McDonald Claims Second Carbon Tracker Crown
Mackenzie McDonald turned the ATP’s sustainability push into personal victory, topping the 2025 leaderboard by outpacing rivals in emission offsets amid a tour that logged 2.3 million kilometers.
In the relentless churn of the 2025 ATP calendar, from sun-baked Australian hard courts to the damp grass of London, Mackenzie McDonald approached travel not as a necessary evil but as a tactical front. Over 300 players engaged with Carbon Tracker, the app that quantifies the environmental cost of hopping continents, yet McDonald’s repeat win—his second after 2023—revealed a deeper rhythm: the quiet discipline of a player who treats offsets like practice reps. He led a field that collectively offset 585 tonnes of carbon, channeling that effort into choices that eased the tour’s hidden strain without sacrificing his baseline tenacity.
Behind him, Tom Hands, Yanaki Milev, Ryan Peniston, and Valentin Royer pushed hard, their logs reflecting a tour-wide shift toward accountability. McDonald’s edge lay in consistent tracking, much like varying his inside-out forehand to exploit angles, here swapping short-haul flights for trains on European legs to trim emissions. The leaderboard’s pulse mirrored match-day tension, building momentum through quizzes and bonus points on environmental days, turning data into a subtle competitive edge.
“It’s great to win Carbon Tracker for the second time. The initiative has helped me understand the impact of travelling between tournaments, allowed me to practically make more responsible choices, and shown me that even small changes add up. This donation from the ATP will be used to support the programmes and initiatives of my fund through the USTA Foundation, which helps open doors of opportunity for young people through the power of tennis, education and mentorship.”
Pressure mounts in tracked kilometers
The app’s dashboard laid bare the psychological weight of pro tennis: endless recoveries from clay in Madrid to hard courts in New York, now measured in carbon footprints. McDonald, known for his steady returns and tactical patience, logged trips with the focus of scouting an opponent’s serve, opting for carbon credits via Gold Standard projects to neutralize each tonne. It wasn’t just numbers; it was recalibrating the 1–2 pattern of travel and recovery, where a down-the-line offset after a crosscourt flight preserved energy for the next rally.
Participants racked up points for offsets, tournament participation, and sustainability quizzes—doubled on key dates—mirroring the grind of chasing rankings. This season’s 2.3 million kilometers underscored the tour’s scale, with aggregated insights guiding ATP adjustments like clustered events to cut short flights. For players like those in the top five, it fostered resilience, transforming isolation in departure lounges into purposeful strategy.
Offsets fuel charitable volleys
With 585 tonnes mitigated tour-wide, the top performers directed a $100,000 prize pool to causes that extended their on-court grit off it. McDonald funneled his share to the USTA Foundation’s Mackie McDonald College Fund, launched this year to offer scholarships and youth programs in under-resourced Bay Area communities, blending his roots with tennis’s inclusive potential. It was a serve that volleys opportunity, supporting academic standouts who show leadership and passion for the game.
Eno Polo, ATP CEO, framed the bigger picture: travel across over 300 tournaments remains the circuit’s top environmental hurdle, but Carbon Tracker delivers the metrics to address it. He praised the participants, especially McDonald, for turning awareness into action—purchasing credits that fund climate projects, easing the mental load of an eco-aware schedule. Additional charities benefited too, from youth initiatives to sustainability efforts, weaving personal resolve into broader progress.
Greener paths shape future swings
As Carbon Tracker kicks off its fourth season in January 2026, McDonald’s leadership sets a benchmark for blending ambition with accountability. The app’s trends—fewer emissions on regional routes, smarter clustering—could refine tour logistics, much like a coach tweaking patterns for efficiency on variable surfaces. Players now integrate these choices into prep, where the satisfaction of a sliced backhand meets the quiet win of a reduced footprint, pushing the sport toward a lighter global presence amid the roar of crowds and the hum of sustainable strides.
