HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (May 30, 2019) — The 2019 Tennis Participation Report has been published and is available for Tennis Industry Association members. The 26-page report, produced by the TIA in partnership with the Physical Activity Council, includes the most recent data and trends through year-end 2018 for tennis participation, tennis interest, cross participation in other sports and more. Among the findings:

* The total number of tennis participants for 2018 grew by 0.9% from 2017 to 17.84 million players. Overall participation has remained fairly consistent over the past eight years, with an average annual change of -0.4% from 2010 to 2018. However, 2018 was the second straight year the tennis participation rate in the U.S. was below 6%, which has not been seen since the PAC Study was first started in 2007.

* “Core” tennis participants, those playing 10 or more times a year, increased 1.6% from 2017 to 2018, to 9.67 million. Core players account for 93% of all tennis play occasions and more than 80% of player expenditures in the tennis economy. Since 2009, core participation has decreased nearly 15% while non-core participation has grown 13.9%.

* The number of times people took to the courts decreased again in 2018. The total 17.84 million participants played 383.9 million times (an average of 22 play occasions per tennis player), which is down 3.3% from 396.9 million play occasions in 2017. As part of long-term trends toward more casual participation, persistent declines in avid player play occasions are a main driver of decreasing play occasions.

* The 2018 study indicates there are 16.32 million non-players who are interested in playing tennis, and another 14 million who consider themselves tennis players but have not played in the last two years.

* Youth tennis participation increased 1.6% in 2018 to 4.64 million players.

* Cardio Tennis continues to grow, with total participation in 2018 increasing 12.6% from the previous year to 2.5 million players.

* As an activity that includes many of the latest trends in fitness—such as social engagement, technology use and interval training—Cardio Tennis has grown 201% since it was first measured in 2008.

* The most popular alternative activities for tennis players include: walking for fitness (50% of tennis players), bowling (43%), running/jogging (42%), treadmill (38%), free weights/dumbells (36%), hiking (36%) and bicycling (32%).

The Tennis Participation Report is a part of the all-encompassing annual Physical Activity Council study, which looks at 123 different sports and activities. The PAC study is the largest single-source research study of sports, recreation and leisure activity participation in the nation. For 2018, a total of 20,069 online interviews were completed.

TIA members at the Associate level and above will receive the 2019 Tennis Participation Report as part of their membership. The report also is available for separate purchase by visiting the TIA online store. For more information on research and TIA membership, visit TennisIndustry.org or call 843-686-3036.

While the most recent tennis participation figures indicate an overall increase in the number of U.S. tennis players for 2018—up 0.9 percent to 17.84 million—a deeper dive into the numbers show continuing challenges facing tennis, and the sports industry overall.

The 2019 Racquet & Paddle Sports Conference, Jan. 23-25, attracted more than 1,000 racquet sports professionals, industry leaders, and representatives of emerging and bellwether brands to the inaugural event last week, in Orlando, Fla.

Tennis and racquet sports equipment companies will showcase their latest gear at the interactive Innovation & Technology Demo Day on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, starting at 3:30 p.m. The demo event is part of the inaugural Racquet & Paddle Sports Conference in Orlando, which will run from Jan. 23 to 25 and include sessions at the Orange County Convention Center, co-located with the PGA Merchandise Show.