Benf15harp
Hall of Fame
Exactly. I’d pay to see 6/7 guys in the top 100
The rest are just warm bodies lol
Pro tournaments seem very popular - but tennis is dying ?
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The rest are just warm bodies lol
Razer
G.O.A.T.
Yeah, we'll see how Tennis fares 15 years down the lane if we have people winning in bits and pieces with single digit slams.
TearTheRoofOff
G.O.A.T.
A live viewing would no doubt jostle one's analytical datum due to the nuanced and varied viewing angle/distance. It would certainly help to enjoy the sport without being subjected to the unambiguous, consistently presented devolution at large. Medvedev would probably look thunderous in a randomized frame of reference.
NYTennisfan
Hall of Fame
Meh. People say that all the time in all sports when all time greats move on that the sport is dying and will never be the same again until the new crop of generational talents pop up and revive it. I do think the womens' game is in a serious transition phase right now but Alcaraz certainly has that ability with his game and personality to become immensely popular and draw in more fans and there will, again, be more guys/gals like this to elevate the sport again.
I'd say that the sport is in a transition phase right now. The previous Big 3/Serena era is something that was truly special and hard to live up to but the sport will move on like it always does and be just fine and be more than fine if another Alcaraz rises up. Djokovic still being near the top of his game will help aid the transition handing it off to the next generation. I'm not sure what will happen in the womens' game though. Swiatek is a good player but she doesn't exactly have the personality and style to elevate a sport. Coco Gauff seems like the natural candidate to receive the torch but she's not quite there yet. If she makes a serious U.S. Open run, that will surely draw attention. The womens' game needs an alpha in the worst way.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
That and the population is just too high. Is there anything not crowded anymore?
Olli Jokinen
Hall of Fame
Nobody in Europe plays pickleball.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
You are delusional. Even if there are single digit slam winners they are greats.
No one needs big 3 level players just to sustain tennis. No. Alcaraz with just 2 slams and Thiem with just 1 slams can fill the stadiums.
Razer
G.O.A.T.
Stadiums are filled by Big stars, not by bits and pieces players. The guys coming to watch the Thiems and Stan type people will stop if there is no Federer and Nadal. Maybe you will go to watch Thiem and Sinner types in a vacuum but most people won't. People have better things to do in life than watch Sinner or Thiem.
Players like Borg, Federer, Mcenroe as the ones who fill the paychecks of the 1 slam winners like roddick/thiem etc etc.... There is no Tennis without stars.
Olli Jokinen
Hall of Fame
I went to Båstad and it was sold out. Musetti/Ruud + Rublev/Cerundolo in the semis. It was great and the crowd got to see some fine matches. They'll be back next year because quality tennis is fun to watch.
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Bisquick
Rookie
Båstad is a cool place, I’d go there to watch a little tennis in a heartbeat. I have cousins in Sweden- used to visit them and time the clay tournaments making my way back to the French open. Some nice facilities along the way where tennis is still appropriated.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
I will pay to watch Stan and Thiem definitely. If you don't then probably we don't need you anyway
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Tennis needs stars but we don't necessarily need every player to be GOAT or potential GOAT just for the sport to survive. We can easily see tennis grow if there are many 3/4 slam holders.
Fiero425
Legend
I will pay to watch Stan and Thiem definitely. If you don't then probably we don't need you anyway
I lived in Chicago & we're rabid tennis fans giving more support to the ladies games when they had real stars! A 1975 men's final I attended at Soldiers' Field on a platform court on one side of the field! It had Roscoe Tanner & John Alexander! Hardly stars but well worth seeing live going 3 TB's; Roscoe winning 7-6,6-7, 7-6!
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Exactly.I lived in Chicago & we're rabid tennis fans giving more support to the ladies games when they had real stars! A 1975 men's final I attended at Soldiers' Field on a platform court on one side of the field! It had Roscoe Tanner & John Alexander! Hardly stars but well worth seeing live going 3 TB's; Roscoe winning 7-6,6-7, 7-6!
Razer
G.O.A.T.
I will pay to watch Stan and Thiem definitely. If you don't then probably we don't need you anyway
Yeah sure, watch Thiem, Stan and Sinner, nobody is stopping you. Since Federer's retirement the numbers have fallen off in popularity for Tennis, it will dwindle more, Djokovic is unable to carry the baton as strong as Federer did. Alcaraz seems to have arrived with some excitement among fans but the other fellows in his generation as a dud. Thank Carlos that he arrived, otherwise these losers like Thiem hardly have any fans except you.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Everyone that ACTUALLY attends tennis tournaments have told you are completely wrong. But keep repeating your opinion.
Razer
G.O.A.T.
Who is this everyone? You alone? Your little gang that sees stadiums full and thinks Tennis is gaining popularity are oblivious from the truth. Tennis is a sport in decline. It is Federer who infused life into Tennis and now another guy like that is needed, Carlos is yet to step into that role. Until that happen, nothing is certain.
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initialize
Hall of Fame
Well, here in the United States they're turning most tennis courts into pickleball courts. It became the fastest growing sport after Federer retired, and I'm being serious. So it's somewhat dying over here
Razer
G.O.A.T.
Tennis USA needs someone like Federer to emerge now, the tennis system will kick back in bigtime.
Fiero425
Legend
Like most things, tennis for us oldsters needed to slow down for us! Even at 66 I think I could pick up Pickleball and be competitive unlike w/ tennis & the new tech!
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
It has nothing to do with Federer and everything to do with Pickelball. 1 court of tennis can create 3 pickelball courts. It also requires much less athleticism. So its more popular. Its easier sport. Tennis will remain the most elite racket sport.
Fiero425
Legend
I gave up playing tennis in my 40's due to my inability to keep up physically! Pickleball makes me think I can get back out there! The speed of the game isn't too fast!
I will argue tennis is dying at least in the US.
1.) Major fan base in the US and player base in the US I believe is 60+ Younger base is not replacing them. These guys are going to start dying. Most clubs have a bimodal member base--under 18 and over 40.
a.) General sports fans have little idea who anyone is outside of the Big 3, the Williams and a handful of other players.
b.) Most tennis fans know only the big stars and their own personal favorites.
2.) Pickleball is pushing tennis out with all the money and current popularity of pickeball in the US.
a.) ESPN is choosing to show PB over tennis.
b.) Tennis Channel is choosing to show PB over tennis
c.) Tennis courts and clubs are either replacing tennis courts with PB or making them into PB/Tennis courts. A lot of aging fans are jumping to PB.
d.) General sports stores are replacing walls of tennis gear with PB gear
e.) My girlfriend left me for a guy who just learned PB tonight.
3.) USTA juniors are struggling to fill tournaments. Kids often drop out of competitive tennis due to time demand and high coaching demands or rampant cheating and poor organization of USTA.
4.) US has a plethora of public tennis courts--where in many areas are rarely used, growing over or PB
5.) Coverage of tennis shifting from major networks to ESPN to Tennis Channel and even on tennis channel you have to either join 3 other networks to see everything, taking it out of the mainstream and making it a niche sport.
6.) US used to have more 500 and 250 tournaments, now they are leaving.
7.) Many pro tournaments are empty mid week. Making tennis look pathetic. Try to hype up a match of #30 vs. #25 and then you see no one there.
Yes, I see how masters are still busy and slams are selling out. I think there are a few factors there. First, devoted tennis fans know what tournaments to go for for the best bang for your buck. 2nd, I think a lot of corporate seating buy seats but leave them empty. I think in the past tennis was big enough, that general sports fans would watch tennis. Now only tennis fans. so those of us that remain go to the slams and masters. Sure we'll go to a local 250 or 500 if we live nearby, but we aren't going to fly or take off work to see a 250 unless a star is there.
8.) It's hard to make a living in tennis unless you are a top 200 player, and even that can be tough.
It might have a resurgence, or this also might be the future of sports in general as people are less active and media has more and more to compete with.
Maybe in 10 years, there won't even be a tennis channel you just pay direct to watch the match you want and choose what commentator you want.
The sky isn't falling, but the ceiling is much lower.
Tennis has always relied on stars. I always wonder if there is some way to promote/market the sport as a whole. Or make people aware of the top 100.
1.) Major fan base in the US and player base in the US I believe is 60+ Younger base is not replacing them. These guys are going to start dying. Most clubs have a bimodal member base--under 18 and over 40.
a.) General sports fans have little idea who anyone is outside of the Big 3, the Williams and a handful of other players.
b.) Most tennis fans know only the big stars and their own personal favorites.
2.) Pickleball is pushing tennis out with all the money and current popularity of pickeball in the US.
a.) ESPN is choosing to show PB over tennis.
b.) Tennis Channel is choosing to show PB over tennis
c.) Tennis courts and clubs are either replacing tennis courts with PB or making them into PB/Tennis courts. A lot of aging fans are jumping to PB.
d.) General sports stores are replacing walls of tennis gear with PB gear
e.) My girlfriend left me for a guy who just learned PB tonight.
3.) USTA juniors are struggling to fill tournaments. Kids often drop out of competitive tennis due to time demand and high coaching demands or rampant cheating and poor organization of USTA.
4.) US has a plethora of public tennis courts--where in many areas are rarely used, growing over or PB
5.) Coverage of tennis shifting from major networks to ESPN to Tennis Channel and even on tennis channel you have to either join 3 other networks to see everything, taking it out of the mainstream and making it a niche sport.
6.) US used to have more 500 and 250 tournaments, now they are leaving.
7.) Many pro tournaments are empty mid week. Making tennis look pathetic. Try to hype up a match of #30 vs. #25 and then you see no one there.
Yes, I see how masters are still busy and slams are selling out. I think there are a few factors there. First, devoted tennis fans know what tournaments to go for for the best bang for your buck. 2nd, I think a lot of corporate seating buy seats but leave them empty. I think in the past tennis was big enough, that general sports fans would watch tennis. Now only tennis fans. so those of us that remain go to the slams and masters. Sure we'll go to a local 250 or 500 if we live nearby, but we aren't going to fly or take off work to see a 250 unless a star is there.
8.) It's hard to make a living in tennis unless you are a top 200 player, and even that can be tough.
It might have a resurgence, or this also might be the future of sports in general as people are less active and media has more and more to compete with.
Maybe in 10 years, there won't even be a tennis channel you just pay direct to watch the match you want and choose what commentator you want.
The sky isn't falling, but the ceiling is much lower.
Tennis has always relied on stars. I always wonder if there is some way to promote/market the sport as a whole. Or make people aware of the top 100.
Well if they didn't invent poly, oversized racquets and homogenize the court speed, you could've been out there all these years.I gave up playing tennis in my 40's due to my inability to keep up physically! Pickleball makes me think I can get back out there! The speed of the game isn't too fast!
Fiero425
Legend
I've watched a little of Pickleball for the time being! Still waiting for the last man standing of the Big 3 to hang it up! Not sure how much interest I'll have with the mindless aggressiveness of the game being played today! Alcaraz, Sinner, & Rune have peaked my interest so there might be a carryover, but approaching 70, the singlemindedness I had w/ the game is long over! I used to sleep and breathe the game; morning, Noon, & night! The Early Bird club fees were cut significantly if you got there at 6:30 AM! The game blew up in '75 after the duel success of Evert & Connors in 1974! In the Winter, desperately I'd play on an indoor clay track with nets or a Basketball court w/ a net! Went thru a lot of tennis balls and rackets! At one period in the mid 70's, I literally had more tennis clothing than anything else! End RANT! ;-)
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