The national governing body for tennis in Great Britain welcomed the new funding pledge, but has reiterated the urgent need for more comprehensive support through a Sports Recovery Fund to protect jobs and safeguard tennis facilities during the coming months.

“While we welcome the recent government announcement regarding investment into public leisure, this money will be spread thinly across a huge range of publicly owned sport and leisure facilities,” said Scott Lloyd, chief executive of the LTA.

“Community indoor tennis centres play a pivotal role in supporting the physical and mental health of people in their local communities, but Covid-19 has left many in a perilous position. The current restrictions across Britain still mean the number of people who can use these centres is significantly less than in normal circumstances and this will continue to have a huge impact on their financial viability as we move into a difficult winter.”

The LTA supports a network of 54 CITCs across England, Scotland and Wales, which deliver a range of tennis activity to local communities across the country including junior programmes, adult social play and activity as part of the LTA’s Open Court disability programme.

The threat to CITCs follows a summer in which tennis participation soared with the most recent figures showing a 7 per cent like for like increase on the previous year.

Last month, the government announced £100m of funding address the ongoing challenges faced local authority sport and leisure facilities.