History of Beach Tennis
International Origins
Italy remains one of the strongest and most established Beach Tennis communities in the world. During the mid-1970s, the sport also developed in Torredembarra, Spain, where some of the earliest organised matches using rules similar to the modern game took place, contributing to the formalisation of Beach Tennis.
Formalisation and Early Development
During the late 1970s and 1980s, beach tennis developed from an informal beach game into a more structured sport. Early players used wooden paddles and initially played over higher nets similar to beach volleyball. As the sport developed, the net was lowered to 1.70 metres, helping create the faster style of play associated with modern beach tennis. Equipment also evolved towards the specialist rackets used today.
International Growth & Recognition
Beach Tennis expanded significantly through the 1990s and 2000s. A major step forward came in 2008, when the International Tennis Federation (ITF) established an official Beach Tennis Tour. The first ITF Beach Tennis World Championships followed in 2009, helping to strengthen the sport’s international structure and competitive pathway.
Brazil has become one of the major global centres of Beach Tennis, with strong participation and a substantial international tournament programme. The country is now a central hub for the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour and a leading force in the sport’s continued international growth.
Beach Tennis now attracts former tennis professionals and international athletes, contributing to rising standards and increasing global recognition.
Beach Tennis in the UK
Growth & Community Impact
BTUK has helped grow Beach Tennis in the UK by creating accessible opportunities for new players, delivering coaching and competitions, and working with councils, charities and community organisations. Our focus is on sustainable grassroots growth, with a strong emphasis on quality, safety, inclusion and community.
From its early beginnings in Brighton, BTUK has developed established communities in Brighton and Poole, while supporting wider opportunities for beach tennis to grow in coastal and inland locations across the UK.
Beach Tennis UK began delivering beach tennis in Brighton in 2010, with a small group of players on the Brighton Sand Court. Beach Tennis UK was founded in 2011 and incorporated as Beach Tennis UK Limited in 2012. Since then, the sport has developed gradually through grassroots activity, coaching, events and community programmes.
BTUK continues to develop beach tennis through regular sessions, coaching, beginner pathways, tournaments and community activity. Our established Brighton hub and developing Poole hub provide regular opportunities to play, while we continue to support the growth of beach tennis in both coastal and inland locations across the UK.
Beach Tennis originated in the early 1970s on the beaches of Lido degli Estensi, in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, where tennis players began hitting over existing beach-volleyball nets. What started as a casual beach activity quickly developed into a distinct sport with its own identity and style.
