Tennis Australia and Santos end partnership after just one year

The sponsorship by oil and gas company Santos of Tennis Australia and its partnership with the organisation’s marquee tournament, the Australian Open, has ended just one year into what had been launched as a multi-year term.

The original deal was announced just days before the delayed 2021 Australian Open and saw Santos recognised as the natural gas partner of both that tournament and the APT Cup, while also supporting Tennis Australia’s grassroots initiatives.

At that time, the sponsorship was said to showcase natural gas being used in everyday life and there was also a focus on regional and indigenous communities.

Santos received significant stadium signage as part of the deal.

However, the resources giant’s partnerships have been targeted by climate activists claiming that it was using sports marketing to direct a positive light on its business through a method dubbed by some as ‘sportswashing’.

While mainstream media reports have suggested that termination took place before 5th November 2021, details have only emerged over the weekend.

Tennis Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action framework, which seeks to use the ‘soft power’ of sport to encourage meaningful action on the climate crisis.

Image: Santos signage on display at the 2021 Australian Open.