Australian Open tennis players fuelled by 200kg of bananas a day

At the Australian Open, one of the most common sights is world-class tennis players wiping away sweat and eating a banana during breaks in play. The event provides approximately 200 kilograms of bananas to players each day.

Although athletes also opt for scientifically formulated sports drinks and energy gels, nutritionists say nothing quite compares to the humble banana. Lauren Stribley, an in-house nutritionist with Sports Dietitians Australia, says bananas are packed with the nutrients needed to produce energy during matches.

Bananas contain carbohydrates for energy, fiber to help with nutrient absorption, and minerals like magnesium and potassium that help prevent muscle cramps. “It’s really important to refuel during a match, not only to fuel the muscles, but also to fuel the brain for focus and decision-making,” Ms. Stribley said. “Bananas really tick a lot of boxes nutritionally, which is why they’re so popular with athletes.”

Sports drinks and energy gels are scientifically designed to provide energy for the mind and body during competition. Ms. Stribley, who consults for the Adelaide Port Australian Rules Football Women’s team and the South Australian Cricket Team’s women’s program, says sports foods are also designed to be easy to digest and carry. But bananas remain a steadfast contender in the nutritional race. “As sports dietitians, we tend to go to food first,” Ms. Stribley said. “Bananas have a lower glycemic index, which means they provide more sustained energy. Especially for international athletes who are traveling all over the world, you can get a banana anywhere.”

There are more than 1,000 types of bananas in the world, but just one – the Cavendish – dominates the global market. Around 50 billion tons of Cavendish bananas are grown globally each year, including almost all of those consumed in Australia and supplied to the US and Europe. This month, more than 5,000 Cavendish bananas will be provided to players at the Australian Open, all sourced from Queensland, Australia’s largest banana-growing region. While a world without bananas seems unimaginable, a soil-borne fungus called Panama disease poses a serious threat to Cavendish banana trees.

But on the outskirts of Darwin, banana growers have partnered with scientists to develop a Panama disease-resistant banana plant. “It’s one of the big five staples – wheat, barley, rice, potatoes, and bananas – so a lot of people rely on bananas as a staple food,” grower Mark Smith told the Northern Territory Country Hour program. Last year, the genetically modified variety received regulatory approval for human consumption, but they are unlikely to appear in stores anytime soon. The genetically modified Cavendish banana is considered a “back-up plan” in case Panama disease ultimately wins.