‘Nobody Cares’ – American ATP Star Directs Crude Blow on Tennis’ Frustrating State as He Finds Solace Amid Popularity Trouble

The concern of Tommy Paul is like a bolt from the blue to all the tennis fans in the US. Tennis is a global sport and its popularity has been increasing quite significantly around the world. It’s equally popular among men and women. There has been nearly an 8% increase in attendance at the US Open this year. Yet, Tommy thinks otherwise. Let’s see what made him jump to this conclusion.

The 26-year-old American tennis player is currently playing Shanghai Masters. He will face Andrey Rublev later today in the Round of 16 clash. But more than the clash on the court, it’s his statement off the court that has caught the eyes of many. A country known for producing legends like Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Serena and Venus Williams, Pete Sampras, and many more, can tennis be on the endangered list in that country?

Tommy Paul makes a surprising statement on the future of tennis in the US

The youngsters in the US who are looking forward to getting a racket in their hands and ace their career are never deprived of role models to inspire them to become one. Recently, after a gap of almost 20 years, American tennis has been looking quite optimistic about getting a men’s singles Grand Slam.

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The future looks bright for American tennis in the hands of Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Tommy Paul. Even in the women’s game, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula have also been doing well. 

In a recent press conference, Tommy said, “Tennis is probably the 20th most popular sport in the United States. Nobody cares & we still have two players in the top 10. So it’s a good thing we’re at the top of the game. I mean, all of our best athletes play other sports, so that’s our excuse, I suppose.” He looked quite worried about the decreasing popularity of the sport in the country.

However, three players are in the top 10 list of singles from the US. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff from the WTA tour and only Taylor Fritz from the ATP Tour. This shows us that tennis in the US hasn’t died yet, it is just gasping for breath. All it needs is a little oxygen to revive again and with these young players rising American tennis lovers can surely keep their fingers crossed.

Deeper Dive into Paul’s astonishing comment

Tennis is always regarded as one of the richest sports in the world. In a list, 4 out of 5 richest female athletes include tennis players. Therefore, tennis is quite a popular sport around the world. But here in the US, they have been going through a transition phase for quite a long time. The team that dominated Davis Cup in the 70s hasn’t won since 2007. There has been a serious shortage of male superstars and college tennis in America recently. How to gain back the popularity of the sport in the US?

The only way to bring back the golden days of American tennis is by winning the majors. The bitter truth is the world only remembers the winners. No matter how well a player plays, he/she will not get adequate coverage until they win a trophy. Therefore, Tommy Paul’s concern is quite obvious, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Do you think this new generation of American tennis will bring back the glorious days? Let us know in the comment box.

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