Tennis losing momentum in states?

[Eric89]

I live in Toledo, OH and an older guy is teaching me to string. He always talks about the “glory days” of tennis in Toledo and how it is really losing moment in the states thought the last 20 years. I have noted that tennis is really not big at all however I am 17 so I have nothing to compare the interest of tennis today to. Here is my question has anyone (older people whom have been in the game) noticed this about their town or if it is just a known fact that tennis is “losing interest” in the United States (the world) or if it is losing moment at all?

 

[BreakPoint]

I think it's gaining momentum in many countries outside of the U.S. (e.g., China, most of South America, Spain, etc.) but losing momentum in countries like the U.S., Japan, and Australia.

 

[fridrix]

I started playing in the mid-1980s. I have seen a definite resurgence lately in Columbia, SC. They are building many new courts and they often get filled up, esp. with league matches.

 

[movdqa]

I think that Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert really kickstarted tennis a few decades ago and the sport rises and wanes with the strenth of how US Pros do.

There's also the considerations of parents in guiding their kids into certain sports for the purpose of getting college scholarships. The idea is to look for a sport that is played at many colleges but where there isn't a massive amount of interest which means that the scholarship dollars to potential candiate population is high relative to other sports.

 

[zapvor]

I think it's gaining momentum in many countries outside of the U.S. (e.g., China, most of South America, Spain, etc.) but losing momentum in countries like the U.S., Japan, and Australia.

yea i read somewhere that it is skyrocketing in china. i think its the new table tennis haha

 

[kingdaddy41788]

I think that Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert really kickstarted tennis a few decades ago and the sport rises and wanes with the strenth of how US Pros do.

There's also the considerations of parents in guiding their kids into certain sports for the purpose of getting college scholarships. The idea is to look for a sport that is played at many colleges but where there isn't a massive amount of interest which means that the scholarship dollars to potential candiate population is high relative to other sports.

That last part doesn't make very much sense. Football and basketball players compete mostly with Americans for scholarships... Tennis players have to compete with players from all over the globe.

 

[NoBadMojo]

Tennis in the good ole USA was very popular back in the borg, mcenroe, connors era...was often hard to find a court. then people discovered it wasnt an easy game to play and they discovered Doritos
The trend in the USa seemed to have gone from tennis to racquetball (much easier to learn), and now to the gym

 

[Infiniteshadow]

its not really doing that bad.

 

[movdqa]

That last part doesn't make very much sense. Football and basketball players compete mostly with Americans for scholarships... Tennis players have to compete with players from all over the globe.

Lacrosse seems to be a popular upper-crust sport to get your kid into young these days. Same deal with music. I had a friend with a daughter that got a full-ride at Boston University and a good chunk had to do with specializing on an unpopular instrument.

 

[zhan]

u know why?
half the ppl r overweight (cant run around for life)
40% of the ppl r poseur bodybuilders who thinks tennis is for t3h gh3y
then 5% doesnt know what tennis is (never heard of it... probably lives in Dakota or something)
then the rest...

 

[z-money]

I think it's gaining momentum in many countries outside of the U.S. (e.g., China, most of South America, Spain, etc.) but losing momentum in countries like the U.S., Japan, and Australia.

i agree 100%

 

[LuckyR]

I seriously doubt tennis will ever be as popular in the US as the late 70's. Having said that, as a participation sport for adults, it is second only to golf (which is dropping a bit in popularity after it's own Boom Years when Tiger started).

As a spectator sport in the US, it is not even on the radar screen...

 

[movdqa]

There are still lots of people that play tennis more for social reasons than competive reasons.

In golf, you can chat while you're walking and in tennis, you can chat during the changeovers or when getting ready and cleaning up.

 

[Kobble]

Public courts matches are down ~70%. Tennis is too hard, and the current propaganda isn't on our side.

 

[movdqa]

We need to give Nadal and Federer tax-free citizenship.

 

[Eric89]

so tennis was much more popular in the 70's? what about this... where is tennis most popular in the states... via *******, northeast, southwest ect?

 

[BreakPoint]

so tennis was much more popular in the 70's? what about this... where is tennis most popular in the states... via *******, northeast, southwest ect?

No question, California and Florida, with Texas not far behind.

Like a friend of mine once told me - "You could bump into someone on the street in San Diego and the odds are, they're a good tennis player."

 

[GuyClinch]

I really don't think you have to worry about this. Tennis is popular enough - and will likely remain somewhat popular until after we are dead.

I think sporting wise it fills a niche and I don't see anything on the horizon that could replace it. I suppose maybe handball could..but that probably won't happen.

Golf is certainly a competitor but it's an almost pure "skill" sport like billiards so it's not a perfect competitor. Other sports suffer from various issues like basketball - it's not so fun when you are old. Same deal with baseball and soccer and for them you need a team. Squash is inside. Running is boring and so on.

Pete

 

[Heavy Metal Tennis Star]

it aint that bad, but itll do better if fed or nadal was american lol

 

[cbtennisdude]

I think it is gaining momentum because my tennis team has increased by 6 or 7 each year

 

[Viper]

I'd say say gaining momentum. I went to PE today and it was a free day, so naturally I take out my rackets and head to a court. About 20 people came with me all wanting to play and saying how much fun they had.

 

[Ethan04]

tennis is hard to learn. people these days just like to play something easy to play and see good results right away.