Tennis
A loyal and long-standing partner of world tennis since 1973, BNP Paribas supports the sport in all its forms. Today, as in the past, the Group shares the passion and values of tennis. The diversity of BNP Paribas’ commitments demonstrates its passion for the game, in a love affair that has grown stronger over more than 50 years.
The story of a unique partnership since 1973
Our relationship with tennis began in 1973 when the French Tennis Federation asked BNP to finance the construction of the boxes on the central court at Roland-Garros. To acknowledge this support, three letters were displayed on the famous tarpaulin and so BNP duly became the official sponsor of Roland-Garros, now one of the world’s leading sporting events. This was the first in a long line of partnerships that have been extended to prestigious tournaments and professional competitions around the globe.
Key dates
Philippe Chatrier, president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), looks to expand the centre court at Roland-Garros. The BNP branch in Auteuil (120 Rue Jean de la Fontaine) supports and finances the work. The BNP name appears on the Roland-Garros tarpaulins.
The BNP and its network of branches support the activities of the French Tennis Federation, with the bank providing amateur clubs with tennis equipment kits.
BNP Paribas has been present throughout the rise of wheelchair tennis via the Open de France Handisport. Today, the bank is involved in 3 major tournaments and supports 6 disabled players.
The logo of the new BNP Paribas Group, resulting from the merger of the two banks, is revealed for the first time on the Roland-Garros tarpaulins. BNP Paribas becomes a partner in the selection of ball boys and girls. Thanks to this support, the selection process has since been extended to the whole of France.
BNP Paribas goes international and becomes a partner of the Davis Cup and then the Fed Cup in 2006.
Following the acquisition of BNL bank in Italy, the Rome Masters becomes the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in the magnificent Foro Italico stadium.
The bank teams up with the Indian Wells tournament, renamed the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open. This competition is now considered the fifth Grand Slam.
Creation of the digital platform We Are Tennis, which has now more than 2 million fans online. 4 years later, BNP Paribas establishes the We Are Tennis Fan Academy, the first club for tennis fans.
Creation of the We Are Tennis Cup, the internal BNP Paribas employee tournament which brings together more than 3,500 employees from 40 different countries each year.
Launch of the “Team BNP Paribas Young Talents” programme, which helps develop future top-level tennis players and works with the younger generation to identify and support tennis hopefuls.
BNP Paribas supports Canadian player Félix Auger-Aliassime in his commitment to educating children in Togo through the project #FAAPOINTSFORCHANGE.
BNP Paribas celebrates 50 years of commitment to tennis. The bank reaffirms its loyalty and strengthens its commitment to younger generations.
Major tournaments sponsored by BNP Paribas
We Are Tennis: bringing together a community of enthusiasts
Launched in 2011, We Are Tennis is our digital platform dedicated to tennis news. It brings fans together and provides a forum for sharing unique experiences. Thanks to its dynamic social ecosystem and exclusive benefits programme, We Are Tennis allows tennis enthusiasts to experience the sport in a whole new way. Members can obtain tickets to BNP Paribas-sponsored tournaments, meet the best ATP and WTA players, receive discounts from partners, etc.
In 2015, BNP Paribas continued to innovate by setting up the “We Are Tennis Fan Academy”, the world’s first school for tennis fans. John McEnroe, an international tennis legend, was appointed as Captain and Ambassador.
BNP Paribas has gone even further by creating unique events such as the WildCard Battle, in collaboration with the streamer Domingo. Held at Roland-Garros in 2024, this event attracted over 6,000 spectators and was broadcast live on Twitch, demonstrating the Group’s commitment to promote tennis through modern, entertaining and immersive formats.
BNP Paribas supports the champions of tomorrow
BNP Paribas is also committed to supporting the next generation of top-level tennis players. Since 2018, the BNP Paribas Young Talents Team programme has enabled several tennis hopefuls to benefit from financial and human support each year, with the aim of reaching the highest level of competition. This initiative is fully in line with the BNP Paribas Group’s engagement policy and aims to support equal opportunities and the inclusion of young people.Today, the programme supports more than 160 young players in 8 countries: France, the United States, Poland, Italy, Belgium, Japan, Canada and Portugal.
In France, the BNP Paribas Young Talents Team, in partnership with the French Tennis Federation, is supported by exceptional mentors in the persons of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Alizé Cornet. It supports about 50 young French tennis hopefuls.
BNP Paribas also supports some 30 young people from La Team Kids (7 to 14 years old) and Team Avenir (14 years and older) within the association Fête le Mur of Yannick Noah. The aim of this structure is to promote the inclusion of young people and to combat any social determinism, through the development of tennis practice, in the priority areas of the city and other disadvantaged areas. These young people are supported through support for equipment or membership in clubs, but also through regular contact with young people’s coaches in their structures to monitor their development.
The BNP Paribas Young Talents Team, in France.
Next to the ball kids for more than 50 years
BNP Paribas has supported the Roland-Garros ball kids since 1973 and a partner of their selection throughout France since 2000. Previously, only licensees from the Ile-de-France region could apply for the selection, but this partnership has made it possible to open up the application process to all young enthusiasts in the country. Every year, 6,000 young people apply to become a ball boy or girl. Of these, 300 have the honour of being selected for Roland-Garros.
To enable them to stay in touch and access exclusive content and events, in 2021, the Group also teamed up with the FFT to launch the We Are Ballos website, a platform dedicated to all Roland-Garros ball boys and girls.
Tennis for solidarity and inclusion
Beyond competition, BNP Paribas is a backer of community-minded tennis alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime in his commitment to education in Togo, his father’s country of origin. From 2020, the player and BNP Paribas have launched the #FAAPointsForChange programme to support young Togolese generations. For every point won by the player on the ATP circuit, Félix Auger-Aliassime donates $5, and BNP Paribas contributes $15. Supported by BNP Paribas on this project that lies so close to his heart, Félix has already scored more than 26,500 points, raising almost $530,000 for his charity in the process.
In 2025, the programme is taking on a new dimension with the implementation of excellence scholarships, to remove the barriers that many young people face in accessing higher education and provide them with the means to fulfil their academic and professional potential. Each year, talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds will benefit from this programme. The aim: to promote their academic success, broaden their future prospects and encourage them to become agents of change in their countries.
Félix Auger-Aliassime in Togo, for the #FAAPointsForChange programme.
Supported by BNP Paribas on this project that lies so close to his heart, Félix has already scored more than 26,500 points, raising almost $530,000 for his charity in the process.