The latest findings from the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) reveal that key tennis industry categories have shown a significant increase in the first six months of 2021.
This news follows a Physical Activity Council (PAC) report from earlier this year that detailed the increase in tennis participation across the country in 2020, continuing a trend of positive growth for grassroots tennis in the U.S.
Included in the TIA's most recent report is data for the first half of 2021, with comparisons to the same time period in 2020. The first half of 2021 saw a 40.5 percent increase in total racquet shipments, including a 143.3 percent increase in sales of racquets over $50, and a 66 percent increase in string unit shipments.
As announced earlier this year, tennis participation increased by 22 percent in 2020 versus 2019. Of the 21.64 million Americans who say they played tennis last year, 6.78 million were new and returning players.
Nearly 3 million of these were new players (2.96 million), a 44 percent increase over new players in 2019.
“Tennis saw a significant increase in participation, as people turned to our sport as a safe way to stay active and healthy during the pandemic,” said Mike Dowse, CEO and Executive Director, USTA.
“These most recent numbers show that the sport continues to see growth, and we now have the opportunity to capitalize on this momentum, keeping those that have recently taken up the game playing the sport, and getting new players out on the courts.”
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