Tennis is a very popular sport in the UK, with exciting fast paced action throughout. These tennis statistics explore exactly how popular it is as well as the number of players in the UK and the UKs favourite Tennis players.
Tennis Statistics UK: The Short Version
We have summed up our key findings from our research here. More in depth analysis and research can be found further on in the article.
- “Tennis” is searched 74,800 times per month on average in the UK.
- Serena Williams is the most popular Tennis player in the UK in terms of search volume.
- Rafael Nadal is the most popular male Tennis player in the UK according to search volumes.
- The term “Tennis Balls” is searched 24,700 times per month in the UK, indicating the number of active players.
How Popular is Tennis in the UK in 2021?
We conducted a keyword analysis with KWFinder to discover how popular Tennis is in the UK and we found that the term “Tennis” is searched 74,800 times on average each month. In comparison, the term “Badminton” is searched an average of 28,200 searches per month showing the scale of the popularity of Tennis in the UK.
When identifying the popularity of Tennis over time in the UK, we discovered that other than in 2020, the search volume for the sport increases drastically in July each year. The graphic of the popularity is displayed below.
Google Trends data for the search term “Tennis” over the past 5 years.
In the UK, Wimbledon usually happens in July each year with the exception to 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic causing it to be cancelled. This event coincides with the increased search volumes for Tennis, highlighting the link between the event and the sports popularity in the country.
How Many People Play Tennis in the UK in 2021?
Tennis is a popular sport to play in the UK, being fun, exciting and a great way to keep fit and burn calories. We conducted a keyword analysis analysing keywords which indicate specific intent for a searcher that is looking to play Tennis. The keywords that we analysed include “Tennis Balls”, “Tennis Shoes”, “Tennis Courts Near Me” and “Best Tennis Racquet”.
Keyword | Average Monthly Searches in the UK |
Tennis Balls | 24,700 |
Tennis Courts Near Me | 19,600 |
Tennis Shoes | 10,300 |
Best Tennis Racquet | 1,800 |
The most popular term that we analysed was “Tennis Balls” with 24,700 searches. This term indicates players looking for equipment to play with and are accessible to players of all abilities. Furthermore, pressurised Tennis balls if used moderately need to be replaced every 1-4 weeks, explaining the high search volumes. This being said, unpressurised balls can last upwards of a year. The term “Tennis Shoes” also indicates a similar intent but we believe that players looking to purchase Tennis Shoes tend to be intermediate to advanced players. As well as this, Tennis shoes are likely to be purchased much more infrequently, explaining the lower search volumes.
The term “Tennis Courts Near Me” implies an active player looking to play Tennis in their local area to learn more and begin to play on a higher level. This is searched 19,600 times per month on average, highlighting the number of new players searching for where they can play.
The informational query “Best Tennis Racquet” highlights an advanced player looking to purchase the best equipment possible to improve their game. On average, this is searched 1,800 times per month which is understandable as Racquets can be repaired and restrung as well as them only requiring repair after regular use for at least a year.
Who is the Most Popular Tennis Player in the UK in 2021?
We conducted a keyword analysis on the top 150 ranked men’s ATP Tennis players in the world to discover which players are the most popular in the UK. The table below displays our findings:
Tennis Player | ATP Men’s World Rankings | Average Monthly Searches in the UK |
Rafael Nadal | 3 | 107,000 |
Novak Djokovic | 1 | 102,000 |
Roger Federer | 8 | 77,100 |
Daniel Evans | 27 | 38,500 |
Dominic Thiem | 4 | 28,200 |
Stefanos Tsitsipas | 5 | 16,000 |
Alexander Zverev | 6 | 16,000 |
Andy Murray | 123 | 15,400 |
Jannik Sinner | 19 | 13,600 |
Cameron Norrie | 45 | 13,600 |
Rafael Nadal is the most popular Male tennis player in the UK, generating an average of 107,000 searches per month. He is currently ranked number 3 in the world with the world number 1, Novak Djokovic taking second place with 102,000 searches per month. Even though Andy Murry is ranked 123rd in the world, he is still the 8th most searched for Tennis player, highlighting his popularity in the UK.
We also conducted a keyword analysis on the top 150 ranked women’s ATP Tennis players in the world to discover which female tennis player is the most popular in the UK. The following table show our findings:
Tennis Player | ATP Women’s World Rankings | Average Monthly Searches in the UK |
Serena Williams | 8 | 124,000 |
Naomi Osaka | 2 | 61,200 |
Simona Halep | 3 | 25,700 |
Venus Williams | 104 | 24,500 |
Heather Watson | 71 | 22,100 |
Johanna Konta | 20 | 15,400 |
Sofia Kenin | 5 | 12,600 |
Eugenie Bouchard | 117 | 11,300 |
Victoria Azarenka | 16 | 9,800 |
Petra Kvitova | 12 | 8,700 |
Serena Williams is the most popular female Tennis player in the UK and the most popular Tennis player when considering the Men’s game as well, generating an average of 124,000 searches per month. The current world number 1, Ashleigh Barty only amasses a total of 5,900 searches per month which would place her 12th on our list in terms of popularity. Heather Watson and Johanna Konta are the only British players in our top 10.
Summary: Tennis Statistics UK 2021
To conclude, Tennis is a popular sport in the UK with popularity very much fuelled by events such as Wimbledon. Participation in the sport is high and there are substantial search volumes for Tennis related queries. Serena Williams is the most popular tennis player in the UK and Rafael Nadal is the most popular male tennis player.
We hope this article has helped you understand the scale of the popularity of Tennis in the UK.
