May is National Tennis Month and we are in the midst of National Tennis Week.
Tennis is ultra-popular in the state of Georgia and nationwide, tennis participation boomed last year with 3.8 million American players playing in 2020 over 2019. That was a 22-percent national jump. The increase in the South was even greater. In the nine-state USTA Southern Section, 738,256 more people played tennis than the year before. That was a 31.1 percent boost over 2019. The power of tennis is skyrocketing in the South.
Facts:
Among its many health benefits, one study said playing tennis will prolong your life 9.7 years over sedentary people, more than other aerobic sports including cycling and jogging.
Local USTA volunteers and staff are conducting programs to get more Southerners playing tennis and helping those who have started to improve their games.It’s a testament to tennis as a lifetime sport.
“Although Americans have been challenged by pandemic restrictions, they clearly see that tennis is exactly what they need to stay active and healthy, and a safe way to have fun with family and friends,” said Michael McNulty, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. “By promoting May as National Tennis Month, we are encouraging even more Americans to get out on the courts and enjoy our great sport.”
Help promote tennis:
For National Tennis Month, players, organizations, facilities, retailers, tennis manufacturers and more are encouraged to promote local programs and activities, at parks and facilities to showcase tennis and spread the word about the sport and its benefits, and to help players and non-players alike find courts and play opportunities in their communities. To show the collective strength behind this awareness campaign, players and providers should share the hashtag #NationalTennisMonth.
It’s the #PowerofTennis.
