Tennis Tournaments December 14, 2025
In Which Country Is Tennis Most Popular? Top Nations for Tennis Culture and Tournaments
Tennis Popularity Comparison Tool
Compare Tennis Popularity Metrics
Select up to 3 countries to compare their key tennis popularity metrics. See how different nations stack up in player participation, court access, tournament success, and TV viewership.
Comparison Results
| Category | United States | France | Spain | Australia | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players (millions) | 18.2 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 5.6 | 4.1 |
| Grand Slam Titles (last 20 years) | 42 | 28 | 31 | 25 | 19 |
| Public Courts per 100k People | 12.5 | 8.7 | 10.1 | 18.4 | 11.3 |
| TV Viewership (Grand Slam avg.) | 12.1 million | 15.3 million | 9.8 million | 8.2 million | 14.7 million |
Insight: France and UK have higher TV viewership than players suggest, showing tennis is more about watching than playing in those countries.
When you think of tennis, you probably picture grass courts at Wimbledon, clay at Roland Garros, or the bright lights of the US Open. But which country actually lives and breathes tennis the most? It’s not just about who wins the most titles-it’s about who plays it, who watches it, who grows up with a racket in hand, and who turns matches into national events.
United States: The Powerhouse of Participation
The United States has the largest number of tennis players in the world-over 18 million people play regularly, according to the International Tennis Federation. That’s more than the combined populations of France, Spain, and Australia. You’ll find public courts in every city, school programs in every state, and backyard matches on summer evenings. The US Open draws over 700,000 fans annually, making it the most attended tennis tournament on earth.
But popularity here isn’t just about crowds. It’s about accessibility. Public parks in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have free courts. The USTA runs junior programs in every state. And when a kid from Texas or Florida starts playing at age six, they’re not an outlier-they’re part of the norm.
France: Clay Courts and National Pride
France doesn’t have the most players, but it has the deepest emotional connection to tennis. Roland Garros isn’t just a tournament-it’s a cultural moment. The entire country stops during the French Open. Schools let kids watch matches. Cafés set up screens. Families gather around TV sets, even if they’ve never held a racket.
French players like Yannick Noah and more recently, Ugo Humbert and Clara Tauson, get rock-star treatment. The clay courts of Paris are sacred ground. Unlike the US, where tennis is a sport you play, in France, it’s a ritual you experience. The French Open is the only Grand Slam played on red clay, and that surface shapes the whole identity of French tennis: patient, physical, relentless.
Spain: The Machine That Produces Champions
Spain punches far above its weight. With a population of just 47 million, it’s produced more top-10 male players in the last 25 years than any other country. Rafael Nadal is the face of Spanish tennis, but he’s not alone. Carlos Alcaraz, Pablo Carreño Busta, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina all came up through the same system: relentless training on clay, early specialization, and a coaching culture that treats tennis like a science.
There are over 100,000 tennis courts in Spain-many of them public and free. The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation invests heavily in grassroots programs. In small towns across Andalusia and Catalonia, kids as young as five are hitting balls against walls for hours. It’s not about talent alone-it’s about structure. Spain’s tennis machine runs on discipline, repetition, and a national belief that if you work hard enough, you can beat anyone on clay.
Australia: Tennis in the Blood
Australia has one of the highest rates of tennis participation per capita in the world. One in four Australians plays tennis at least once a year. The country has more tennis courts per person than any other nation. It’s common to see families playing doubles on public courts after school, or retirees hitting balls in the park at dawn.
The Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the year, and it’s treated like a national holiday. Melbourne parks fill with fans, and the city shuts down for two weeks. The tournament’s outdoor setting under the summer sun matches the Australian love for outdoor life. Players like Rod Laver, Margaret Court, and more recently, Ash Barty, are national icons. Barty’s retirement in 2022 didn’t end the passion-it reminded everyone how deeply tennis is woven into the national identity.
United Kingdom: Tradition Meets Modern Growth
Wimbledon is the most famous tennis tournament in the world, and the UK is its spiritual home. But the UK doesn’t have the most players or the most champions. What it has is legacy. The rules of modern tennis were written here. The white clothes, the strawberries and cream, the quiet hush during service-it’s all British.
Participation has grown steadily in the last decade. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has invested heavily in community programs, especially in cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and Bristol. There are now over 2,000 public tennis courts across England alone. And while British players haven’t dominated recently, the interest is rising. Emma Raducanu’s 2021 US Open win sparked a new wave of kids picking up rackets.
Wimbledon still draws over 500,000 fans each year. The tournament isn’t just a sporting event-it’s a tradition. And in the UK, tradition matters.
Why It’s Not Just About Grand Slams
Some countries host big tournaments but don’t play much tennis. Russia has strong players and hosts ATP events, but tennis isn’t a mainstream sport there. Japan has a growing fanbase and a strong junior program, but participation is still low compared to its population. Brazil has talent but lacks infrastructure.
The real measure of popularity isn’t how many titles a country wins. It’s how many kids have access to a court. How many families watch matches together. How many schools teach it. How many local clubs have waiting lists.
That’s why the US leads in raw numbers. France leads in cultural weight. Spain leads in production. Australia leads in daily practice. And the UK leads in heritage.
What the Data Really Shows
Here’s how the top five countries stack up by key metrics:
| Country | Players (millions) | Grand Slam Titles (last 20 years) | Public Courts per 100k People | TV Viewership (Grand Slam avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 18.2 | 42 | 12.5 | 12.1 million |
| France | 3.8 | 28 | 8.7 | 15.3 million |
| Spain | 2.9 | 31 | 10.1 | 9.8 million |
| Australia | 5.6 | 25 | 18.4 | 8.2 million |
| United Kingdom | 4.1 | 19 | 11.3 | 14.7 million |
Notice something? France and the UK have lower player numbers but higher TV viewership during Grand Slams. That tells you something: in those countries, tennis isn’t about playing-it’s about watching as a shared experience.
Spain has fewer players than the US but more titles. That’s because their system turns small numbers into elite results.
Australia? Highest court access per person. That’s why it’s the most playable country in the world.
Who’s Rising Fast?
India is seeing a boom. With over 10 million players now, and stars like Sumit Nagal and Ankita Raina, the game is growing fast in urban centers. China has invested in tennis academies and is producing top-50 players. But neither has the grassroots culture yet.
Canada is quietly strong. Denis Shapovalov and Bianca Andreescu have sparked new interest. Tennis participation in Canada grew 22% between 2020 and 2025.
But for now, the top five still dominate. And none of them are surprises if you’ve ever watched a match on a summer evening in Melbourne, a rainy afternoon in Paris, or a Sunday morning in a public court in California.
So, Which Country Is Most Popular?
If you measure by sheer numbers, it’s the United States. If you measure by cultural impact during tournaments, it’s France. If you measure by producing champions from limited resources, it’s Spain. If you measure by daily participation and access, it’s Australia. And if you measure by history and prestige, it’s the United Kingdom.
There’s no single answer. But if you had to pick one country where tennis feels most alive-where it’s part of the rhythm of everyday life-it’s Australia. The courts are everywhere. The kids are everywhere. The matches are everywhere. And when the Australian Open rolls around, the whole country holds its breath.
Is tennis more popular than soccer in any country?
Yes-in Australia and the United States, tennis is more popular than soccer in terms of participation among adults and children. In Australia, tennis is the second most played sport after swimming, while soccer ranks fourth. In the US, over 18 million people play tennis, compared to around 12 million who play soccer. But soccer still wins in global viewership and national team excitement.
Why does Spain produce so many great tennis players despite having fewer players than the US?
Spain’s success comes from its highly structured junior system. Kids start young, train on clay courts daily, and are coached by certified professionals through regional academies. The focus is on technique, physical conditioning, and mental toughness-not just talent. The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation invests heavily in public courts and coach training, creating a pipeline that turns small numbers into elite results.
Does the type of court surface affect a country’s tennis popularity?
Absolutely. Countries with more clay courts, like Spain and France, develop players who excel in long rallies and endurance. Hard courts, dominant in the US and Australia, favor power and speed. Grass courts, still common in the UK, require different skills like low volleys and serve-and-volley. The surface shapes how the game is taught-and who succeeds.
Why is Wimbledon so iconic if the UK doesn’t have the most players?
Wimbledon is iconic because it’s the oldest tournament (started in 1877) and the only Grand Slam still played on grass. It carries centuries of tradition-white clothing, no advertising, no roof until 2019. It’s not just a match; it’s a cultural ritual. The UK’s role as the birthplace of modern tennis gives it symbolic power, even if participation is lower than in other countries.
Are there any countries where tennis is growing fast right now?
Yes. India, Canada, and China are seeing rapid growth. India’s player base has jumped to over 10 million, fueled by private academies and TV exposure. Canada’s participation rose 22% from 2020 to 2025 after its stars won Grand Slam titles. China has built 50 new high-performance centers since 2020 and is investing heavily in youth programs. These countries aren’t top yet-but they’re moving fast.
Where to Go If You Want to Play Like the Pros
If you want to experience tennis culture firsthand, go where it’s lived. In Melbourne, join a public court at dawn. In Madrid, watch kids train at La Caja Mágica. In Paris, sit on the clay at Roland Garros and feel the silence between points. In London, walk the grounds of Wimbledon and imagine the history under your feet. In New York, play a match under the lights of Flushing Meadows after work.
Tennis isn’t just a sport. It’s a mirror of a country’s values. In the US, it’s opportunity. In Spain, it’s discipline. In Australia, it’s community. In France, it’s emotion. In the UK, it’s legacy.
So when someone asks you where tennis is most popular, don’t pick one country. Pick the one that fits the kind of tennis you love to play-or watch.
