Tennis participation in the United States reached 25.7 million players in 2024, marking the sport's fifth consecutive year of growth. This surge, as reported by the U.S. Tennis Association, represents a notable increase of 1.9 million players from the previous year, totaling 23.8 million participants in 2023. The 8% rise in tennis players means that approximately one in 12 Americans engaged in the sport last year.
The USTA has set an ambitious target to elevate the total number of tennis participants in the United States to 35 million by 2035. USTA CEO Lew Sherr expressed confidence in this goal, deeming it both actionable and achievable. To support this objective, the USTA announced a substantial commitment of $10 million in grants for 2025. These funds are intended to facilitate the construction, renovation, and extension of playable hours on courts nationwide, a significant increase from the $1.2 million allocated in the previous year, which benefitted over 500 public courts.
Despite the escalating popularity of pickleball, which has rapidly gained traction in the U.S. with over 13 million participants in just three years, tennis continues to thrive. The USTA's data, sourced from the National Golf Foundation's analysis of two surveys funded by the USTA, sheds light on key insights. Noteworthy findings include the substantial contribution of players under 25 and under 35 to the growth in tennis participation, accounting for 45% and over 60%, respectively. Additionally, there was a 26% increase in Black players and a 15% rise in Hispanic players engaging in tennis in 2024. The number of seniors partaking in tennis also saw a notable 17% uptick last year.
These statistics underscore the resilience and appeal of tennis in the U.S. sports landscape, with efforts underway to further enhance accessibility and participation in the sport. For more tennis news, visit AP tennis.
