Fail To Prepare, Prepare To Fail – How tennis needs to change for the future

Grassroots

The biggest opportunity and indeed threat to men’s tennis is at the grassroots level. It’s very hard to become a fan of something that you have neither played nor had access to as a youngster.

Participation in the UK has been declining year on year despite the vast achievements of home players like Andy Murray and Johanna Konta. The same decline has happened in some of the sport’s biggest markets, including the United States, Australia, and many countries in Europe.

These are worrying trends, and although it is the responsibility of the home governing bodies – such as the LTA and USTA – to get more young people playing the game, there is an onus on the ATP to make the sport more accessible.

This can be achieved by lowering ticket prices or even giving nearby schools free tickets for early-round matches which would otherwise be some bit empty. The ATP also needs to work with the governing bodies and organize workshops and clinics, taught by tour-level players who are happy to earn some extra cash whilst inspiring the next generation. If they can’t see it, they can’t be it.

Adapt to the Times, Respect the Traditions

One final note on the future of the ATP Tour: Over the next decade we will see legends retire, new Grand Slam winners, and changes to the way people consume and ultimately view the sport. The change will happen, good or bad. There are many different changes that could and will be proposed. The challenge is to respect the traditions of the game, whilst adjusting features of the sport to stay with the times.

The ATP will soon find itself at a critical crossroads, of which it’s future is dependent on. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.