National Mourning Guidance for tennis
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The LTA joins with the tennis community across Great Britain in paying tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, following her passing on 8 September 2022.
Her Majesty dedicated her life to public service throughout her 70 year reign. She was universally admired and respected throughout the country and supported many charities and organisations. She was patron of the LTA for many years. She graciously gave up her time to open our own National Tennis Centre at Roehampton and meet our British players in 2007. Her loss will be felt across the country and throughout the Commonwealth.
The nation will now undertake a period of National Mourning, which has now started and will continue until the end of the day of the state funeral. The funeral has been confirmed for Monday 19 September.
The National Moment of Reflection will take place at 20:00 on Sunday 18 September - more details here.
The Government has published National Mourning Guidance for the public and businesses which can be accessed here, and sets out the following information with respect to major events, entertainment and sports:
- There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period. This is at the discretion of individual organisations.
- As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral. They are under no obligation to do so and this is entirely at the discretion of individual organisations.
- If sporting fixtures or events are planned for the day of the State Funeral, organisations may want to adjust the event timings so they do not clash with the timings of the funeral service and associated processions.
- As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands.
The LTA has published the following guidance for the tennis community through the period of National Mourning.
The LTA believes that sport has an important role to play in bringing the country together. The tennis community provides many with friendship and support through good times and bad. In enabling tennis to continue as much as possible during this difficult time for the country, we hope it will provide an opportunity for our community to unite and pay our respects.
Tennis competitions
Competitions scheduled within the National Mourning period can take place, but we would encourage a respectful tone to reflect the nature of this period.
The exception to this is the date of the state funeral, when there will be no LTA-staged or sanctioned competitions, as a mark of respect. Our guidance is that club fixtures or internal venue competitions should also not take place on this day.
Through the rest of the National Mourning period, the LTA encourages competition organisers to allow participants to pay respects to The Queen each day at a competition with a minute silence at the start of the day.
Competitions may also wish to consider playing the National Anthem at the start of the day, if this is feasible.
Players and officials may also wish to wear black arm bands or ribbons as a mark of their respects.
Tennis venues
Tennis clubs and venues may remain open throughout the National Mourning period.
On the date of the state funeral, in line with Government guidance, the decision on whether to open or not is for individual venues to take.
Where venues decide to open and activity such as coaching is planned, the LTA encourages venues to consider adjusting timings so this does not clash with the timings of the funeral service and associated processions.
We would also encourage venue to consider the tone and the content of communications over the coming days.
The National Tennis Centre and Nottingham Tennis Centre will be closed on the day of the Queen’s funeral.
Venues and clubs which fly a Union flag are encouraged to do so at half-mast until 08:00am on the day after the funeral. Official flag flying guidance can be found here.
Recreational play and coaching
Recreational play can continue throughout the period of National Mourning.
Coaching activity can also continue throughout this period.
On the date of the state funeral, for venues that do decide to open and activity is planned, in line with Government guidance coaches and participants may wish to consider adjusting timings so this does not clash with the timings of the funeral service and associated processions.
For further information on the National Mourning Guidance please visit here.
