Tennis Participation in Texas Continues Surge, Over 2.6 Million Players In 2025

AUSTIN, Texas — February 23, 2026 — USTA Texas today announced unprecedented growth in tennis participation across the state, according to the newly released 2026 Tennis Participation Report. Driven by grassroots engagement and expanded community access, a record-breaking 2.6 million Texans (ages 6 and older) took to the courts in 2025.

This represents a 4.3% increase from 2024 and an impressive 28.8% surge since 2021. 1 in every 11 Texans (9.4% of the state’s population) played tennis last year—tracking well above the national average of 1 in 12.

Interim USTA Texas Executive Director Frank Kelly said the growth in tennis participation across the state reflects not only the health benefits of tennis as a sport but also its ability to bring together players and communities. 

"For five years and counting, tennis has experienced tremendous growth and we don't see any signs of it slowing down," he said. "From players and coaches to local leaders and volunteers, we have all seen the difference tennis can make in lives, communities and across Texas and that's what keeps bringing more people to the courts every day." 

Texas’s growth is on-pace or better than the national trend with over 27.3 Americans playing tennis in the past year.

“This sustained participation growth reflects strong demand for our sport across a diverse range of communities nationwide,” said Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board and Interim Co-CEO, USTA. “As we advance toward our goal of 35 million players by 2035, we will continue investing strategically to ensure this momentum translates into sustained participation and a stronger tennis ecosystem. Our goal is to expand access so more people across this country can play the world’s healthiest sport and experience the physical, mental and social benefits it has to offer.”

Unprecedented Retention and Core Engagement

The data reveals a massive shift in player loyalty and frequency. Texans aren't just trying tennis; they are staying with it and playing more often. The player retention rate jumped by almost 7 percentage points to 77.2% in 2025.

Once players start playing tennis, many of them stay on the court: 1.9 million players returned to the courts in 2025, an increase of 318,000 retained players year-over-year.

Those who regularly consistently participate in tennis are also increasing: 1.32 million Texans are now considered "core players" (playing 10 or more times a year), marking an 11.8% increase from 2024.

The state saw 54.4 million total tennis play occasions in 2025, a 12.3% boost from the previous year.

Average Frequency: Texans played an average of 21.2 days throughout the year.

A Diverse and Representative Community

Tennis in Texas continues to evolve, reflecting the state’s actual demographic makeup. The Texas Section’s player base is significantly more racially diverse than the national tennis profile, driven by strong engagement across several distinct groups. 27% of players are Hispanic or Latino, 14% are Black/African-American and 13% are Asian/Pacific Islander. 

Capitalizing on Latent Demand

While current participation is at an all-time high, the report highlights massive potential for future expansion as well. In 2025, "latent demand"—representing non-participants who are "very interested" in playing tennis—jumped by 479,000 people. This means today, 2.73 million Texans are actively eager to pick up a racket. This presents a prime opportunity for local clubs, schools, and community centers to capture outside demand and continue growing the game.