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The Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) started out as
the Madras Provincial Lawn Tennis Association (MPLTA) in
1926. This was just six years after the All India Lawn
Tennis Association was formed in Lahore. This came about
at a time when the sport was growing in popularity all over the
world and many associations were being formed so that the game could
develop in an orderly manner.
 The
first President of the MPLTA was the Hon Justice E.E. Mack.
Among the first clubs to get affiliated to MPLTA were the Madras
Cricket Club, Madras United Club and the South Indian Athletic
Association. Other prominent Clubs that played a key role
in the development of tennis in Tamil Nadu include, the Madras
Gymkhana Club, Mylapore Club, Cosmopolitan Club, Ooty Club
and some clubs in Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore. These Clubs, apart
from providing tennis facilities to their members, regularly conducted
tournaments, which attracted large and enthusiastic crowds.
In the 1940's, the Madras Corporation made available public
courts in the Egmore Stadium, where regular coaching was
imparted to young players and all-important tournaments were conducted.
TNTA has grown over the years and today some 28 Clubs are affiliated
to it in Chennai. The Gymkhana Club, Madras Cricket Club, Gandhinagar
Club and Presidency Club make available their facilities
for conducting Regional and National tournaments. Tennis is
played with passion not just in the city but also in the districts
of Tamil Nadu. There are nine district associations that actively
promote tennis by conducting tournaments and harnessing talent through
coaching schemes in their respective areas.
 At
present TNTA runs a coaching school at Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium
at Egmore and at the Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium. It conducts
and administers tournaments in regional, national and international
levels. TNTA also co-ordinates with sports bodies like the
All India Tennis Association (AITA), Sports Development Authority
of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and so on. Apart from conducting
coaching camps for state level players, it also conducts clinics
and examinations for umpires and officials. TNTA has been
co-ordinating with IMG every year, for successfully conducting the
annual Gold Flake Open, which is now called the Tata Open.
TNTA has its own development programme to identify and develop
talent. Through the Tamil Nadu Academy for Tennis Excellence,
the infrastructure will be set up to identify, and develop talent.
The objective of the programme would be to develop players of international
calibre.
Address: Tamil Nadu Tennis Association, Gandhi Irwin
Road, Egmore,
Chennai - 600 008.
E-mail: tnta@eth.net
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