Scottish tennis sees big surge in participation during 2024
• 3 MINUTE READ
To celebrate World Tennis Day, we’re announcing a big surge in participation - and sustained success in efforts to inspire more people into the sport.
Scottish tennis participation numbers rose by nearly 11% to just under 700,000 during 2024 – with one main driver being notable growth in female play.
On top of that, a record number of players have joined tennis clubs around Scotland – suggesting that not only are more people playing the game, but they’re playing it more often.
And in proof of long-term growth, adult and child participation has risen by 58% and 27% respectively over the past five years.
The impressive figures released by Tennis Scotland reveal:
- Adult participation increased 15% in 2024, from 352,000 to 405,000
- A 27% rise in female participation in Scotland last year
- The number of adults taking to the court monthly surged by 37%
- Child participation rose by 5% from 270,000 to 284,000
- A record-high club membership of 81,428 – up 42% since 2018
Today’s announcement comes following the publication in November of the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) Global Tennis Report, which placed Great Britain at the forefront of a worldwide rise in tennis participation.
Over the period 2019-2023, adult participation in Britain grew by 44%, including a strong contribution in Scotland, where there was a 37.5% increase.
As more people come to our sport, Tennis Scotland are continuing to work hard alongside partners to increase capacity, with 160 park courts now revamped around the country, 34 indoor courts opened since 2016 and work underway on a new indoor centre in Dumfries & Galloway, following last year’s openings of similar facilities in Edinburgh and Elgin.
Blane Dodds, Chief Executive of Tennis Scotland, said: “More people in Scotland are playing tennis and they’re playing it more often, which shows that the incredible work being carried out to make our sport more accessible and inclusive is paying off.
“The Scottish tennis community consists of fantastic coaches, volunteers and clubs, and we want to thank all of them for contributing so much time and effort to growing the game.”
Drivers of increasing tennis participation in Scotland include:
- Support for clubs to grow and retain membership and encouraging them to provide more opportunities to local communities.
- Significant investment in new facilities, such as new courts at clubs and parks, floodlights and new indoor centres.
- Roll-out of schools programmes connecting pupils with local clubs and coaches and training teachers to deliver tennis sessions.
- Investment in court and coach booking systems to make it easier for people to play.
- Focus on engaging with traditionally underrepresented communities to deliver tennis programmes.
World Tennis Day on Monday 3 March is an initiative launched by the International Tennis Federation in 2013 to promote participation.
