Discover how Team GB’s gold showcases the power of UK university tennis and a pathway built for elite performance and education.
Earlier this month, Team GB Students triumphed at the 2025 Master’U BNP Paribas Championships, securing a historic gold medal and underlining to a global audience the strength of the UK’s university tennis system.
The victory in Reims delivered GB’s first title since 2017 and reinforced how British higher education continues to develop world class athletes and coaches who can compete with the leading nations in international student sport.
What are the Master’U BNP Paribas Championships?
The Master’U BNP Paribas Championships are regarded as the leading global university tennis tournament.
Organised by the French University Sport Federation (FFSU) and the French Tennis Federation (FFT) in partnership with BNP Paribas, the event brings together eight of the world’s strongest student tennis nations.
The 2025 edition featured teams from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and the USA, alongside GB Students. Competition spans singles, doubles and mixed doubles, and for more than a decade the tournament has acted as a major benchmark for national university systems.
It provides a stage where student athletes compete in a professional team format against opponents shaped by high performance pathways across the international university tennis landscape.
Who Represented GB Students?
Selected jointly by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), the 2025 GB Students squad reflected the depth and variety within British university tennis.
At the helm was a strong UK coaching contingent, led by Alistair Higham, responsible for GB University tennis, alongside Tom Kisiel, Head Coach of Performance Tennis at Loughborough University.
On court, the UK contribution was led by Loughborough University’s Eliz Maloney and the University of Bristol’s Grace Piper, with Maloney returning as the only player from last year’s silver-medal squad and doing so as the reigning BUCS Individuals and Doubles Champion.
They were supported by a select group of British players competing within the US collegiate system, including James Connel, Sofia Johnson, Finlay Murgett and Oliver Okonkwo, bringing additional quality and international experience to a squad that showcased the strength of British university tennis at home and abroad.
How the Tournament Unfolded
Team GB Students progressed past Switzerland and Australia to reach a rematch of last year’s final against defending champions the USA. The title decider unfolded as a finely balanced contest, with honours shared across the singles and doubles to leave the tie locked heading into a decisive mixed doubles match.
GB held their nerve when it mattered most to secure victory, claiming their first Master’U gold in eight years and extending the programme’s remarkable run to eight consecutive medals on the international stage.
Why UK University Tennis Stands Among the World’s Best
GB’s triumph in Reims offers a powerful demonstration of the depth and competitiveness within the UK university tennis system. At a time when many British players consider US scholarships as the primary route for high level development, this result shows that the domestic pathway can provide performance standards fully comparable with international programmes.
BUCS has established a structured national framework that delivers clear progression routes and access to professional coaching. Tennis performance hubs at institutions such as Loughborough, Bath, Stirling and Nottingham play a key role too, developing athletes who are ready to compete against the world’s best in student sport.
The gold medal highlights not only the calibre of the six selected athletes, but also the strength of the wider UK university environment that supports them through their development. Increasingly, this pathway is also attracting former NCAA athletes who are choosing UK universities to continue their tennis careers while pursuing postgraduate study within a high-performance environment.
For aspiring student players, the message is clear: the UK offers a competitive, ambitious and well-resourced system capable of preparing athletes for success on the international stage.
Take the Next Step in Your Tennis Journey
Whether you’re exploring scholarship opportunities, considering postgraduate study, or looking for a high-performance environment to continue your development, UK universities offer a pathway that combines elite sport with academic excellence.
Learn more about UK university tennis or register your details to begin your journey and discover how studying in the UK can open doors to elite competition and world-class education.
Please follow our social media channels to keep up to date with all things sport related across the Higher Education sector!
