Tennis Australia has announced the termination of their deal with fossil fuel company Santos, with the deal terminated just one year after it began due to accusations of “sportswashing”.

Santos was first announced as Tennis Australia’s official natural gas partner in February 2021.

Tennis Australia is a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, which aims to use sport as a way to encourage meaningful action towards climate change.

With the exact reasons behind the separation unknown, it is believed the organisation’s commitment to climate change through the UN was a participating factor.

When the deal was first signed, over 7,000 people signed a petition against the partnership.

350 Australia chief executive, Lucy Manne, said: “Tennis Australia hasn’t told us why this has occurred and they may not, but regardless, this is a huge public benefit in terms of not having a big fossil fuel company’s brand splashed all over a major event.”

“There was a big effort to make it unacceptable for cigarette companies to sponsor events, now it’s the time to do the same for fossil fuel companies,” Manne said.

350 Australia is the climate change activist organisation who originally petitioned against the deal.

Elsewhere, with the 2022 Australian Open ongoing, Tennis Australia has announced a three year deal with Sport24, a 24/7 live sports channel for airline and cruise liner industries.

Sport24 is the sister channel to Sport24 Extra who has been a partner with Tennis Australia for over 10 years.

The deal will include over 150 hours of live Australian Open (AO) coverage per year, as well as AO original programs available year round for passengers.

Tennis Australia CEO and Australian Open tournament director, Craig Tiley, said: “We are excited to renew our partnership with Sport 24 and to be able to bring the drama and excitement of all the action here at Melbourne Park to fans traveling across the globe wherever they might be.”