The growth of tennis participation in the United States has reached an impressive milestone, with the USTA (United States Tennis Association) reporting a significant increase of 1.6 million players in 2025. This surge brings the total number of players to 27.3 million, marking the sixth consecutive year of growth for the sport.
Since 2019, tennis participation in the U.S. has seen remarkable growth, up by 54 percent with nearly 10 million new players joining the ranks. Key factors driving this upward trend include an increase in the frequency of play, greater retention of players within the sport, and a notable rise in engagement from women and diverse communities.
Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board and Interim Co-CEO of USTA, acknowledged the ongoing demand for tennis, emphasizing a commitment to maintain this momentum. “Our aim is to ensure that tennis is accessible to a broader audience, enabling more people to experience the myriad physical, mental, and social benefits associated with playing the sport,” he stated, reaffirming USTA’s goal of reaching 35 million players by 2035.
Several key metrics from 2025 highlight the positive trajectory of tennis participation:
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Increased Play Frequency: The segment of “core players,” defined as those playing at least ten times a year, rose by 1.5 million to 14.5 million. With core players now constituting over half (53 percent) of all participants, this uptick contributed to a record 616 million occasions of play throughout the year.
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Growth Among Women: The number of women playing tennis increased by 1.1 million in 2025, reflecting a 10 percent rise since the previous year, indicating women’s vital role in expanding the player base.
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Diversity in Participation: Participation among people of color saw significant gains, with more than 450,000 additional Black/African American players (up 14 percent), over 550,000 Hispanic/Latino players (a 12 percent increase), and more than 260,000 Asian/Pacific Islander players (10 percent growth). These figures indicate that the percentage growth within these demographics outpaces the overall increase in participation.
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New Players Entering the Sport: The year also recorded a remarkable influx of first-time players, with 4.9 million individuals picking up a racquet for the first time, representing a 9 percent year-over-year increase.
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Higher Retention Rates: Player retention improved significantly, with 20.7 million individuals choosing to remain engaged with the sport—a 10 percent increase translating to 1.8 million additional players sticking with tennis. Furthermore, 1.7 million players returned after a hiatus of more than a year.
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Interest From Non-Players: An encouraging statistic comes from over 25 million individuals who do not currently participate in tennis but expressed a strong interest in engaging with the sport, suggesting a potential for further growth in the coming years.
These findings reflect the strong health of tennis in the U.S. as the USTA continues to strategize on expanding access and enhancing the overall tennis experience for everyone, underlining the sport’s universal appeal and its capacity to foster inclusive communities.
