A Fresh Serve in Racquet Sports Popularity

Tennis has long been a popular racquet sport in Australia. In the financial year 2023, estimates suggested that around 1.2 million people over the age of 15 were playing tennis on a regular basis.

The game is also popular with spectators in the country. The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria each January. More than 1.1 million people attended the event in 2024, with 4.77 million and 3.26 million, respectively, watching the men’s and women’s finals on Nine Entertainment.

Tennis courts may be well-populated by fans of the sport. However, other emerging racquet sports in Australia are set to compete with tennis for players in the coming years. The fastest growing of these sports are pickleball, padel, and beach tennis.

Sports emerging in the racquet revolution

Tennis clubs across the country are buzzing with the sounds of the racquet sports revolution. People are taking to courts in these clubs and other public areas to play pickleball, padel, and beach tennis.

In recent years, pickleball has gained fans for its social aspect. Participants include the actor Will Farrel, who is known for adding his humour to the game.

Joining pickleball as a rising racquet sport is padel. Tennis player Rafael Nadal is known to be a fan, as are fellow players Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams.

Beach tennis is also becoming a familiar sight in Australia. The sport is played in more than 50 countries globally and is most popular in Italy, Brazil, and Spain. Now, Australian Beach Tennis is raising the sport's profile in the country and encouraging more people to play beach tennis.

An overview of the racquet sports rising in popularity

You may be more used to the regular tennis program in Australia than these emerging racquet sports. So, we will briefly introduce you to pickleball, padel, and beach tennis, including an overview of each sport and a look at who it appeals to.

Pickleball in Australia

Pickleball combines elements of table tennis, badminton, and tennis. The paddle is similar to a table tennis paddle but is larger, and the balls are plastic and have holes in them. The rules of the game are similar to table tennis, but the court has a size akin to a doubles badminton court with a net that is 36 inches in height.

Estimates suggest that around 20,000 people play pickleball in Australia. Their average age is 58. Take a look at our article for more information about Pickleball in Australia.  

Padel in Australia

Like pickleball, padel combines action with social interaction. The sport is a mix of tennis and squash and is not dominated by strength, so it can be played by anyone. A padel court is normally set for a doubles game and is around one-third the size of a tennis court. It’s surrounded by walls of glass and metallic mesh.

Players use a short racquet with an elastic surface. They use low-compression tennis balls, and all serves are underarm. Each shot in the game is played either before or after the ball bounces off the wall.

Padel has yet to fully take off in Australia, with only seven registered clubs in existence as of late 2023. However, Tennis Australia is supporting the sport's growth, and a pop-up court was set up at the Australian Open in 2022. Currently, the sport is mostly played by people between the ages of 19 and 39, but it’s likely to expand across other age groups.  

Beach Tennis in Australia 

Beach tennis is also yet to achieve wide popularity in Australia, but it’s taking a fast-paced journey in the right direction. The sport combines elements of tennis and volleyball and is played on beaches.

The ball may not touch the ground, so the entire game is played using volleys. This makes it quicker than traditional tennis, making it popular with younger players.

Most beach tennis games involve two doubles teams. The aim is to return the ball over the net with one hit. Players hit a depressurised tennis ball during the game. This allows rallies to last longer. The net they must hit the ball over is usually 67 inches in height.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) first took responsibility for developing the sport in 2008. However, the first ITF tournament in Australia did not take place until September 2022. As more tournaments happen, the sport is likely to gain further traction amongst the Australian population.

When combined with the increasing popularity of pickleball and padel, the growth of beach tennis will lead to a need for more facilities. If you want to take advantage of this need and create your own courts, we are happy to help with shade structures to cover them. To start the design process, contact us, and we will discuss your requirements with you.