FORMER DEPARTED UEL STUDENT COMMENDS LTA IN
THEIR EFFORTS TO TACKLE RACISM
IN TENNIS
Jaidyn Murray, former UEL student and university
Tennis player, had a meeting with the Independent last week. He
has also talked through the underlying racism in Tennis and the
resolutions the LTA has in tackling its racism issue.
Jaidyn Murray
In the article published by The Independent, Jaidyn
starts by touching on his personal experiences as a black
man in Tennis. outlines how he felt like he did not fit
in coming through the ranks. Murray would then go
onto mention that possibility was not equally
given and were gifted to players that he may have
been greater than. Once he’d walk out onto the court,
Murray stated that people would look at him
strangely wondering if he was even in the right place.
Due to scenarios like this he claims he would not allow
his children to pick up the sport in fear of them being
treated the same.
LTA scheme: Tennis Opened Up
Tennis Opened Up was launched by The Lawn Tennis
Association, known as LTA in 2019. It was tasked with
increasing the inclusiveness of the sport. One of the
strategies Murray described, was the LTA teaching
coaches about dealing with situations involving ethnic
minorities.
The LTA have since published an inclusion strategy
which would focus on long term cultural change. 50
actions were set out, which includes more diversity on
the board, as well as an established partnership with
the Refugee Employment Network. 14.000 people
participate in the programme where Tennis is taken
into disadvantaged communities.
With these impactful changes happening Jaidyn is now
more comfortable and open to putting his kids into
Tennis as he feels they would not receive the same
discrimination their father received
EDITOR: David OLANREWAJU
