Why the demise of US Tennis?

Over the years, professional tennis has deteriorated in the United States. 

Because of these three factors:

1. The decline of major tournaments in the US and the rise of tennis franchises in South America and Asia. 
2. The absence of an American male superstar.
3. The scarcity of Americans playing college tennis.

This dramatic American decline has coincided with the rise of Latin America and especially Eastern and Southern Europe. There were already signs of this in the late 1970s and 1980s when the Cold War ended and opportunities for athletes from the Soviet grew. But in recent years, the trend has been overwhelming. 

For the top 50 men and women, approximately 90 percent are from Europe or Latin America.  Tennis is alive and well elsewhere. Currently, only one American man Jack Sock, ranks in the ATP's Top 10. “There’s less and less people watching tennis.

 Television ratings for the U.S. Open are a fraction of what they used to be in the era of Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe,” says Samy Messi, former head of tennis for the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club.

How can we explain why tennis is growing world-wide while struggling to survive in America? Could it be the lack of junior programs or a lack of support from local or national government?

Sadly the United States involvement in tennis has been on the slide for the past quarter century. These days it's tougher to find Americans on college teams in the U.S. Nearly half of all NCAA tennis players are non-American. At one time, new talent was discovered through the ranks of the NCAA. 

Some of the greatest tennis players came from college tennis such as: John McEnroe (Stanford), Jimmy Connors (UCLA), Arthur Ashe (UCLA) and John Isner (Georgia). “The United States had 5 players in the top 10 and now, hardly anyone in the top 20,” Messi states. 

US school kids participate in tennis in elementary school but the numbers drops as the children get older.  “Growth in youth tennis participation is a key to the future of this sport and industry,” says Kurt Kamperman, chief executive of Community Tennis for the USTA. 

"Tennis needs to be more accessible and affordable. Then we can get kids who are playing football and  basketball," Messi states.The demise of tennis in the U.S. is puzzling because the sport thrives in other parts of the world. Tennis is a sport that the U.S. can’t allow to slip away. We need to breathe life back into the sport and get Americans excited again. 

“Tennis is a lifestyle, a sport that teaches discipline, self-analysis, self-control and adaptation.  It's a sport that you can play into one’s golden years. It is a true family sport that generations can play together on the same court at one time,” stated Messi.

written by LA Ferguson
Samy Messi started playing tennis at the age of 13 and has been teaching tennis for over 20 years. If you want to find out how you can help develop tennis in your community please contact Samy Messi for further assistance messisamy@gmail.com