Why Tennis Continues to Grow
(And will it last?)
by: Mike Sprouse / TennisCT
There have been several articles and research studies about the growth of tennis in the U.S. over the past year. Of course, the bright side of the sport’s resurgence has been clouded with some sadness and a whole lot of perspective given the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic through which the world has been grappling. With this, a lot of the stories you may have read about tennis’ growth conclude that the pandemic caused the sport’s rise in popularity. In other words, they conclude, if not for the pandemic, tennis would be right where it was in 2019 or 2018.
We think there is some truth to the fact that, with the world on either lock-down or continually at a safe social distance, tennis was naturally suited to fill some necessary physical, mental and social voids. We also stop short, firmly, of saying that the only reason tennis has grown is because it was the only thing the medical community said we could all safely do. More likely, this period of time made a lot of us reflect on our collective health and well-being, and what we could do about it. The pandemic didn’t create the growth of tennis, but perhaps it helped illuminate the virtues of the sport. The sport itself, at its essence, didn’t change other than the necessary prevention methods many clubs and tennis facilities had to undergo to allow us to play (with face coverings, cleaning measures, and the like).
I’m not sure this should be a controversial or “hot” take: the pandemic didn’t cause tennis to become popular again. Did it enlighten more people? Sure. If you’re a club operator or involved at all in the sport, you know there has been a shortage of tennis balls lately. You see the statistics in terms of racquet sales (for example, sales for entry-level racquets grew 40%!) You see professional venues increasing their capacity limits. Beyond data, you see it with your eyes - more people on tennis courts inside and outside. The question is, with the world getting healthier and more activities opening up again, will things stay on this trajectory for tennis especially in the U.S.?
We say “yes”. Here’s why:
1) It’s Popular, and it’s cool
It always has been and always will be. Tennis has always been cool, fashionable, and filled with creative, interesting characters and personalities. It calls for, and welcomes, equal parts artist and scientist. The factor behind the ups and downs in popularity has been the sport’s visibility, media attention and, in the U.S., a lack of an American rivalry. Serena, for long periods, dominated the sport almost without an equal American peer (though she had some worthy challengers along the way). The top of the men’s game has been dominated by “the Big 3” or “the Big 4” with none of those men being American. Besides, competing with U.S. media budgets and sponsorship revenue that other major sports generate has been challenging. In for-profit business and competition, it always comes back to the money and that’s reality. The other reality is that the sport is littered by amazing athletes not named Serena, Naomi, Roger or Rafa and that’s key: once the public starts to know more about the litany of talented, fun, interesting American players, it will be great for the sport’s popularity.
2) It’s Healthy
It always has been and always will be. This very website has pages devoted to the health benefits of the sport that include physical, mental and social. Now, the Journal of Medicine and Science in Tennis has issued a report that backs up everything we’ve been reading (and writing). Of course, it doesn’t take a scientist to understand the relative health benefits of tennis compared to other sports especially when considering its natural physical distancing. Even playing tennis indoors, it’s not like going to a health club where you’re lined up within inches of another person on a treadmill or a bench; you’re talking about a few dozen people at most within a building encompassing massive square footage and open area. Lots of facilities have even installed modern ventilation and air purification systems to protect its players.
3) It’s Fun
It always has been and always will be. You know that feeling you get when something looks really difficult and you don’t want to do it for fear of embarrassing yourself? We’ve all been there. Fighting that initial fear in tennis, knowing you’re not alone, will pay off once you hit those first few shots right in the middle of the strings. Like anything you have to practice, it’s a phased scale when it comes to fun. First, you don’t really know how to swing. That’s not fun. Then, you start to feel like you kind of know what you’re doing. That’s fun. Then you start to play actual matches against people and lose a few times. That’s not fun. Then, you figure out how to win. That’s fun. The more you practice, the better you get, and the better you get, the more fun it is.
4) It’s Accessible
It always has been and always will be. For any tennis players or club operators, we’ve seen periods in the past of dormant or vacant courts at clubs, high schools, or town facilities. Today, in 2021, you’re hard-pressed to find open courts it seems. Even still, the sport is the most accessible of any major sport. You don’t need to find nine other people (like in Basketball, for instance), you don’t need to find a ton of real estate (like in Golf, for instance), and it’s pretty weather-proof as long as the courts are dry or you have access to indoor facilities. Basically, you just need a racquet, a ball and a wall. If you find one or a few other players, you have yourself a game. If you need instruction, there are tons of places near you (wherever you are in the world) that have great professionals who love the sport and can teach you technique and fitness.
As we collectively emerge to what life looks like post-pandemic, let’s hope the worst is behind us. The pandemic didn’t cause or create popularity in tennis, but it’s foolish to think it didn’t highlight the aspects of tennis that have always been around. The bottom line is that playing tennis is good for you, and we need more of that. It’s good for your body, mind and soul, it’s fun, it’s accessible, and it’s cool. The question isn’t “will the sport’s popularity continue to grow?”, but the question really should be “why wouldn’t the sport’s popularity continue to grow?”