The ATP Tennis Radio Podcast · ATP Media

PODCAST SPECIAL - The Growth Of Tennis

·36 min·3 clips

Tennis is the second biggest sport in the world by viewer interest, says former world number one Paul Haarhuis.

This ATP Tennis Radio Podcast special examines how tennis can grow its global appeal and attract new audiences off the court. Host Chris Bowers is joined by a range of tennis figures including Paul Haarhuis, Pablo Andujar, Cedric Pioline, Nick Kyrgios, and Ivan Ljubicic. They explore innovations in fan engagement, tournament formats, and broadcasting to ensure the sport's future vitality. Paul Haarhuis states tennis is the world's second most-watched sport and highlights massive growth potential in China. Pablo Andujar believes tennis is at its peak, citing the sport's gentlemanly values and the unique spectator cultures in different regions. Cedric Pioline details the Paris Masters' interactive fan experience, where attendees vote via an app for player entrance music and lighting. Oliver Marach questions if tennis should allow constant crowd noise, similar to Davis Cup or basketball, to broaden its appeal. Nick Kyrgios suggests tennis should emulate the NBA's marketing, allowing players more personality and fashion expression to connect with fans. Ivan Ljubicic credits Italy's tennis boom to its federation-owned 24/7 TV channel, Super Tennis, which broadcasts all levels of the game. Nathaniel Lammons argues for making ATP 250-level tournaments more accessible to watch, helping fans discover lesser-known players. Craig O'Shannessy presents data showing the Next Gen Finals' shorter-set, no-ad format creates more exciting points and suggests applying it to all ATP 250 events. Brad Stine proposes limiting racket head size to 90 square inches to preserve variety in play, drawing a parallel to baseball's use of wooden bats. Andrea Gaudenzi's One Vision plan aims to consolidate the tour's structure, with most Masters 1000 events expanding to 12-day formats by 2025. A surprising claim is that tennis is the second sport worldwide in terms of viewer interest, according to surveys cited by Paul Haarhuis. An interesting insight is the cultural difference in spectating, where South American crowds seek a noisier "show" compared to the traditional quiet of Wimbledon. The proposal to let fans control in-arena elements like music via an app is presented as a novel way to increase fan agency. The success of Italy's dedicated tennis TV channel, once considered a costly risk, is highlighted as a model for promoting the sport nationally. Data analyst Craig O'Shannessy controversially argues the Next Gen format is a superior product to the traditional ATP Finals based on metrics like break point frequency. The discussion on equipment raises the radical idea of mandating smaller, wood-era racket head sizes to counteract modern power and spin. The episode maintains an educational and conversational tone, weaving together interviews from various contributors. It is structured as a curated exploration of ideas rather than a debate, presenting multiple perspectives on growth. This episode is ideal for tennis fans, administrators, and marketers interested in the business and evolution of the sport. Listeners who prefer discussions solely about on-court tactics and match analysis might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A thoughtful look at how tennis can keep growing beyond the baseline.

This ATP special looks at how tennis can stay appealing well into the future, moving from the court itself to the sport's wider development, global reach, and attempts to connect with new audiences on new platforms.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want tennis's future, not its highlight reel.

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