Canadian tennis is having a tough go of it, eh? Solely a single maple leaf adorns the ATP Prime 100. Identical goes for the WTA. At quantity 30, Felix Auger-Aliassime has admitted to feeling stress to carry out. It’s powerful to lug the expectations of a complete nation across the globe. Likewise, ranked 35 on this planet, Leylah Fernandez frequently fights to show her look within the 2021 US Open Closing was not a fluke.
Elsewhere the comebacks of Canadians Milos Raonic and Bianca Andreescu have been derailed by cascading accidents. Genie Bouchard is pivoting to pickleball. Vasek Pospisil has taken an activist function within the sport, together with his newest trigger du jour being the tennis balls themselves.
It’s sort of a scorching mess. Or a chilly mess.
Only a decade in the past, skilled tennis in Canada confirmed a lot promise. Right here’s a take a look at the elements contributing to its decline.
Dangerous Luck
Accidents have turn into an more and more significant a part of skilled tennis, and Canadian tennis has been nabbed by the damage monster.
Each the ability and the grind of the game are at all-time highs in tennis historical past, and but the leaders in tennis refuse to make significant calendar reform. That leaves gamers inclined to damage, as they push themselves to their absolute limits. Accidents strike each nation, however Canada is especially susceptible as a result of it doesn’t have a deep roster of expertise.
Which results in purpose quantity two why Canadian tennis is struggling.
Cash
In comparison with tennis powerhouses like america or European nations, Canada has fewer sources invested in tennis improvement packages. This contains funding for teaching, services and participant assist methods.
The massive purpose: Canada doesn’t have a Grand Slam, and the U.S. does.
In keeping with the monetary monitoring web site GrowJo.com, Tennis Canada’s present working revenue is $93.6 million per 12 months. In stark distinction, the identical determine for america Tennis Affiliation in 2022 was $529 million. How a lot of that got here from the U.S. Open? A staggering $472 million. Loads of honey in that deuce, proper there.
The yield has payed off within the States: A full ten Individuals stand ranked contained in the ATP Prime 100, with loads of youth to maintain the faction sturdy. On the ladies’s facet, it’s an much more spectacular 16 ladies at the moment within the Prime 100, led by famous person Coco Gauff.
Success breeds extra success, and cash makes more cash.
Tradition
Within the Nice North, tennis competes with ice hockey, lacrosse and different well-liked sports activities. The prevalence of those sports activities can draw potential athletes away from tennis, impacting the expertise pool.
To make issues worse, Canada’s huge geography poses challenges for gamers to attach with high-quality coaching services and coaches. Touring lengthy distances for competitions and coaching may be logistically difficult and financially burdensome. It’s not like Spain, France or Italy.
Local weather
Lastly, the plain. Canada experiences harsh winters, limiting the time gamers can spend open air training and taking part in tennis. This could hinder ability improvement and competitors readiness.
Canada does have some residence necessities that requires residents to spend a while bodily current at dwelling. It’s potential to get round a few of that as knowledgeable athlete, however transferring to Florida to coach shouldn’t be all the time possible on the youth and developmental degree.
If Canada actually desires to rev up its tennis operation, it might want to “go all Italy” on the game. Cash, sources and vitality. That’s the underside line. With out these components, no quantity of trendy Lululemon will repair Canadian tennis.
