Kids from the Delray Beach Youth Tennis Foundation participate in a clinic with Coco Gauff at refurbished courts as part of the U.S. Open Legacy Initiative at Pompey Park in Delray Beach, Florida. | Photo by Manuela Davies/USTA
ORLANDO, FL—The United States Tennis Association (USTA) plans an ambitious, multi-faceted growth strategy to make the U.S. the top tennis-playing nation in the world by 2035 by increasing the country’s tennis-playing population to 35 million players, or 10% of the country’s population.
USTA said the growth strategy is the vehicle for realizing the organization’s new mission: “Growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.” The approach focuses on player retention, coaches, and courts.
According to the USTA, tennis participation in the U.S. has grown by 33%, fueled by new players taking up the sport over the last four years. This growth stretches across various communities, with participation among Hispanic/Latino players and Black/African-American players growing by 105% and 63% over the past five years, making tennis look more like America than ever before.
“When players have exceptional experiences, we all succeed. When the delivery system flourishes, tennis grows. At the USTA, our role is to be a connector of excellence across the entire tennis ecosystem,” said Lew Sherr, USTA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. “By ensuring players new and old have access to the programs, coaching and facilities they need to progress on their tennis-playing path, we can continue to grow the game and deepen its positive impact — creating new opportunities for human connection and improving the physical, mental and emotional health and safety of our communities, both on and off the court.”
The USTA said it is taking this challenge head-on with a new strategy aimed at continuing the sport’s strong uptake and better retaining existing players by supporting local communities and providing options for tennis formats, equipment, and programs that enable players coming to the game to become players for life. The USTA strategy includes making a generational investment in strengthening tennis by:
- Creating and scaling programming that keeps new and returning players on the court — for life. By ensuring every player has access to new and existing programming that meets their needs at every step of their journey, the USTA plans to grow the nation’s tennis-playing population to 35 million players — roughly 10% of the total U.S. population. This will include the roll-out of a portfolio of competitive and casual play programs that meet the needs of every age and interest — from young to old, cardio to competitive, and beyond.
- Expanding the availability of quality coaching at all levels. To ensure that every player receives the guidance and quality instruction they need, the USTA aims to raise the standard of coaching further and increase the number of available SafePlay-approved coaches to over 80,000 nationwide — including both professional coaches and community-level instructors who provide on-court instruction and facilitation — keeping pace with growing overall player participation. In doing so, the aim is to get more coaches in parks, public facilities, and schools, provide additional support for volunteers in their roles in their communities, and create more viable career opportunities for those who choose to make coaching their profession.
- Maximizing court availability to keep pace with participation. Increased player participation requires more courts and more available playable hours on those courts. The USTA plans to deepen its partnership with local governments, parks and recreation facilities, school boards, and local clubs to build, renovate, and protect tennis facilities across the country while also seeking to maximize existing infrastructure through enhancements that will extend playable hours and lengthen the tennis season. The goal is to ensure 350,000 courts (including traditional and non-traditional playing spaces), one for every 100 players, is available to help catalyze play in local communities, with a particular focus on underserved areas. As part of this effort, the USTA will support facility operators with the tools to run effective, efficient, and profitable operations, including programming, technology, data intelligence, coaches, and equipment.
- Supporting and elevating the next generation of stars. The USTA remains committed to developing, supporting, and showcasing the best events, players, and coaches that U.S. tennis offers. This will empower up-and-coming competitors to achieve their full potential, provide a clearer path for our top junior performers to reach the pinnacle of the sport, and motivate millions more to follow in their footsteps.
“Tennis is the healthiest sport in the world. In fact, tennis extends our lives by almost 10 years — which is more than any other sport or form of exercise, while improving cognition, psychological well-being, and strength and agility. We can’t let current or future generations miss out on these life-changing benefits,” said Dr. Brian Hainline, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. “Whether it’s the thrill of watching professional play or swinging a racquet on a community court, it’s important to help ensure that communities everywhere have access to the life-enhancing benefits of our wonderful sport.”
The USTA is the national governing body for tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing tennis’s growth at every level—from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game.
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
