Member Spotlight - Polly Baker

From Clinic to Court: A Journey into Elite Tennis Medicine

Interview with Polly Baker; a Sports and Exercise Medicine Consultant at The Championships Wimbledon

What was your journey to working at Wimbledon and do you have any advice for doctors who would like to work in tennis?

I have worked as a Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Consultant for 14 years, but my journey into tennis medicine began much earlier. As a player competing at a high level, I developed an appreciation for the sport and a strong understanding of the physical and psychological demands placed on tennis players.

My early clinical experience in tennis began by assisting the Tournament Doctor at the LTA Eastbourne International. Following his retirement, I took on the role and remained there for 11 years. During this time, I also began working with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the governing body for tennis in the UK. The LTA supports top British players—typically those ranked within the top 100—as well as promising junior players, providing both medical and coaching resources.  As well as more involvement in strategy and governance, this offered valuable insight into long term athlete management beyond the tournament environment.

Whilst working for the LTA I interviewed and was offered a job with the All England Lawn Tennis Club at the Wimbledon Championships. 

For doctors aspiring to work in tennis, my advice is to get involved early and in any capacity. Initially, opportunities may be voluntary, but they are invaluable for gaining experience. Demonstrating enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and a proactive attitude will help open doors. It is also essential to understand the sport—both the psychological demands and the common injury profiles. Developing strong clinical skills in assessing and managing tennis-related conditions is also important. 

What do you think the challenges are working in tennis, compared to other sports that you've worked in?

Tennis presents several unique challenges compared to other sports I have worked in.

A key difference is load management. In team sports such as football, match exposure is relatively predictable. In contrast, tennis players may compete in a single match or progress through an entire tournament, followed immediately by another event. This variability creates challenges in managing workload and increases the risk of overuse injuries, particularly in the shoulder and lower limb. Bone stress injuries, especially in female athletes, are also a notable concern.

Another important factor is that tennis is an individual sport. Players effectively act as their own “CEOs,” which can be both empowering and challenging. While they have the final say over decisions, they may also be influenced by non-medical factors, such as earning or rankings points potentially leading to suboptimal choices regarding their health. Additionally, the relatively small support teams can make athlete wellbeing more difficult to manage.

Many players on the professional circuit do not have access to adequate funding or medical insurance. This can limit access to investigations and treatment, creating ethical and practical challenges when trying to provide optimal care.

You previously worked for the LTA, how does your experience of working at Wimbledon differ to working with the LTA?

At the LTA, the focus is on long-term athlete development and management. Clinicians are involved in ongoing care across training and competitions, allowing for continuity and a better understanding of each player. There is also greater opportunity to contribute to preventative strategies and policy development, such as guidelines for vitamin D supplementation or bone stress injury management.

In contrast, Wimbledon is a high-performance, time-pressured environment. As a Grand Slam tournament, the emphasis is often on enabling players to compete, sometimes requiring short-term management decisions that differ from ideal long-term care strategies.

Team dynamics also differ. At Wimbledon, multidisciplinary teams are highly collaborative but may change daily due to shift patterns, requiring flexibility and strong interpersonal skills. Within the LTA, teams are more consistent, allowing for established working relationships and a more personalised approach to player care.

What does a typical day look like for a Wimbledon sports medicine doctor? 

There is no such thing as a “typical” day at Wimbledon—each day presents new and unpredictable challenges.

The day usually begins with a doctors’ meeting, followed by a multidisciplinary briefing with physiotherapists to discuss players requiring medical attention or monitoring for potential on-court issues. Roles are then allocated, typically including a “roaming” doctor to attend court calls and a “base” doctor who manages walk-in consultations.

The clinical workload varies widely, from acute injury management to more complex diagnostic dilemmas. Breaks are often limited due to the working environment so you often have to grab something between tasks. One of the exceptional aspects of working at Wimbledon is access to an on-site radiology service, where expert musculoskeletal imaging can be performed promptly, often allowing immediate diagnosis and management planning.  We are also supported by nurses who are key in organising and supporting us in our delivery of medical care.

At the end of the day, the medical team ensures all players have been appropriately assessed and managed before preparing for the next day of competition.

As I often say, the medicine itself is not the most challenging aspect—the complexity lies in applying it within the context of a grand slam competition. For example, managing a suspected bone stress injury is very different if the player has been eliminated compared to if they are about to compete in a final.

What recovery technologies does Wimbledon offer for players?

It has been encouraging to see the growing emphasis that players place on recovery strategies within elite tennis. Reflecting this shift, the recent refurbishment of the Millennium Building at the All England Lawn Tennis Club has included the development of a dedicated, state-of-the-art recovery suite.

In addition to the ice baths that have long been a staple of player recovery at Wimbledon, the facility now incorporates a range of advanced modalities. These include devices capable of delivering combined cold, heat, and compression therapy. The suite also features technologies designed to facilitate guided meditation and relaxation, recognising the importance of psychological recovery alongside physical rehabilitation.

These resources can help players optimise performance throughout the demands of The Championships.

What do you enjoy most about working at Wimbledon?

What stands out most about working at Wimbledon is the people. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with exceptional colleagues across medical, physiotherapy, and support teams, many of whom I first met during my time at Eastbourne.

There is a shared culture of excellence and a strong commitment to delivering the best possible care for players. The environment is professional yet supportive, with a collective “can-do” attitude that makes the experience both rewarding and enjoyable.

Ultimately, it is this combination of teamwork, high standards, and dedication to athlete care that makes Wimbledon such a great place to work.