WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., January 12, 2023 – The USTA introduced that in 2022, tennis participation elevated for the third consecutive yr within the U.S. Tennis participation grew by a million gamers final yr with greater than 23.6 million individuals taking part in the game. This quantity, when added to the earlier two years, represents a rise of 5.9 million, or 33 p.c, for the reason that begin of 2020. This data was compiled by the Tennis Business Affiliation, and can be introduced in higher element within the 2023 Tennis Nationwide Participation Report obtainable later this month.
“The rise in tennis participation for the third yr in a row just isn’t solely vital for the well being of our sport, but additionally for the well being and well-being of those that have made the sport part of their lives,” mentioned Brian Hainline, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “Tennis has a mess of advantages, starting from the psychological to the bodily, and we’re excited to assist lead the continued progress of a sport that helps gamers of all ages and skill ranges keep energetic and wholesome.”
The expansion and well being of the game was not restricted to simply participation, as a wide range of key efforts and initiatives have been targeted on rising entry to the sport and making the general tennis expertise higher for all gamers. Included within the highlights:
Well being and Properly-Being
In accordance with a number of sources and research, tennis has been proven to have a big constructive impression on the well being of contributors. Included within the results:
Tennis gamers on common lived an extra 9.7 years than sedentary people.
The 9.7 further years for tennis gamers ranked highest amongst all sports activities included throughout the examine, beating out soccer by 5 years (4.7), biking by 6 years (3.7), swimming by 6.3 years (3.4) and jogging by 6.5 years (3.2).
Participation in racquet sports activities, together with tennis, reduces danger of all-cause mortality by 47 p.c and cardiovascular-related loss of life by 56 p.c.
Services and Public Parks
The USTA continued its work in supporting the infrastructure of tennis within the U.S. via numerous services grants and assist work. In 2022, the USTA labored with greater than 100 services throughout the nation to supply technical help to construct or refurbish courts at public parks and tennis services. Greater than $750,000 was awarded to greater than 45 complete tasks, with $285,000 going to new development tasks. These efforts characterize greater than 585 courts accomplished, and an impression of greater than $50 million in tennis infrastructure.
The USTA additionally issued the primary ever Tennis and Pickleball Assertion of Steerage, developed with park professionals and courtroom contractors, detailing ways in which public parks might most effectively, economically and successfully incorporate the expansion of each tennis and pickleball inside their communities.
The introduction of the ITF World Tennis Quantity
In 2022, the USTA labored with the Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) to introduce the ITF World Tennis Quantity within the U.S. Developed by the ITF and free to all gamers within the U.S., the World Tennis Quantity is likely one of the most superior and correct ranking techniques on this planet, and all gamers within the U.S. who play in a USTA occasion are routinely assigned a World Tennis Quantity, for gratis. Based mostly on a 40-point scale, with 40 representing the skillset of a starting participant and 1 being corresponding to an elite skilled, the ITF World Tennis Quantity is a worldwide ranking system, incorporating participant outcomes and knowledge from greater than 150 international locations. Presently, greater than 1.4 million gamers based mostly within the U.S. have energetic World Tennis Numbers.
Faculties
Tennis was provided in additional than 20,000 colleges throughout the nation, as a part of their general bodily education schemes. Because the begin of 2017, the USTA has donated tools to eight,300-plus colleges, together with donations to almost 1,600 colleges in 2022, giving 5.9 million kids entry to the game.
Junior Play
Numbers elevated throughout the board for junior gamers competing within the Aggressive Pathway. This included each an 18 p.c enhance in distinctive junior event gamers and a 25 p.c enhance in junior memberships.
USTA Basis and NJTL Chapters
The USTA Basis, the charitable arm of the USTA, contributed greater than $7 million in assist, providers and funding to Nationwide Tennis & Studying (NJTL) chapters, which assist under-resourced youth via free or low-cost tennis and education schemes.
The Basis additionally awarded greater than $435,000 in scholarships for 46 pupil leaders in 2022.
In complete, the Basis affected greater than 125,000 youth from 300-plus NJTL Chapters throughout the nation.
USTA League
USTA League, the nation’s largest grownup tennis league for gamers of all talent ranges, grew by 11 p.c in 2022, with 284,000 distinctive contributors competing all year long.
