“Tennis is endangered, and if we don’t do something about it globally and collectively, they’re gonna convert all the tennis clubs into padel and pickleball because it’s just more economical,” Novak Djokovic said earlier this year as more and more players turned to Pickleball from tennis. The Serbian legend’s viewpoint wasn’t incorrect, though. The sport of Pickleball has been growing exponentially over the past few years and its popularity has seen a massive rise, especially in America. Additionally, a massive multi-million dollar update dropped earlier this week which is set to further bolster the sport.

As per the 2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report, Pickleball has grown by 223.5% over the past three years, which roughly translates to a staggering 13.6 million Americans taking part in the sport. In 2023, people between 25 and 34 were heavily involved in the game, while more than 1 million people under the age of 18 took up the sport. With this, there is a massive need for more Pickleball infrastructure in the United States.

According to a report by The Kitchen Pickleball, $855 Million is needed for new Pickleball courts to meet the sport’s growth. This is required to fund 24,500 courts over the next 5-7 years, keeping in line with its demand. Although the number of pickleball courts in the U.S. has increased by 55% and major cities have seen significant growth in popularity, these urban areas still have a significant 92% shortfall compared to the national average.

One of the major reasons for the growth of Pickleball is the easy access and cheaper equipment as compared to tennis. Additionally, it requires less stamina than the sport of tennis and is played by people of all age groups. Moreover, some tennis stars like Eugenie Bouchard and John McEnroe have already tried their hand at Pickleball.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams, who retired from tennis in 2022, has been bullish about Pickleball. After her retirement, she made a candid revelation which is sure to excite her fans.

Serena Williams might turn to Pickleball

Pickleball has been gaining popularity for quite some time now and has taken over the tennis world as well. While a tennis comeback is nowhere in question for Williams, there might be a chance that she takes up Pickleball in the future, if her statement is anything to go by.

During an interview a few years back, Williams revealed her interest in the sport, saying, “I love pickleball. Isn’t it fun? And I love that it’s everywhere now. It could be a second career of mine.” However, she isn’t alone in this regard and might have the company of her elder sister, Venus Williams, who once said about Pickleball,

“I love it. I love people moving their bodies. I’m passionate about wellness. You’ve got to move, and if people can find a new, fun, easy way to move and they want to do it all the time, thumbs-up.”

Thus, it is no surprise to see the Williams sisters hit the court, albeit in Pickleball. Moreover, with the massive investment in the sport set to potentially flow in, it’ll be interesting to see Pickleball’s trajectory.