The Lawn Tennis Association is "facing a sizeable financial loss" for a third year in a row, according to Tom Garry of the BBC. Sources suggested losses in '18 "could be as high as" £7.5M ($9.8M), but the LTA retains "vast cash reserves" and its accounts for '19 are "expected to be much healthier." It follows respective losses of £4.7M and £1M in the previous two years. Regional briefing documents warned that the LTA will post another financial loss in '18, although its accounts for the year "are not expected to be made public" until April '19. A temporary reduction in revenues from Wimbledon because of the construction of a roof on Court One, which is due to be competed in '19, "has contributed to the shortfall." The documents also state that participation in tennis in Britain has fallen by nearly 10% compared to last year, "despite relative successes on the court by leading players," including Kyle Edmund's run to the Australian Open semifinals. The LTA currently has nine regional offices in England, all of which are understood to be set to close to reduce costs, although activities will "continue to operate from a central base and it is thought that the work of county associations will be unaffected." The LTA may have reserves of nearly £140M ($183.8M), but will be concerned by a potential loss of about £12M ($15.7M) over two years. This year's accounts will be compromised by the end of a "lucrative" nine-year partnership with Aegon. The financial services company acted as lead partner of British Tennis and title sponsor of June's grass court events. The sponsorship provided by Fever Tree and Nature Valley in the summer of '18 was "not as extensive" (BBC, 11/7).
