Zizou Bergs leads the charge for a greener tennis tour
The Belgian pro, Zizou Bergs, tops the ATP’s Carbon Tracker as he pushes for sustainability in a high-travel sport.
Bergs’ commitment to sustainability comes at a time when professional tennis is facing growing scrutiny over its environmental impact. With players crisscrossing the globe for tournaments nearly year-round, the sport generates a significant carbon footprint, largely from air travel. The ATP’s Carbon Tracker, designed to help players monitor and mitigate their emissions, is a step toward accountability, but few have embraced it as actively as Bergs.
His initiatives extend beyond just tracking; he has partnered with sustainability organizations, wears and recycles eco-friendly clothing, and has spoken openly about the responsibility athletes have in setting a better example. By topping the Carbon Tracker rankings, he’s proving that individual actions, even in a sport with unavoidable travel demands, can make a difference.
What makes Bergs’ efforts even more compelling is that he’s not a household name. Unlike tennis superstars who dominate headlines, the 24-year-old is making waves not just with his results but with his advocacy. His message is clear: change is possible, but only if players, tournaments, and governing bodies take real steps to prioritize sustainability.
The challenge now is whether more players will follow his lead. With climate concerns becoming impossible to ignore, Bergs’ stance could mark the start of a larger movement within professional tennis where ranking points and trophies are no longer the only things that matter.
Inside the Baseline…
Tennis is a sport built on tradition, but it’s time for the culture around sustainability to change. Watching someone like Zizou Bergs take a stand proves that players can be more than just athletes. They can be leaders. The constant travel, the excess, and the waste are all part of a system that’s been ignored for too long. But Bergs is showing that even in a sport that demands global movement, there are ways to be responsible. If one player can take action, why can’t others? The excuses are running out, and it’s about time tennis starts treating sustainability with the same urgency as winning Grand Slams.
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