A group of South Australian kids have just had the kind of summer holiday most tennis fans only dream about, thanks to Emirates’ Force for Good program, which flew them straight into the heart of the Australian Open.
On Friday, 25 children and young people from community tennis initiatives around the country, including participants from Adelaide, touched down in Melbourne for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Grand Slam. For many, it was their first time travelling interstate, let alone stepping inside one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
The trip marked the culmination of the first year of the Emirates Force for Good program, delivered in partnership with the Australian Tennis Foundation. Backed by a $2.25 million, five-year commitment from Emirates, the initiative is designed to give disadvantaged and marginalised children the chance to connect, grow and build confidence through tennis.
Across its 2025 pilot year, the program reached thousands of young people nationwide. Working with 53 delivery partners across five cities, it delivered 44 programs and events, introducing more than 2,000 children and young people to tennis and creating over 10,500 hours of positive, shared experiences on and off the court.
Adelaide played a key role in that journey. Locally, the program partnered with three organisations, offering 130 children the chance to get involved in the sport through 20 dedicated coaching sessions. One of the schools represented on the Melbourne trip was Playford College, with students rewarded for their commitment, teamwork and positive attitude.
At the Australian Open, the group soaked up the full experience, from the electric atmosphere around the courts to meeting tennis greats Casey Dellacqua and Pat Cash at the AO Ballpark presented by Emirates. For kids who began their tennis journey on local community courts, standing inside a Grand Slam was a powerful moment.
Emirates Regional Sales Manager Dean Cleaver said the day captured exactly what the program set out to achieve. “Today is a celebration of the impact this program continues to have on children’s lives. We’re not just introducing them to a sport. We are providing a pathway to build confidence, improve their physical health, and boost their mental wellbeing,” he said. “Flying them to Melbourne embodies what our Force for Good initiative is all about – connecting communities and creating opportunities.”
The results speak for themselves. Following their involvement in the program, 85 per cent of participants reported feeling more positive about themselves and their future, while 76 per cent said they felt more confident trying new things.
Australian Tennis Foundation Executive Director Vicki Reid said seeing the children experience the Open was incredibly moving. “This is the magic of sport in action. The program is designed to help participants build their confidence to try something new, find a place to belong, and experience the joy tennis can bring,” she said.
Former world number eight and Australian tennis icon Casey Dellacqua, who spent time with the group, said the experience was just as special for her. “Looking at these kids, I see the same spark I had when I first picked up a racquet. For many, this will be a defining moment, showing them that no dream is too big.”
The Force for Good program sits alongside Emirates’ long-standing support of Australian sport and culture, including its role as the Official Airline of the Australian Open. With the pilot year complete, the program will continue into 2026, with more community tennis programs and events planned across the country, and more young South Australians set to benefit.
