Tennis is one of the world’s most popular sports, with over 87 million players in more than 200 countries. The growth of participation continues, particularly among women and young people. An estimated 48% of players worldwide are female, a remarkable demographic change in just 10 years.
Regionally, Asia accounts for over 33 million players, about one-third of the global base. These figures reflect tennis’s broadening appeal across age, gender, and geography, cementing its status as a truly global sport.
Technological Innovations in the Last Two Decades
Wimbledon, known for its nearly 150 years of tradition in tennis, is an acceptable example of one of the pro sports whose entire officiating and fan experience process has shifted into advanced technology. The introduction of Hawk-Eye Innovations’ ball-tracking system at Wimbledon in 2007 was nearly as revolutionary for officiating.
Electronic timing systems were used for sprint races since line judges were eliminated, resulting in the end of human line calls at the event. Hence, fans can enjoy the best tennis betting sites by enhancing officiating and fan engagement. Hawk-Eye Innovations allows umpires to know if a ball is in or out to an unprecedented level of accuracy.
It has partnered with The All England Lawn Tennis Club for the next several years. Wimbledon is adapting to a new reality while maintaining the level of quality it has established during its successful lineage.
In addition to assisting with accuracy for officiating, Hawk-Eye’s technology was additionally able to support the broadcast experience for fans, players, and members of the media. The technology initiates unique statistics, capturing detailed player and ball tracking data for instant replays and live augmented reality (AR) images during matches.
For fans and players, AR visualizations expanded those types of sports-related experiences uniquely, while affording more sophisticated insights into the dynamics of tennis with respect to shot placement and performance.
With regard to the advanced technology, which not only made competition more fair and easier to follow whilst viewing it from home, this real-time augmented display is expected to further engage an audience that spans the globe.
The continued improvements to Hawk-Eye’s technology are a clear indication of Wimbledon’s willingness to allow an innovative blending of tradition and commercial usage of digital explorations of new technology.
What the Numbers Show
Viewership:
- Wimbledon 2025: ESPN reported that the Gentlemen’s Championship between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz averaged 2.9 million viewers, with a peak of 4.0 million. The Ladies’ Championship averaged 1.3 million viewers.
- US Open 2019: ESPN’s live, exclusive coverage of the US Open was seen by an average of 1,275,000 viewers, up 23% from the previous year.
Economic Impact:
- Tennis Equipment Market: The global tennis equipment market size is expected to increase by USD 211.08 million from 2023 to 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 2.21% during the forecast period.
- US Open Revenue: The US Open generates over USD 500 million annually.
In 2025, the US Open will distribute record prize money. It includes USD 5 million each to men’s and women’s singles champions, part of a USD 90 million total compensation package, reflecting a 20% increase from the previous year.
Emerging Markets, Esports, and Infrastructure Growth
According to recent reports from independent research firms, the USTA has announced that tennis participation in the United States has reached a record 25.7 million players, continuing a five-year growth trend.
This represents an increase of nearly two million players compared to 2023 (rising from 23.8 million), reflecting a growth rate exceeding 8%. In 2024, one out of every 12 Americans played tennis, the highest participation rate ever recorded, surpassing the five-year average of one in 16. Amidst growing competition from other sports and recreational activities, this rise highlights tennis’s expanding popularity and stronger foothold across the country.
Esports extensions of tennis are also gaining traction. The Wimbledon eChamps, launched in 2024, featured game titles like TopSpin 2K25 and Tennis Clash. They crowned their first Wimbledon eChampion in London and earned mainstream media attention.
This integration of virtual competition reflects the sport’s strategy to attract younger, digitally-native fans and diversify its entertainment brand.
Looking Ahead
By the end of 2025, the sport will have a balanced history and modernity. The sport’s ubiquitous worldwide popularity, with 87 million participants, 1.5 billion fans, and multi-billion-dollar markets, remains second to none.
Performance and entertainment will be revolutionized by new wave fan engagement that prioritizes social media, VR broadcasts, and AI-powered training.
