At the esteemed Tennis Black List 2024 event, hosted at the National Tennis Centre, former world number three and tennis superstar Yannick Noah was honoured with the Icon Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the sport. The 64-year-old Frenchman has left an indelible mark on tennis over an extended period of time, making him a deserving recipient of this prestigious accolade.
Founded by Anne-Marie Batson and Richard Sackey-Addo, the Tennis Black List celebrates and acknowledges tennis role models from the black and mixed black heritage community. The second annual event, held on 27 June 2024, was supported by the LTA, Barclays, and YC Sports and aimed to honour individuals and organisations across all levels of the sport, both in Britain and internationally.
Inspired by the success of the Football Black List and Rugby Black List, the Tennis Black List seeks to highlight and celebrate black excellence in tennis. The event serves as an opportunity to inspire the next generation within the tennis community by recognising and appreciating the commitment shown by the winners, both on and off the court.
During the event, awards were presented in eight different categories, with numerous recipients in attendance at the National Tennis Centre. Organisers Anne-Marie Batson and Richard Sackey-Addo expressed their gratitude, stating, “This was truly a night of inspiration and celebration of the black and mixed-black heritage communities’ excellence in tennis on and off the court. It’s been an honour to recognise a group of remarkable people who are the perfect embodiment of this.”
Yannick Noah’s distinguished career includes winning 23 singles titles and 16 doubles titles, achieving the status of world number three in singles and world number one in doubles. His most notable triumph came in 1983 at Roland Garros, where he became the first Frenchman in 37 years to win the French Open. Additionally, Noah played a pivotal role in the success of the French Davis Cup team, aiding them in securing their first Davis Cup victory in 59 years in 1996, and guiding them to their inaugural Federation Cup title in 1997.
Scott Lloyd, the Chief Executive of the LTA, commended the event, stating, “It was hugely inspiring to celebrate once again all the amazing successes and achievements of the black and mixed-black heritage communities – the 2024 winners are real role models to everyone.”
The event at the National Tennis Centre served as a testament to the power of acknowledging and celebrating black excellence in sport, with the aim of inspiring and encouraging more individuals to be a part of the tennis community, whether as players, coaches, or volunteers.
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