Are you on top of tennis trends?
Tennis participation grew 4 percent in 2012, topping 28 million players for the first time since 2009, according to the annual participation survey conducted for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Tennis Industry Association by Taylor Research and Consulting. More people—and most notably, more kids—are playing tennis throughout the country. The greatest increase in participation was among youngsters age 6-11, up 13 percent from 2011.
Maybe you can thank Serena and Venus Williams and Rafael Nadal for the sharp increase in participation among African-Americans and Hispanics, with participation among African-Americans reaching a ten-year high and participation among Hispanics coming in at its third-highest level in the past decade. The phone survey included observations from 7,500 individuals.
“We are very gratified that our efforts geared to young players are paying off,” said Jon Vegosen, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. “We want to grow the game and make it look like America, and therefore we find it very encouraging that we are seeing growth among young players and in diverse communities.”
The survey also revealed a notable increase in frequent players—defined as those who play 21 times or more per year—which increased from 4.8 million in 2011 to 5.3 million in 2012. “The total number of frequent players increased by 10 percent in 2012 after all of our collective efforts the past few years to drive this most immediate and impactful consumer segment of the tennis economy,” USTA said in a statement. “Frequent players represent more than 70 percent of all consumer spending across the tennis industry.”
Take a Tennis (or Zennis) Lesson When You Travel
Maybe even more than golf or yoga, spa-goers can fit in a workout if they schedule time with a tennis pro. Tired of tennis? On your next trip to Arizona, try this:
Zennis ($50) is a brilliant combination of yoga and tennis, perfect for those looking to strengthen, lengthen and tone, says Kara Thomas, Camelback’s Sanctuary’s fitness and wellness manager. “Not only will it improve cardiovascular strength and agility, but the breathing and relaxation methods used in yoga will help with the rhythm and movement required on the court.” Check out this boutique property on Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley, Ariz., just minutes from downtown Scottsdale.
Zennis is the perfect balance of spa and fitness. Tennis pro Horst Falger, who has been with Sanctuary for more than 30 years, instructs a movement-based tennis clinic that emphasizes functional stretches. Participants focus on body awareness, movement mechanics, heightening their sense of balance and allowing dormant skills to naturally emerge through the program. The Zen stretching portion of Zennis helps promote both relaxation and alignment.
Do you take tennis or Zennis lessons when you travel? Tweet us @OrganicSpaMag.
Photo courtesy of Lesley Balla
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