’s National University Padel League (NUPL) squad, providing a competitive pathway alongside recreational and coached sessions.
Recent partnerships and inclusion initiatives have also helped broaden the programme’s reach. Work with Black Tennis Mentors UK, alongside pan-inclusive sessions with community partners (LinkAble and Halow) and targeted engagement with different student groups, has created more welcoming entry points into tennis and padel and helped connect new participants with regular opportunities.
With increased national investment and strong local momentum, Surrey Sports Park and Team Surrey are well placed to continue growing participation, developing future coaches and volunteers, and expanding competitive opportunities across both tennis and padel.
To learn more about the LTA’s investment in university tennis and padel, visit the LTA announcement.