USTA President Takes Dead Aim at Pickleball Ahead of the U.S. Open

Big tennis can't stop talking (read: complaining) about pickleball.

The latest gripes are being heard as the U.S. Open kicks off this week.

In an Associated Press article titled "Does American Tennis Have a Pickleball Problem?" U.S. Tennis Association President Dr. Brian Hainline lamented, "Quite frankly, it's obnoxious to hear that pickleball noise."

Of course, his frustration isn't just about the noise of pickleball – it's about the very real competition pickleball represents to tennis.

Why tennis views pickleball as a threat

According to recent reports, 13.6 million Americans played pickleball in 2023.

The sport’s rapid growth has left tennis enthusiasts concerned that pickleball might one day surpass tennis, which currently has 23.8 million players. More problematic for tennis purists is that pickleball’s expansion has often come at the expense of tennis courts, with many being converted to accommodate the smaller, quicker game.

"When you see an explosion of a sport and it starts potentially eroding into your sport, then, yes, you're concerned," Hainline acknowledged. "That erosion has come in our infrastructure. A lot of pickleball advocates just came in and said, 'We need these tennis courts.' It was a great, organic grassroots movement but it was a little anti-tennis."

Interestingly, while some international tennis bodies have welcomed pickleball to bring more people into the racket sports fold, the USTA has taken a more defensive stance.

For example, a few pickleball courts were installed at this year's French Open to allow players and fans to try their hand at the game. But at the U.S. Open? There’s no sign of pickleball anywhere in sight.

Instead, the USTA is countering pickleball’s rise with its own initiative: "red ball tennis."

This is an easier-to-play, smaller-court version of tennis that Hainline believes is the perfect entry point for people of all ages. And in a twist of irony, the best place to play red ball tennis, according to Hainline, is on a pickleball court.

"You can begin tennis at any age," he said. "What’s an ideal short court? A pickleball court."

Tennis goes low, pickleball goes high

Mike Nealy, CEO of USA Pickleball, took the high road in response to the USTA’s stance. "I don’t like it but there is so much going on with pickleball, so many good things, I’m going to stick to what I can control, harnessing the growth and supporting this game," Nealy said.

"I don’t think it needs to be one or the other or a competition," Nealy said of the relationship between pickleball and tennis. "They’re different games but I think they are complimentary. There’s plenty of room for both sports to be very successful."

Top-ranked American tennis player Taylor Fritz echoed this sentiment, noting, "There are some people in the tennis world that are just absolute pickleball haters, and that’s fine. But for me, I don’t really have an issue with pickleball. I like playing sometimes. … I don’t see any reason why both of them can’t exist."

Recent pro-tennis-to-pro-pickleball convert John Isner said the same thing this past week on the PicklePod:

The numbers don't lie

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), pickleball’s explosive growth shows no signs of slowing down. While tennis has seen a respectable 10 percent growth over the past three years, pickleball’s rise is unprecedented.

What started as a pandemic hobby for retirees has now captivated a much younger demographic, with players aged 18 to 34 leading the charge. The game’s accessibility – both in terms of cost and ease of play – has been a significant factor in its widespread appeal.

Tom Cove, President and CEO of the SFIA, highlighted pickleball’s unique ability to offer instant enjoyment. "Pickleball has a unique quality to give enjoyment very early," Cove explained. "People figure it out and after one or two times, they say, 'I like to play. It’s fun and I can do this.'"

Whether tennis and pickleball will continue to clash or find a way to coexist remains to be seen.