Tennis Popularity Calculator
Calculate Tennis Participation Rate
Find out what percentage of a country's population plays tennis using real-world data
When you think of tennis, what comes to mind? Grand Slam rallies under the sun, players diving for forehands, or maybe the crisp sound of a ball hitting a clay court? But behind the glitz of Wimbledon or the roar at Roland Garros is a deeper question: where is tennis most popular? It’s not just about who wins the biggest tournaments-it’s about who plays, who watches, who grows up with a racket in hand, and who makes tennis part of everyday life.
Tennis isn’t just a sport-it’s a culture in some places
Popularity isn’t measured just by the number of pro players or Grand Slam titles won. It’s about participation rates, public access to courts, school programs, TV viewership, and how deeply the sport is woven into daily routines. In some countries, tennis isn’t a weekend hobby-it’s a national identity.
Take Spain. Around 3.2 million people play tennis regularly there, according to the Spanish Tennis Federation. That’s nearly 7% of the entire population. You’ll find public clay courts in every neighborhood, from Barcelona to Seville. Kids start swinging at age five. Local clubs host weekend tournaments for juniors and seniors alike. The country has produced 10 men’s Grand Slam singles champions since 2000, including Rafael Nadal, who turned the red dirt of Mallorca into a global tennis symbol.
France is another powerhouse. The French Open is one of the four majors, and the entire country shuts down for two weeks in late May. Over 1.8 million people play tennis in France, and nearly 60% of French households have watched at least one match from Roland Garros in the past year. It’s not just elite players-tennis clubs in Lyon, Marseille, and Bordeaux are packed with amateurs, retirees, and teens training after school.
The United States: Big numbers, but mixed passion
The U.S. has the largest number of tennis players in the world-around 18 million, per the US Tennis Association. That’s more than the combined populations of Spain and France. But here’s the catch: most of those players are casual. They play once a month, mostly on private club courts or public parks in suburbs. Participation drops sharply after high school.
While the U.S. produces top-ranked players like Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, tennis doesn’t have the same cultural pull as football, basketball, or baseball. There’s no national day off for the US Open. No neighborhood courts buzzing with kids competing in local leagues. It’s more of a private, upper-middle-class pastime than a community sport.
That’s changing slowly. Cities like Chicago and Atlanta have invested in public court upgrades. Programs like USTA’s Junior Team Tennis are growing in low-income areas. But overall, tennis in America feels more like a luxury than a lifestyle.
Britain: Tradition with fading momentum
Wimbledon is the most famous tennis tournament in the world. But does that mean tennis is most popular in Britain? Not quite.
Only about 750,000 people play tennis regularly in the UK. That’s less than 1% of the population. While the All England Club draws global attention, local courts are aging, and many have been converted into housing or parking lots. The Lawn Tennis Association reports a 20% drop in youth participation since 2010.
Britain still produces top players-Andy Murray’s legacy is undeniable-but the sport struggles to stay relevant outside of the two weeks in June. Most British kids grow up playing soccer. Tennis? It’s something you watch on TV, not something you play on your way home from school.
Australia: Where tennis is a summer ritual
Australia punches way above its weight in tennis. With a population of just 26 million, it’s home to over 1.5 million players. That’s more than 5% of the country. The Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the year, and the whole nation gets behind it. Schools have mandatory tennis programs. Public courts in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane are packed during summer holidays.
Australia has produced more Grand Slam singles champions per capita than any other country. Think Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Lleyton Hewitt, and Ash Barty. Even now, kids in Adelaide and Perth learn to serve on hard courts under the Australian sun. The sport is affordable, accessible, and celebrated.
Other strong contenders: Serbia, Russia, and Sweden
Don’t overlook smaller countries with outsized influence. Serbia, with just 6.7 million people, has produced two of the greatest men’s players ever: Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjić. Tennis is a national obsession. Courts are everywhere, and every child knows Djokovic’s name. The Serbian Tennis Federation runs free junior programs in every town.
Russia and Sweden also have deep tennis roots. Russia has over 1 million players and a strong tradition of producing powerful baseline hitters. Sweden, despite its small size, has won 11 Grand Slam singles titles since 1970-more than any country except the U.S. and Spain. Tennis was the country’s most popular sport through the 1980s and 90s, and while participation has dipped, the legacy remains.
Why clay courts matter more than you think
There’s a hidden clue to where tennis is truly popular: the surface. Countries with the highest participation rates almost always have more clay courts than hard courts. Why? Because clay is cheaper to maintain, safer for joints, and encourages longer rallies-which makes the game more fun for beginners.
Spain, France, and Italy have more than 70% of their public courts as clay. In the U.S., it’s under 15%. That’s not an accident. It’s a sign of how seriously those countries take the sport as a lifelong activity, not just a competitive one.
Clay courts also mean more women play. The slower pace and reduced impact make tennis more accessible to older players and those who aren’t elite athletes. In Spain, nearly 45% of tennis players are women. In the U.S., it’s closer to 30%.
The future of tennis popularity
Where is tennis headed? The game is growing fastest in Asia. China has over 10 million players now, and the government is building public courts in every major city. India is seeing a surge in junior tournaments. South Korea and Japan have strong domestic circuits.
But the real test isn’t how many people pick up a racket-it’s whether they keep playing. Spain and Australia still lead because tennis is part of their rhythm. It’s not about trophies. It’s about Sunday mornings on the court with friends, the smell of wet clay after rain, and kids shouting “Deuce!” while their parents cheer from the sidelines.
If you want to know where tennis is most popular, don’t look at the rankings. Look at the courts. Look at the kids playing without coaches. Look at the grandparents hitting volleys with their grandchildren. That’s where the soul of the game lives.
Which country has the most tennis players?
The United States has the highest number of tennis players-around 18 million. But that includes casual players. Spain and Australia have higher participation rates relative to population, with 7% and 5% of their populations playing regularly, respectively.
Why is Spain considered the heart of tennis?
Spain has the highest rate of regular tennis players per capita, with over 3.2 million people playing. Public clay courts are everywhere, kids start young, and the sport is deeply embedded in local culture. Spain has produced 10 men’s Grand Slam champions since 2000, including Rafael Nadal, and tennis is seen as a community activity, not just a professional one.
Is tennis popular in the UK because of Wimbledon?
No. While Wimbledon is the most famous tournament, only about 750,000 people play tennis regularly in the UK. Many public courts have been lost to development, and youth participation has declined. Tennis in Britain is more of a televised event than a widespread lifestyle.
Which country has the most clay courts?
Spain leads with over 70% of public tennis courts being clay. France and Italy follow closely. Clay courts are cheaper to maintain and encourage longer play, making them ideal for community access and lifelong participation. In contrast, the U.S. has less than 15% clay courts.
Is tennis growing in Asia?
Yes. China has over 10 million players and is building public courts in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. India, Japan, and South Korea are seeing rapid growth in junior programs and local tournaments. While still behind Europe and Australia in tradition, Asia is the fastest-growing region for tennis participation.
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