Is Tennis A Dying Sport? (Unexpected Answers)
In our modern days, where media is present in our everyday lives, it seems like everything is always going up, and popularity is always on the rise. Especially when talking about sports that are. However, what’s the real truth about this? Is tennis really decreasing in popularity?
In this article, I will reveal whether tennis is a dying sport, where it still has the most popularity and other knowledge about tennis. But first, is tennis a dying sport?
Generally, tennis isn’t a dying sport in a long shot. In fact, worldwide tennis tournament attendance, tv views, and overall popularity are growing each year. However, tennis in the United States and the United Kingdom is declining in popularity, but it’s still far from dying off.
There are fluctuations from year to year, but if we watch things in longer periods such as in 5 or 10-year periods, we can see that the overall popularity is growing. For example, you can see this effect happening on the U.S open tennis total attendance.
Tennis
Year | U.S Open Tennis Attendance |
2018 | 732,663 |
2017 | 691,143 |
2016 | 688,542 |
2015 | 691,280 |
2014 | 713,642 |
2013 | 713,026 |
2012 | 710,803 |
2011 | 658,664 |
As you can see, the total attendance of U.S open’s was at an all-time high in 2018, even when previous years were more popular than 2017, so in conclusion, we can determine that tennis certainly isn’t a dying sport but a growing one.
Next up, let’s move away from the yearly popularity and check out what different countries like tennis the best, and what countries don’t like it at all.
Contents
Top 10 Tennis Countries By Popularity
Country | Popularity level |
1. Australia | 100 |
2. France | 71 |
3. New Zeland | 70 |
4. Switzerland | 69 |
5. United Kingdom | 63 |
6. Belgium | 57 |
7. Singapore | 56 |
8. United States | 56 |
9. Philippines | 51 |
10. Italy | 51 |
It might become a surprise that the United States is found only at position 8 at the overall popularity. However, it’s no surprise that Australia is number one because it’s well known for most tennis players, that Australia has been at the top of the list for a long time.
Now, let’s take a look at the countries that tennis is the least popular.
Lowest 10 Tennis Countries By Popularity
Country | Popularity level |
1. China | 2 |
2. Turkey | 4 |
3. Ukraine | 4 |
4. Palestina | 5 |
5. Russia | 5 |
6. Belarus | 5 |
7. Japan | 5 |
8. Yemen | 6 |
9. Libya | 7 |
10. Saudi Arabia | 7 |
Tennis Popularity By Age
When it comes to the age that plays most tennis, the clear winner in the statistics is 30-49-year-olds. Then, 18-29-year-olds and +50-year-olds are overall at the same popularity, but they are clearly behind the middle-aged people.
Tennis Popularity In the United States
Let’s take things to the states and see where tennis is most popular and where the least. I gathered up some fascinating data by using Google Trends that reveals the google searches that are done worldwide or by country. In this case, I’ll examine and explain to you finding from the United States.
Now, let’s see my Google Trends Data for the search phrase ”Tennis”.
Top 10 Tennis States By Popularity
State | Popularity level |
1. New York | 100 |
2. Connecticut | 94 |
3. New Jersey | 88 |
4. Florida | 88 |
5. Georgia | 87 |
6. Maryland | 83 |
7. South-Carolina | 83 |
8. Massachusetts | 82 |
9. Hawaii | 77 |
10. Mississippi | 76 |
Lowest 10 Tennis States By Popularity
State | Popularity level |
1. Alaska | 36 |
2. North-Dakota | 48 |
3. Wyoming | 49 |
4. South-Dakota | 49 |
5. Montana | 52 |
6. New Mexico | 53 |
7. West-Virginia | 54 |
8. Idaho | 55 |
9. Oklahoma | 56 |
10. Iowa | 58 |
It’s kind of surprising that the overall popularity of tennis divides quite drastically when looking at the west and east country. It’s clear that eastern states cherish tennis far better than the western states.
Is Tennis Good For All Ages?
When it comes to most sports, there is an age limit of some kind but not tennis. Tennis can be played from years 10 and below all the way to 80 and far beyond. Tennis is a low injury sport that really is accessible for all ages.
In addition to recreational tennis, there are real competitions for all age groups. Whether your kid is 10 or below or you that is close to 100 years old, you can join a competition or tournament and compete like everybody else.
My Favorite Tennis Equipment
Thanks for reading this article. I hope it brought you great value that you can implement into your own life! Below you’ll find my top tennis equipment recommendations would like.
- Racket: My preferred tennis racket is the Wilson Ultra 100 V3. This racket is made from graphite and carbon fiber, making it durable, firm, and easy to swing. The racket weighs 300g, making it lightweight yet not too lightweight to generate power. The racket’s main benefit is power. I like to add multifilament strings to the racket, such as Wilson NXT Soft 16 (recommended tension 52lb/23.5kg), because they are comfortable and soft on the arm with a great feel to the game.
- Tennis balls: Best tennis balls are always pressurized, and I like them having extra-duty felt, which is fit for hard court play. I like Penn Championship Tennis Balls, and so does the ITF because these balls are approved for competitive play. So yes, these are the real deal.
- Tennis shoes: I can’t stress enough the importance of comfortable and supporting shoes. ASICS Gel-Resolution 8 tennis shoes are unique because the balance between durability and support mixed with comfort is something out of the ordinary.
- Fan Equipment: If you’re a fan more than a player, you don’t want to miss Fan Equipment by Fanatics. You can find items from various sports that bear your favorite team’s logo, such as jerseys, gift ideas, or other surprising things.
Conclusion
When a sport is as big as tennis, there will be drastic fluctuations throughout its popularity. However, this doesn’t mean that tennis is dying or going anywhere. Personally, I like tennis so much because it can be played by people of all ages, countries, and sizes.