Road tennis, a vibrant and alternative form of tennis born in Barbados in the 1930s, has become a significant part of the island’s sporting culture. Originally played with makeshift equipment due to socioeconomic inequality, road tennis has since grown in popularity, with thousands of people playing it in every community on the island.
The sport, which has its own annual Road Tennis Open attracting over 100 participants and offering prizes of up to $10,000, aims to expand beyond Barbados by training coaches for export and attracting interest from other African nations and the European Union. Mark Venam Griffith and Sheldon Warren, the number one men’s and women’s World Road Tennis champions, are confident that they could compete against top traditional tennis players like Roger Federer and Serena Williams on a road tennis court. Road tennis’ unique origins and widespread appeal have made it a cherished and integral part of Barbados’ sporting heritage.