INFOSYS TENNIS

RADAR
The Next Big Era
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 TENNIS EVENTS ADD FLAVOR 28
TENNIS IS ON THE VERGE OF A NEW ERA 6 ANALYTICS MEETS EXPERIENCE 31
THE TENNIS RADAR STUDY 8 ANALYTICS EXPERIENCE INDEX 33
THE BEST OF TIMES, THE MOST COMPLICATED OF TIMES 10 THE FUTURE OF TENNIS 40
ATP UPGRADES EXPERIENCE 12 FANS SEEK STORIES 41
COME FOR THE MATCH, STAY FOR THE EXPERIENCE 13 A NEW AUDIENCE FOR A NEW ERA 43
THE CLUB MODEL EVOLVES 14 TECH’S ROLE IN TENNIS’S NEXT BIG ERA 45
THE HIGH COST OF COMPETING 16 1. EXPERIMENT AT EVERY LEVEL 46
PLATFORM TECH: ANALYTICS GAME CHANGER 18 2. DEMOCRATIZE DATA AND ANALYTICS 47
A GAME FOR ALL, GROWING GLOBALLY 21 3. FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL ELEMENT 48
THE RIGHT RACKET MATTERS 22 4. PROTECT THE HUMAN ELEMENT 49
WATCHING COURTSIDE FROM YOUR COUCH 23 TECH SHOWS THE WAY 51
GAME, SET, MATCH: WINNING NEW TENNIS FANS 25 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 52
ADDING VIRTUAL REALITY 26 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 53

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2019, the Infosys Knowledge Institute conducted a interviewees. All age groups in our survey answered
worldwide study of tennis to answer the question, How can roughly the same regarding match length: 85% of
the proud sport of tennis, with its rich tradition, continue Millennials and 84% of Generation Z, Generation X,
to stay relevant and be even more successful in a rapidly and Baby Boomers said match length is just right. Like
evolving world shaped by consumer experience and driven all consumer products, tennis is no longer a discrete
by technology? activity, it is an experience — consisting of dispersed,
shareable micro-moments. Tennis-focused, tech-
We surveyed more than 3,000 tennis fans globally and
enabled experiences will help tennis reach and retain
interviewed 30 prominent stakeholders representing player,
new fans.
coach, event organizer, industry organization, and media
perspectives. 3. Inclusion, which dispels misperceptions that
otherwise put tennis’s future at risk. Tennis has
successfully expanded to the East and has reached new
A new era players and audiences. However, millions of people will
Our analysis revealed insights at the intersection of analytics, never watch or play tennis because they think it is, as
experience, and inclusion. We found that new technologies our interviewees said, “not cool,” “an old person’s sport,”
and intertwined social forces are pushing tennis into a “exclusive,” “a country club sport,” “difficult to play,” and
new era. “difficult to learn.” Interviewees consistently stressed
the need to show people that tennis is accessible
This new era is characterized by to all. Tennis is becoming more accessible through
1. Analytics- and technology-based experiences that experimentation at all levels, from grassroots to
improve fan enjoyment of the game. Young people tournaments to technology like virtual reality, fantasy
and people in emerging markets (India, China) score leagues, and esports that bring new people to tennis.
in the highest cluster (Enthusiasts) on our Analytics
Experience Index. More than one third of Generation
Z and Millennials are Enthusiasts. Easily more than half How can tennis embrace this new era?
the respondents in India and China are Enthusiasts • Experiment at every level
(64% and 57%, respectively), with very low percentages
• Democratize data and analytics
for the lowest scorers (Skeptics cluster; 3% and 2%,
respectively). • Focus on the social element
2. A new generation of fans with the attention span • Protect the human element
for a tennis match but who demand a tennis
experience. Tennis can hold the attention of younger
audiences, contrary to common concerns about
younger generations’ attention spans, including by our

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TENNIS IS ON THE VERGE OF A NEW ERA
Tennis, like all sports, has immense opportunities to use the first Wimbledon tournament). The Open Era began in
technology to reach more people. From social media to big 1968, when the game became “open” to professionals to
data to the internet of things (IoT), people are connected to compete against amateurs.
each other and to their world like never before. This is true in
Today, too, the game is evolving in parallel with the times
all industries, and it is true in tennis.
(globalization, mobile phones, competition for consumer
Tennis is a centuries-old sport that has evolved in step with screen time, influence of social media, multiculturalism).
technological advances and social change. “Real tennis” (see Our interviewees echoed again and again the sentiment of
Figure 1), the precursor to today’s game, developed from a prominent coach and ambassador Judy Murray: “ The world
12th century French handball game called “paume” and was is changing all the time and we have to be able to adapt to
mainly played by royalty. Over time, the game then added those changes, and that includes the way that people are
a glove, then a racket, moved from courtyards to courts, watching or following tennis, which is completely different
and became “lawn tennis”—commonly referred to now as now.” The world does not look the same as it did at the
“tennis.” The game also grew from Europe to the United beginning of the Open Era, and neither does tennis.
States, with the first tournament in 1874 (three years before

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 Figure 1. Tennis and technology evolve in parallel

First Industrial Second Industrial Third Industrial Fourth Industrial

Revolution Revolution Revolution Revolution
DEVELOPMENT
OF TECHNOLOGY 2000
1784 1870 1969
AND SOCIAL CHANGE Steam engine, Mass production, Age of information, Smart- Cyberphysical
factories, rise of electricity, railways digital age begins; phones, systems, artificial
middle class in equal rights, social intelligence,
the West desegregation in media internet of
the US, air travel, things
broadcast
journalism, cable
TV, the internet,
DEVELOPMENT OF TENNIS personal computers

1800 2000
1100 1500 1900 1968
Real tennis Racket Late 1800s: Open Era (1968-?): Hawk- Today: global
Lawn tennis, Game opens to Eye game, age
tennis expands amateurs, so they of experience,
to the US can play against influence of
Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute professionals social media

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THE TENNIS RADAR STUDY
The Infosys Knowledge Institute conducted this study This report draws on a comprehensive set of perspectives
to explore the question: How can tennis, with its rich across the tennis ecosystem. We assess the current state of
tradition, continue to stay relevant and be even more the game, covering everything from prize money at the elite
successful in this rapidly evolving world shaped by levels to grassroots participation numbers. We then narrow
consumer experience and driven by technology? our focus to discuss innovations in analytics and experience.
Throughout, we identify challenges and opportunities
Data for Tennis Radar includes 30 stakeholder interviews
(see Figure 2), as tennis reaches new markets and the next
representing perspectives from prominent players, coaches,
generation.
event organizers, industry organizations, equipment
manufacturers, and media. Interviews explored the current The heart of our argument is that tennis can become
state of the game as well as barriers and opportunities for even more successful when it increases access to playing,
growth. To bring in the consumer perspective, we surveyed watching, and understanding the game, and that
over 3,000 tennis fans in eight regions about their attitudes technology — especially social technology and analytics-
toward tennis, including tennis technology, game and based experiences — will play a vital role as tennis enters
performance metrics, events, and viewing preferences. the next big era.

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Figure 2. Tennis faces challenges and opportunities in the times ahead

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

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 THE BEST OF TIMES, THE MOST
COMPLICATED OF TIMES

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The Grand Slams have never been better, as they reap the Event organizers are under pressure to sort out these
benefits of new technology. The 2019 US Open, Australian new options — not just broadcast options but also the
Open, and Roland-Garros (popularly referenced by media sponsorship and retail possibilities brought about by
and fans as the French Open) had record attendance. 1, 2, 3 globalization and technology.
Wimbledon’s attendance was the second-highest in its
One interviewee talks about the tension between increasing
history, up from 2017 and 2018. 4 (See Figure 3.) As Brad
participation and running an event: “Increasingly, as
Gilbert, renowned ESPN tennis analyst, coach, former pro the world changes, those two businesses are extremely
player, and author, states, “Attendance is up. People are different in both skillsets and culture. The juxtaposition
going. All the tournaments in summer, Canada, Cincy, the between increasing grassroots participation and a global
Open, Wimbledon — these tournaments are all packed. entertainment business is very stark.”
They’re still on people’s bucket lists.”
The French Tennis Federation (FFT), for instance, with its
Figure 3. Increased attendance at Slams, 2015-2019 crown jewel Roland-Garros, develops tennis in France
through local club participation. Both the FFT and Tennis
Australia are sports federations, and as such have mandates
to help more people play tennis. Tennis Australia’s local club-
13%
12% level efforts include adding vending machines for rackets
and balls to clubs. With reduced staff requirements, more
small clubs can stay operational and meet the needs of their
7% communities.

3%
Wimbledon US Open French Open Australian
Open
Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

Besides enhancing consumer experiences, technology has

enabled new revenue sources and new challenges. This is
true for all industries, including sports. Whether it’s tennis,
basketball, or Formula One, organizers can choose among
traditional television broadcasts (and the sponsorship money
that comes with them) and over-the-top providers. For
instance, this year’s Australian Open will be broadcast on
television, and a live broadcast will also be integrated into
Amazon’s Alexa devices.

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ATP UPGRADES EXPERIENCE
The Nitto ATP Finals in London has had record crowds since virtual reality (VR) to social technology. For instance, in 2016
The O2 started hosting the ATP’s marquee year-end event Infosys and ATP created a 3D replica of the tournament’s
in 2009. 5 According to the tournament’s Event Director, center court. The VR offerings have become so popular that
Adam Hogg, the tournament has consistently maintained Infosys continues to create more of them each year. Infosys
95% occupancy (of 17,800 seats), with attendance regularly reports that their most popular digital experience for fans at
exceeding 250,000 of its 267,000 seats, year on year. the ATP and Slams are VR experiences, which have engaged
more than 125,000 onsite fans since 2015.
How does the tournament continue to bring in such a
volume of premium-paying fans? The ATP added the
kinds of experiences consumers expect — immersive and
technology based, ranging from analytics experiences to

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COME FOR THE
MATCH, STAY FOR
THE EXPERIENCE
At the Western & Southern Open, a summer
tournament in Ohio, technology is key to
keeping core fans and attracting new ones.
The event’s home town of Cincinnati doesn’t
have a beautiful ocean or mountains or
desert to attract fans like a lot of other venues
do. So the tournament instead works to
create a premium experience, supported by
technology. Organizers have built an event
that includes a tennis tournament and other
experiences. Those additional experiences,
including adaptive tennis and fitness
programs, family-focused events, and culinary
exhibits, aim to make their tournament
engaging to both core and new fans. Those
efforts appear to have had an impact: Fans
spend between six and seven hours per visit
— the time equivalent of two football games.

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THE CLUB MODEL EVOLVES
“Millennials are samplers, they want to have many Chinese perception of tennis from a sport for the elite to
experiences and not necessarily commit to be members one for the general public. After being a club serving all the
of clubs,” says Jolyn de Boer, Executive Director of the employees of the government departments for five years,
Tennis Industry Association (TIA). Some clubs are changing in 2016 it launched lessons and matches for the public and
drastically to adapt to these younger consumers. For became a commercialized entity that regards promoting
instance, in Seattle, The Collective is a private club with tennis as its top priority instead of generating a profit. It
“craft beer, hammocks, and a climbing wall,” and is owned lowered the cost for people to learn and play tennis.
by ClubCorp, “the largest owner and operator of golf and
TT. Tennis is addressing the long-existing pain points that
country clubs in the United States.” 6
hindered the popularization of tennis in China: insufficient
More traditional clubs are changing too. Jenny Dent, owner and expensive tennis courts and coaches, and lack of
of The Birch Racquet and Lawn Club in Keller, Texas, says that platforms and organization. TT. Tennis is expanding from
her club doesn’t have a retail store due to online shopping, Beijing to the entire nation by organizing group matches
whereas retail stores used to be an essential element of in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city clusters, the Yangtze River
the club experience — and revenue — in the past. Local Economic Zone and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao
clubs are also trying to meet the demands of shifting Greater Bay Area, which are the three most developed areas
demographics. in China.
Our research indicates that in Asia, tennis clubs are fewer Duan’s club now has nearly 16,000 registered members,
and further between — supply is low but demand is high ages 5 to 80+, and spanning novices to professional tennis
(see Figures 4a-4c). players. Over 65,000 people attended training courses or
joined matches organized by TT. Tennis, and tournaments
Duan Shaowu, owner of TT. Tennis club in Beijing, says that
have been attended by players representing 28 provinces.
now that tennis is becoming popular in China, his club
is bringing tennis to the masses. Its mission is to change

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Figure 4a. Players per country: China and US lead the player pipeline Figure 4b. Players per court: Courts needed in China and India
19.7M 18.1M 393

320

234 225 224

8.0M
6.1M 122
5.3M 104
4.0M 87
3.0M
2.1M

China US India Germany UK France Spain Australia China India US UK Spain Germany Australia France

Global number of players = 87M. Data from ITF Global Tennis Report 2019. Global average, players per court = 178. Data from ITF Global Tennis
Report 2019.

Figure 4c. Players per coach: Coaches needed in China,

followed by US and India
4,856

2,495 2,424

826
505 407 339 256

China US India Australia UK Germany France Spain

Global average, players per coach = 530. Data from ITF Global
Tennis Report 2019.

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 THE HIGH COST OF
COMPETING
At the elite level, tennis is arguably in a “Golden Age,” with
some of the best players of all time currently playing:
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Serena
Williams. 7, 8 “That we’ve had four of the greatest players
of all time playing at the same time and nearly the same
age has just been incredible,” says Brad Gilbert. Federer,
Nadal, and Djokovic have won more majors than any
other stars. Williams has more Slam titles than anyone in
the Open Era, and many — including Roger Federer — say
she is the greatest player of all time. 9 “In Serena, you’ve
got somebody who’s pushing the boundaries both on and
off the court. She transcends the sport like no other,” says
broadcaster Jason Goodall.
“Everywhere you go, people know who Roger Federer is,
who Rafael Nadal is, who Serena Williams is. It’s amazing
how big of a reach they have. I’m a huge fan of the
NFL, but the reality is 99.9% of those players can walk
anywhere around the world and nobody would know
who they are,” says one of our interviewees.
However, many in the industry worry that these superstars
disproportionately drive fan engagement and event
attendance — and they are on the verge of retirement,
with no clear successors. 10

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Purses at every level also continue to rise, with the $14 This sentiment held for every player we interviewed.
million total prize money at the most recent Women’s Tennis Catherine Harrison, a top 300 Women’s Tennis Association
Association (WTA) Finals breaking both the men’s and the touring pro player based in Austin, Texas: “On the whole,
women’s records. At that tournament, in Shenzhen, China, tennis is an extremely expensive sport. I broke down costs
winner Ashleigh Barty received $4.4 million, compared for myself as a professional at the end of the 2019 season,
with Stefanos Tsitsipas’s $2.7 million for winning the men’s and tennis-related expenses alone totaled out to be around
finals the same month in London. This pay imbalance, tilted $60k. While I consider 2019 to be a very good year for
toward women, is remarkable in a year where one of the results, rising 200 spots in the rankings, my total year-to-
biggest stories in sports was Megan Rapinoe’s fight against date winnings did not even cover half of my expenses.” She
the United States Soccer Federation for equal pay. 11 It is also describes how the costs increase exponentially as you start
remarkable that, on the heels of these tournaments, the competing in tournaments. The real expense, she describes,
World Economic Forum’s annual “Global Gender Gap Report” is in the instruction necessary to advance. Private lessons
was released, predicting that it will be almost 100 years until can approach $80 per hour, plus travel with flights, lodging,
full gender equality is achieved across the world. 12 and meals. As a player advances his or her skill and ranking,
the costs associated with playing also increase. While
Despite this seemingly good news, a recent deal valuation
Harrison and other emerging U.S. pros are concerned with
of the top 20 men’s and women’s players found that
cracking the upper echelons, even the entry levels pose
men’s sponsorship portfolios are nearly three times that of
financial barriers to players in countries with fewer money
women’s. 13 Further, outside the elite levels many players
tournaments.
struggle financially. The average professional can’t afford to
travel to tournaments. In 2017, The New York Times reported ATP touring pro Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, who has been
that 60% of the top tennis prize money went to the top ranked in the top 100, says, “The number one challenge is
1% on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and financial. Tennis is an expensive sport and if you want to
WTA tours. That is worth repeating: the top 1% of players be good, you have to travel a lot. It’s not like when you’re
won 60% of the prize money. Part of that is due to a small playing a team sport; your club pays for everything and
number of players consistently winning, but it also raises your club pays for you to see to your own coaches. I think
questions about increasing the prize money for other place especially if you’re not at the top, trying to get to the top is
finishers. the tough part.”
Indeed, many of our interviewees expressed concern about Ankita Raina, a WTA top 200 player from India, described the
the financial aspects of playing tennis professionally, as well crucial role financial backing played for her starting out. “I
as the emotional toll traveling can take on young players. come from a humble background and so it was a challenge
Indian men’s touring pro Sumit Nagal, currently ranked at to fund my trips. My first international tournament was when
130 worldwide, describes these difficulties: “It’s not a cheap I was just 13 years of age, and I was able to play only due to
sport. You’re spending a lot of money and you’re always getting sponsored by Dishman Pharmaceuticals.” This small
spending in dollars or euros. You’re never going to Europe early financial boost paved the way to receiving support
and spending rupees. My father’s a teacher, whatever he from other organizations, like the Lakshya Foundation from
makes goes in three, four days in Europe. How are you Pune and now Sports Authority of Gujarat since 2013.
supposed to live like this?”

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PLATFORM TECH: ANALYTICS GAME CHANGER
Before 2015, tennis fans had limited access to data and With the Players and Coaches Portal, players can analyze
analytics. That started to change when the ATP worked with their performance and that of their opponent (see Figure 6).
digital services and consultancy Infosys to create a data The tool examines crucial match statistics and visual cues,
platform specifically designed for tennis. The Infosys Tennis and also uses sophisticated filters to generate video clips
Platform (ITP) is perhaps the first of its kind to be developed from more than 1,000 combinations. Data is collected
for enterprise-scale and designed for the sport of tennis. from multiple sources — Hawk-Eye, statisticians, and chair
umpires and then collated into a centralized source. Players
The ITP has pulled in more than 12 million data points going
and coaches can quickly find the clips of interest and then
back to 1991, including every point recorded by ATP chair
save them for future viewing.
umpires, and five years of Hawk-Eye ball-tracking data. AI
generates insights about players’ strategies related to shot
spins, speeds, and also scenarios like how their playing style Figure 6. Players and coaches can strategize using >1,000 stats
is affected when they are behind. (See Figure 5.) Analyses combinations
using this platform revealed, for example, that in all of 2015,
Roger Federer was able to win all 387 games when he led
40-0 and was able to come back to win games 36% of the
time when he was behind 0-40. This new contextualization
is exciting for ATP fans who have never seen point-level data
analyzed like this.

Figure 5. AI generates new insights for fans

Source: Infosys Player and Coaches Portal

Second Screen is another digital product that delivers

contextualized tennis analytics instead of a series of
individual statistics. The tool provides live commentary and
insights on parameters like serve locations, return positions,
return placements, shot placements, fatigue indexes,
and more — all within 2 seconds after a point is played,
thanks to intelligent analytics and machine learning. Other
innovations include technology that offers a bird’s-eye view
of the court and shows where each point was won, and
Source: Infosys AI Shot of the Day
Rally Analysis, which provides insight into playing styles.

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With the technological prowess of large tech companies and His approach to analytics evolved as technology evolved —
a hardworking cottage industry of statisticians and analysts, he now uses the Infosys Tennis Platform to filter matches,
tennis is starting to close the analytics gap 14 with other creating customized videos that coaches and players
sports — but it has yet to find its “Moneyball” moment. use to analyze performance and strategize for upcoming
opponents. 15 He says, “I know for a fact that once I go to
One of the leaders of an emerging cottage industry is Craig
the analytics and the numbers, I’m going to find even more
O’Shannessy, strategy analyst for Team Djokovic from 2017
things that I missed.”
to 2019 and current analyst for Matteo Berrettini, Jan-
Lennard Struff, Alexei Popyrin, and Tennis Canada. He also Does his approach work? Ask the Italian Tennis Federation.
writes about tennis analytics for The New York Times and When O’Shannessy brought his analytics approach to its
other leading publications, and created the strategy website team in 2017, five Italian men played at Wimbledon. Two
braingametennis.com. After becoming a coach, O’Shannessy years later, in 2019, that number jumped to nine and the
discovered the importance of analyzing data to improve story was, “The rise of Italian tennis has been one of the
performance. Analytics isn’t just the ability to calculate totals, themes of the ATP Tour in 2019.”16
it is the ability to selectively identify and efficiently review
While there is evidence that sophisticated analytics and
specific shots, patterns, and elements of interest better
strategy coaching makes a difference, it has so far remained
than the eye alone can, he says. “Without analysis, patterns
out of reach for all but the elite players. Aussie touring pro
of play get separated by time, sometimes minutes, so they
Thanasi Kokkinakis points out that, in addition to covering
don’t get linked closely enough,” causing coaches to miss
travel expenses, funding is essential to access performance
relevant patterns.
analytics and the coaching that brings them to life. “The
higher up you are,” he says, “the more funds you have to
bring someone on board for analytics.” Somebody playing
the Challenger Tour, however, would “probably rather spend
their money trying to get by on flights and accommodations
rather than looking into the stats and analytics.”
O’Shannessy agrees: “At the Slams, all players get basic
analytics, whether you’re on a show court or a TV court. But
if you are on court 17 out back, you only get basic analytics
of the match. To improve, step one would be that for every
match, on every court, data capture and statistics are the
same. Otherwise, if you’re a low-ranked player and play on
an outside court, you’re not going to get the same match
Source: Infosys Second Screen data to learn from and to improve as the players who are
ranked higher. There’s a big disparity just from a learning
The first stage in O’Shannessy’s evolution in using analytics
standpoint, and an understanding of what’s going on
was sitting on the side of the court and tagging matches
between low-ranked players and high-ranked players at the
by hand. He noticed that he would always find something
same tournament, which I think is a little crazy. I think there
in the tagged match that his coaching eyes had missed: “I
has to be some parity there.”
overlooked something or I didn’t realize the importance of it
when the match happened.”

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Like O’Shannessy, Damien Spizzo is a former Aussie tennis At the college level, analytics remains mostly out of reach
player now living in Texas and coaching touring pros. for coaches, according to Jason Brown, head coach of the
Spizzo explains that his coaching style is a combination of men’s tennis team at the University of Montana. If his team
experience as a U.S. collegiate champion and touring pro, is up against a player they haven’t met before, they “have to
along with his emphasis on analytics in the game. “Especially do an educated guessing game from watching a 10-minute
when dealing with higher-level professionals or high-level warmup and the first three games of a match. I wish we
juniors, the data is huge, and numbers don’t lie. As players had the ability to use analytics more directly at our level of
progress and as the level of play gets higher, those little college tennis, but it really hasn’t become a factor yet.” Brown
intangibles and knowing your stats can be the difference has developed his own expertise in statistics and analysis,
between losing and winning a match. I mean, I think a 6-4, and has started to consult with professional players.
6-4 match on average is maybe a difference of five points or
so. It’s crazy that when you really try to help these players
who are at that level, you’re really working in that fine area,
those few points.” Spizzo describes using a combination of
apps like Tennis Tracker, which records match statistics, and
video analysis for his players.

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A GAME FOR ALL, GROWING GLOBALLY
At the grassroots level, the International Tennis Federation Figure 7. Asia has the largest proportion of tennis participants
(ITF) reports both strong participation and strong gender globally
parity — 87 million people worldwide play tennis and
3%
47% of them are women. This ITF research also shows
that between 50 and 60 nations had at least one male 5%
and one female player ranked in the Junior Top 100, in
the Professional Top 100, in a Junior Grand Slam, and in a
Grand Slam. 17
23% 38%
Over the last 15 years, the sport of tennis has successfully
expanded to the East. The ITF report shows that 37.9% of
the world’s tennis players are in Asia, followed by Europe
at 31.2%, and North America at 23.2% (see Figure 7). By
country, the top three nations by percentage participation
are India (9.2%), the United States (20.7%), and China (22.5%). 31%
Note that China has nearly one quarter of the tennis players
in the world — despite having only 10% of the world’s
tennis courts and only a few clubs. 18 The China market
is only expected to grow — the size of the China sports Asia South America
market was around $56 billion in 2013 and is expected to Europe Others
increase to approximately $194 billion in 2020 and $470
billion in 2025. 19 North America
However, data show a steady decline in wholesale racket Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute. Data from ITF Global Tennis Report 2019.
orders, from 4.53 million units in 2008 to 2.35 million units
in 2017. There is a glimmer of hope: the Tennis Industry
Association’s (TIA) recent data show that at the end of 2019,
U.S. manufacturers’ wholesale shipments for rackets (in units)
climbed 4%, with dollar shipments up 6.6%. Some worry,
however; one interviewee says, “If you look at the suppliers
and manufacturers of balls and rackets and shoes … you
know, Nike, for example, Nike’s entire tennis sales are less
than the sales of LeBron James shoes. Statistics like that
worry me.”

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THE RIGHT RACKET MATTERS
Ron Rocchi, Advanced Innovation Manager, Player Insights of a new club the Innovation Center is working on, and
and Global Tour at Wilson, helps develop tennis equipment almost every player will try it. “That blew me away,” says
to move the industry forward. He describes the two distinct Rocchi, “because if I go to the US Open with a prototype
types of rackets he develops: rackets for tour professionals tennis racket, the players will actually run away from me.”
and those for recreational players. The most recent result of Professional tennis players rarely test new equipment during
his advanced innovation group is Wilson’s new racket, the the season, usually only in the off season.
Clash, which debuted and became the top-selling racket in
“The golf and tennis pro are both professional athletes,
every market, Rocchi says. Most new rackets take multiple
they’re both at a major tournament, but the mindset is 180
years of hard work and expertise to develop, and Clash was
degrees opposed to each other.”
no exception: “We took the time to rethink everything, talk
to everyone, and really get it right.” Rocchi also created and runs Wilson’s International Stringing
Team, an elite group of international technicians who string
He says Wilson’s goal is to make tennis a healthier sport for
rackets for professional players on site at 12 prominent
the next generation through their products, experiences,
tournaments per year. We talked with Dustin Tankersley,
and athletes. He also discusses the difficulty of not having a
captain of the 21-person stringing team for the 2019 US
fundamentally new equipment material. “Carbon fiber has
Open. The team’s process is precise: “We all tie off strings on
been used in tennis since the early ’80s. The real innovations
the same spot. All the machines are calibrated. Everything is
have been in how the industry uses the fibers, what
exactly the same.” It is also systematic and scalable: “Our way
additive materials enhance performance, and advanced
may not always be the best way, but we pride ourselves on
racket design.”
being accurate, repeatable, and fast, so pros get what they
His job at Wilson also involves working one-on-one with top want, when they want, how they want it.
players: “Roger, Serena, del Potro, Nishikori.” He walks them
Before their matches at an event, players come in to the
through the racket process, making sure equipment they’re
stringing room, test two rackets with different tensions and
playing with on court is optimized for that moment in time.
figure out which tension they like. And then the stringing
“Any professional athlete whose career spans a decade or
team duplicates that tension every time the pro leaves a
more changes physically and tactically over time. “They
racket, for the next two weeks. “And the players can feel
change their approach to the game and their equipment
the difference if it’s not done right — even a single pound
has to adapt with that to maintain optimal performance
of tension difference,” Tankersley says. The Wilson stringing
levels.” Also, new racket innovations are constantly being
team expectations are for each racket to feel exactly the
tested by professional athletes, but only at specific times of
same, regardless of the stringer.
the year.
During a match, if a player sends a racket in, from the time
He describes the unique relationship between professional
it enters the stringing room to the time it leaves the room is
tennis players and their equipment, something he realized
less than 18 minutes. “And that includes cutting the strings
after talking with a colleague in the golf division at the
out, stringing the racket, putting the logo on the racket, and
Innovation Center. When his golf counterparts travel to
the racket leaving the room.” This elite team strung 5,600
a professional tournament, they will bring a prototype
rackets for the 2018 US Open tournament, Tankersley says.

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WATCHING COURTSIDE FROM YOUR COUCH
Starting with TV, screens bring amazing opportunities to the brutality of the sport and its athleticism. At the Nitto ATP
deliver the sport. As ATP’s Hogg describes, the big challenge Finals I am fortunate to witness our top stars performing
facing tennis, and every sporting event, is that the quality close up. Just seeing the speed at which they move and
of the product being produced for consumption on TV anticipate, the power and the effort they’re putting in, shot
at home is so good that it poses a realistic challenge to after shot after shot.”
convince fans to pay to attend the event in situ. “The live
Jason Brown, head coach of the University of Montana men’s
broadcast offering for fans at home has become increasingly
team in the Big Sky Conference, similarly notes, “I think the
compelling across all the various different camera angles,
practice sessions at the pro level are so amazing to show
replays, statistics, as well as in-depth analysis. While you
the physical combat element. It’s mind-blowing to me,
might miss the live experience, at the same time you think
even having been around tennis as much as I have been.”
how comfortable it is to watch at home, and ten years
He describes watching a pro player and his hitting partner
ago, that wasn’t the case. As such, events have to evolve
literally shred a tennis ball after hitting forehands across
to ensure that people still want to pay for tickets to attend
the net “probably 200 times in a row, with more depth and
live and enjoy the in-stadia experience that they cannot get
pace than they would in a match, at nearly 100% maximum
at home.”
swing speed.”
Hogg adds, “It never really clicked for me before, even as a
casual fan at Wimbledon, the speed of the game and the
pure athleticism of it. You don’t quite experience from TV

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24 | INFOSYS TENNIS RADAR External Document © 2020 Infosys Limited
GAME, SET, MATCH: WINNING NEW TENNIS FANS
Fans of the game are aging, and the average age of tennis Our interviewees also expressed concerns that the time
fans — in the West, at least — is higher than the average commitments of playing and watching the game are
age of the population. The Sports Business Journal in 2018 barriers to attracting new, younger audiences. They also
reported that 70% of fans at the China Open were under age expressed concerns that even for older audiences, times
40, versus the average age of WTA and ATP viewers in the have changed, and people do not have the time to spend
U.S. being 55 and 61, respectively. 20 hours at the tennis court anymore.
As any savvy marketer knows, reaching a younger segment It is not only competing social demands that people must
often means shifting marketing strategies — different consider; new ways of delivering the game, be it streaming
generations have different values and different lifestyles. on mobile devices or tweeting about an amazing ace, have
Tennis, like all industries, is facing a common existential one thing in common: screens. Jolyn de Boer, executive
business question: How do you keep the core (older, in director of the Tennis Industry Association, correlates the
the case of tennis) market while expanding into new competition for people’s time with the rise of smartphones
(younger) markets? in 2008. A recent article in The Economist cites screen
time and a world population boom as putting sports in
This challenge is especially acute for tennis, a sport our
the role where they must compete against each other
interviewees universally describe as being “traditional” and
for fans. People can “watch any game, at any time from
“conservative” when it comes to making changes. According
anywhere.” Sports that are perceived to drag on for hours
to elite coach and broadcast network commentator Patrick
are “particularly vulnerable, as viewers impatiently resort
Mouratoglou, “The whole system is made to be attractive
to alternative entertainment on their smartphones —
to older people and nothing is made to be attractive to
including clips of the highlights.”21
younger fans. When you reach a fan who’s 15, you’re going
to keep them for 50 years.” And that is what has happened
in tennis — many fans came of age during previous eras of
tennis and they stuck with the sport.

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ADDING VIRTUAL REALITY
The experience of attending a Grand Slam event today VR possibilities are changing quickly, with more immersive
is exponentially more interactive than a decade ago, and experiences available to fans every year. In 2016, Infosys
incredibly different from attending an event at the start of re-created the real spin and speed of the shots, and used the
the Open Era 50 years ago. Today, fans can try out VR, share latest in hardware (HTC Vive and Alienware laptops) to make
their experiences on social media, and understand matches a VR tennis game. The next year, this VR experience was
better via apps that deliver insights from statistics and integrated with wearables, which displayed player heartrates
analytics as visuals, and take part in festival-type experiences along with the heartrate peaks at different times. It also
like concerts and pop-up restaurants. included a VR retail experience in which fans could purchase
official tennis merchandise directly from the virtual space.
VR experiences include watching and playing tennis,
More than 100,000 fans engaged with this VR experience
shopping, and recently, social VR, in which fans use twin VR
between 2016 and 2019. These innovations were celebrated
headsets to communicate with each other and with avatars
as “ATP World Tour Finally Giving Fans Immersive Virtual
in a virtual environment. They can also interact virtually with
Reality Experiences.”22
objects: for example, throwing and catching tennis balls. In
2019, 7,000 fans at Roland-Garros experienced what it was
like to play, train, and socialize in VR.

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Figure 8. Fans share tweets to be featured on Roland-Garros website Fans can use social heatmaps (see Figure 8) to feature
themselves on the Roland-Garros website by sharing their
tweets and appearing on the social leaderboard. Fans can
also engage in Twitter battles to influence which athlete
wins on social leaderboards (see Figure 9). New social
technology also includes the ATP Fan Meter, so fans, the
media, and broadcasters can track the loudest moments —
providing a unique metric to measure fan engagement with
a match.
In 2019, the ATP introduced a mobile app so fans can track
matches, watch videos about their favorite players, set up
news alerts, and read player bios. These types of technology-
based enhancements helped draw fans: “Here in London,
people have so many options: tennis, rugby, the theater, the
ballet, the opera, or comedy. There’s so much going on, for
the Nitto ATP Finals to get the amount of attendance and
the viewers and the feedback that we get here, clearly, we’re
doing something right,” says Hogg.

Source: Infosys Social Heatmap

Figure 9. Fans battle it out to see which player wins on social

leaderboards

Source: Infosys Social Heatmap

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TENNIS EVENTS ADD FLAVOR
These digital-based efforts are helping to turn the tide real results of players in the tournament. Prizes include
and bring in a younger generation of fans. Guillaume tickets to the next year’s Roland-Garros.
Beroard, Sponsorship Coordinator at the FFT, points out
“The most dramatic thing is the shift between mobile and
that even though tennis is sometimes thought of as an
desktop. We have reached more than 80% of users on
old person’s sport, “In reality, I think it’s not true” because
mobile” for the Fantasy Game 2019, says Florian Le Moigne,
of Roland-Garros’ success in reaching young people. The
Head of Digital at the FFT. “Mobile is key on all digital
challenge in innovating, says Alice Jacques, FFT International
platforms. We are more and more mobile first oriented.”
Development Project Manager, is “keeping our name and
DNA” while still reaching the new generation with new “Tennis is a sport that is aging; we need to reach younger
features. fans and players,” Jacques says. Nearly three years ago,
Jacques’ team launched the Roland-Garros eSeries by BNP
Roland-Garros is moving into fantasy sports and esports to
Paribas. 2020 will be the third edition of this tournament,
reach young fans — and having great success. The Fantasy
which is played on the video game Tennis World Tour by Big
Game had nearly 58,000 players in 2019, a 50% increase
Ben. The game allows players to hit the ball on the digital
over 2018. It runs concurrently with the tournament and
versions of Roland-Garros main courts. This competition is
is available on the digital platforms (on the website and
an opportunity to build the Roland-Garros brand and to
mobile). As in fantasy leagues, participants select a team
develop a fan base of those between the ages of 12 and
(four men and four women) and earn points based on the
25. Jacques describes a study that shows that one third of

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Millennials and younger people would like to play sports. it “fits the DNA” of the event, including changing the surface
For this segment, then, esports is an entry point to target of tennis court in the game to clay to simulate the clay
a group that is not easily reached but that holds a lot of courts of Roland-Garros.
opportunity for growth. Jacques’ team found that 50% of the
278 participants in the first edition of the RG eSeries by BNP Figure 10. Playing tennis to a new beat
Paribas in 2018 were tennis fans and 50% were gamers —
and now the French Tennis Federation is trying to increase
the commonalities between the two groups. Jacques sees
video games and esports as big opportunities to develop
their fan base and reach new audiences.
She also notes that except for the final, the eSeries is not
held during Roland-Garros, which allows Roland-Garros
brand identity to be visible internationally outside of the
three weeks of the tournament. However, like in 2018 and
2019, the grand final will be held in Paris during the Parisian
Grand Slam. Source: Infosys Music and Tennis

The Australian Open, in contrast, is hosting a $500,000

Figure 11. Playing tennis out of this world
Fortnite tournament this year, one of many examples of
the AO pushing the experience component of tennis
tournaments to its limits.The unique positioning of the
Australian Open has enabled organizers to be bold in
experimenting with fan experiences. It was a small Slam for
a long time — but no longer. The organizers have built an
event with tennis at its core, surrounded by a lot of other
forms of entertainment. It is also built around the Australian
summer to appeal to a wider set of people.
The Australian Open also has new possibilities for VR-based
tennis experiences. For instance, in “Music and Tennis,” fans Source: Infosys Tennis on the Moon
will be able to put on VR gear and hit balls coming at them
at record speed, set to the beat of fast-paced music (see
To help consumers navigate all these choices, a new app
Figure 10). Games like this are in keeping with the playful
will guide the estimated 750,000 fans at the Australian Open
spirit of the Australian Open, as is the VR game “Tennis on
as they explore the venue and take in all it has to offer. They
the Moon.” Fans can travel on hyperloop, “arriving” in full
can select the “What’s on” feature to track who’s on stage,
astronaut gear on the moon (see Figure 11). They experience
and then use the guided navigation feature to find their
the light gravitational pull from the moon, then enter a
favorite food and beverage, and reach the court of their
chamber with atmospherics re-created to be like the earth,
choice to catch the tennis action. (See Figures 12-14.)
and play tennis. When Infosys designers bring this game to
the 2020 Roland-Garros, they will make modifications so that

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Figure 12. The AO app offers hyper-personalization those who come because they think the Australian Open is
a great event. They will watch some tennis, but maybe the
music or the food is equally part of their decision to attend.
Finally, the options designed for the family consumer are
aimed at making sure kids of all ages have activities on offer.
This approach to capturing fans through experience seems
to be working. Thousands of young fans come to the Open
for two weeks. These fans will have memories of coming
to tennis and having a nice time, regardless of whether
Source: Infosys they watched much tennis. Later on, when they’re older,
memories of this fun experience might evoke nostalgia, and
Figure 13. Fans use the AO app to select activities they might become a tennis fan or pick up a racket.
For these and other “future fans” attending the tournament,
the AO digital team creates content for them that will
engage them, not necessarily around which players won
and lost. Instead, it might be a funny viral moment or an
interview with a famous chef who runs a pop-up restaurant
at the event. Or it might be about one of the bands
that’s playing. Some interviewees believe that the future for
most major events, and for sports overall, is this convergence
Source: Infosys not only of viewing habits but of people’s desire for
experiences. The Australian Open is successfully doing this to
Figure 14. Fans at the AO navigate to their favorite activities reach new patrons.
From the free-spirited Australian Open to the glamorous
big-city feel of the US Open, event organizers are experts at
staying true to the history and character of the event while
meeting demands of today’s audiences. Wimbledon has
strategically used technology, particularly social media, to
reach audiences far afield. It balances WeChat, Snapchat,
Facebook, and a new daily live program called “Wimbledon
Coffee Morning” to “show its youthful and progressive side”
Source: Infosys while not losing the traditions of tennis on the green grass
of England. 23, 24
Finn Bradshaw, Head of Digital Strategy, Tennis Australia,
describes how they create experiences around three specific
types of persona: the passionate tennis fan, the eventist, and
families. The passionates are people who budget for and buy
tickets as soon as they go on sale each year. The eventists are

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ANALYTICS MEETS EXPERIENCE
Technology companies, including Infosys, IBM, and SAP, have favorite players, they can also analyze an individual player’s
“totally changed” tennis analytics, as described in a recent performance over the course of the tournament, or they can
article from Arizona State University. 25 These companies track stats through 3D graphics to visualize every point.
have brought changes to the way analytics are used not
Infosys MatchBeats is a new way for fans to experience the
only by players and coaches but also by fans. Analytics,
game through live tennis scores. A quick glance and they
insights, and digital experiences have become an integral
can tell how the match flowed, where the ups and downs
part of watching tennis.
occurred, the increase and decrease in intensities during
For instance, Infosys’ Match Centre application suite the match and where players served better, hit winners,
integrates four new analytics and visualization products, committed errors and played long rallies (see Figure 16). This
taking users beyond scores and stats to experience the feature helped the AO fans follow every match’s progress in
match as it unfolds. In many of these products, fans can filter detail by showing them the point-by-point progress of every
by aces, break points, double faults, unforced errors, and game, allowing them to filter the match by aces, winners,
rally length, and they can see which points played a pivotal errors, break-points, and rallies.
role in the game (see Figure 15.) To keep up with their

Figure 15. With Match Centre, analytics gives fans new way to experience the game

Source: Infosys Stats+

External Document © 2020 Infosys Limited INFOSYS TENNIS RADAR | 31

Figure 16. Fans can follow every match’s progress

Source: Infosys MatchBeats

Stats and analytics are also used in the world of sports if they’ve never played any tennis in their life, they keep
betting, which increases awareness, interest, and knowledge hearing these names — Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Serena —
of the game. Johnny Lee Smith, Tennis Manager at 5Dimes and they want to learn more.”
Sportsbook and Casino, describes the stereotypical
Smith cites that 5Dimes registered an increase in tennis
“degenerate gambler” as just that, a stereotype. To the
betting of 4.5% for 2018 and 5% for 2019. Sports Business
contrary, most of their clientele is “educated, with great
Journal predicted that betting would be an important data-
incomes” and often become interested in tennis through
driven trend, with betting companies developing content
betting on other sports. “A lot of the guys will come in for
and focusing on user experiences, like any other company,
every other sport. They’ll bet on baseball, basketball, hockey,
to reach consumers. 26 Technology will also enable betting
and eventually, they try tennis. And they love it. Points are
options to expand to, for example, VR tennis matches. This
crisply defined, short-interval activities, with information
is more than a revenue source, it helps the governing player
available for updated wagers within the few seconds
bodies help fund player development as well. The ATP has
between the umpire’s notation and the next serve. It is
monetized their innovative, near zero-latency platform
engaging and fun.”
into a significant revenue source that ultimately funds the
He further explains, “These guys have never bet on tennis increased player financial support that will enable them
in their life, and a Grand Slam comes up, and they’ll say, I to stay in the game, prosper, and provide fans a better
don’t know how this works, can you explain it to me? Even experience in more tournaments around the world.

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ANALYTICS EXPERIENCE INDEX
Analytics and experience are now fundamental to tennis. We developed this measure into what we have named the
To better understand how these factors impact fan Analytics Experience Index. To our knowledge, this is the first
enjoyment, we asked fans multifaceted questions about index that quantifies how analytics and experience influence
match technologies, player statistics, and match statistics. We fan enjoyment of tennis. We divided fans into three clusters
analyzed and scored their responses from 0 to 100, where based on their scores: Skeptics (17% of respondents),
a higher score indicates stronger positive feelings about Moderates (56%), and Enthusiasts (27%). (See Figure 17.)
analytics improving the game experience.

Figure 17. The Analytics Experience Index assesses fans’ enthusiasm toward analytics in tennis

Skeptics - 17% Moderates - 56% Enthusiasts - 27%

500

400

300
Frequency

200

100

0
0-5 10-15 20-25 30-35 40-45 50-55 60-65 70-75 80-85 90-95 100
Analytics Experience

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

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We chose these labels based on how respondents answered half the respondents were in the Moderates category.
our survey questions. However, when we look at stronger feelings about analytics
at both ends of the spectrum — Enthusiasts and Skeptics —
• Skeptics have a less-than-neutral opinion on analytics
we see generational patterns of attitudes toward analytics
and analytics technologies, indicating less willingness to
and game enjoyment. Approximately one third of both
adopt new technologies and therefore engage in sports
Generation Z and Millennial respondents are enthusiastic
viewing or participation
about analytics. Further, the Enthusiast percentage steadily
• Moderates have a slightly positive view of analytics and decreases by generation. Conversely, the percentage of
analytics technologies; are likely to be mildly accepting Skeptics increases by generation — from less than 10%
of new technologies and ideas. in Generation Z to nearly 30% for ages 55 and older.
• Enthusiasts are more strongly positive in their attitudes (See Figure 18.)
for the questions that comprised the index, indicating Well over half the respondents in India and China are
high acceptance and enjoyment from analytics and Enthusiasts, with very low percentages for Skeptics (3% and
associated technologies. 2%, respectively). (See Figure 19.) Most European countries
A higher percentage of younger fans are Enthusiasts (more cluster together, at about 16% to 19% for Enthusiasts, but
than one third of Generation Z and Millennials), whereas Spain is an outlier, at 31%. European countries also have the
a higher percentage of those age 55 and older are in the highest rates of Skeptics, ranging from about 23% to 30%,
Skeptics cluster (28%). Across the board, slightly more than with Spain again being an outlier, at 7%.

Figure 18. Enthusiast percentage steadily decreases by generation; Skeptics percentage increases

18 – 22 38% 54% 8%

23 – 38 34% 54% 12%

39 – 54 22% 59% 19%

55+ 13% 59% 28%

Enthusiasts Moderates Skeptics

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

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 Figure 19. India and China lead in rates of enthusiasm for analytics

2% 3%
7% 11% 19% 23% 22% 29%
41%
33% 62%
60%
65%
58% 62%
53%
64%
57%

31% 29%
16% 19% 16% 18%

China India Spain United Australia United France Germany

States Kingdom
Enthusiasts Moderates Skeptics

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

India and China also had highest rates of Enthusiasts across Our survey asked people about the number of gadgets
the board. Enthusiast percentages in India and China are they owned as a proxy for their tech savviness. People who
as much as three times that of rates in Europe (excepting scored highly on the index also tended to have a more
Spain) and in Australia. In fact, the percentage of Enthusiasts diverse set of technological gadgets — wearables (e.g.,
who were 55 and older in India and China was higher than Fitbit, Apple Watch) smartphones, smart assistant (e.g.,
in any age category in Australia and Germany. Breaking Amazon Alexa, Google Home), smart home (e.g., smart
it down even further, the percentage of Enthusiasts who lighting, security), AR/VR headsets, gaming consoles, ultra
were 55 and older in India alone (51%) was higher than the HDTV (4K), and robotic assistants (e.g., vacuum cleaners).
percentage for any generation in any other country except (See Figure 21.)
Gen Z and Millennials in China and Generation X in India.
As shown in Figure 20, Analytics Enthusiasts are also more
likely to be men; 44% of women are Enthusiasts, and 56%
are men.

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 Figure 20. Analytics enthusiasm skews slightly more toward men than women

Women 44%
Men 56%

Women 52%
Men 48%

Women 54%
Men 46%

Enthusiasts Moderates Skeptics

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

Figure 21. Enthusiasts are tech savvy: Number of different gadgets owned

4
4.3 4.3
3.9
3 3.4
3.3 3.2
2.9
2.7 2.6
2
2.3 2.4
2.1

0 18 – 22 23 – 38 39 – 54 55+

Enthusiasts Moderates Skeptics

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

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Over 90% of Enthusiasts reported having a somewhat Analytics Enthusiasts were also more attentive to cultural
positive to very positive reaction to products that would and sustainable aspects of their tennis experience as well, as
enable them to watch or play tennis in VR, as shown in shown in Figure 23. They prefer to attend events paired with
Figure 22. This points to Enthusiasts’ general willingness to cultural activities (e.g., music, food, or art festivals). They also
adopt new technology, such as analytical and sensor-based prefer to attend events that are sustainable. This is consistent
mixed reality (AR, VR) immersive experiences, including VR with the French Tennis Federation’s findings that tennis fans
Retail, Social VR, AR gaming (a tennis gaming solution ready are attentive to current events.
for IOS devices), and esports.

Figure 22. Enthusiasts are more likely to have a strong positive reaction to watching and playing VR tennis
Enthusiasts

Play VR 64% 29% 6% 1%

Watch VR 64% 29% 6% 1%

Play VR 16% 48% 29% 5% 2%

Moderates

Watch VR 18% 47% 28% 5% 2%

Play VR 6% 24% 50% 12% 8%

Skeptics

Watch VR 5% 22% 47% 16% 10%

Very positive Somewhat positive Neutral, no opinion Somewhat negative Very negative

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

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 Figure 23. Analytics Enthusiasts are also enthusiasts about non-tech tournament experiences
2%
Enthusiasts Environment 50% 31% 15% 2%

Culture 45% 32% 14% 7% 2%

Environment 16% 38% 30% 12% 4%

Moderates

Culture 9% 31% 35% 20% 5%

Environment 7% 22% 50% 11% 10%

Skeptics

Culture 14% 36% 30% 18%

2%

Strongly agree Agree Neutral, no opinion Disagree Strongly disagree

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

Enthusiasts are more likely to be younger people, to own ways technology influences how people live and see the
more gadgets, to prefer stadium or TV viewing equally, to world. Technology opens up a realm of new experiences to
be more open to other viewing preferences like laptops tennis fans. Older generations had two options for viewing
and smartphones, and to have a very positive reaction tennis: live or via broadcast. Younger generations have
to watching or playing tennis in VR. See Figure 24 for an grown up with technology, and it influences what they
overview of cluster categorization by viewing preferences expect of tennis. Likewise, tech-savvy people have an array
and opinions on watching and playing tennis in VR. of digital experiences at their fingertips — literally. For these
people, watching tennis is no longer a discrete activity — it
The trends outlined in this section — specifically, that
is an experience, a dispersed activity consisting of shareable
younger generations and people who own many different
micro-moments.
types of devices are analytics Enthusiasts — illustrate the

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Figure 24. Patterns of Enthusiasm

Cluster Viewing preference Reaction to Reaction to

watching VR tennis playing VR tennis
Enthusiast Prefer in-stadium and television viewing equally. Most open to other Very positive Very positive
viewing experiences like laptops and smartphones.
Moderate Have a slight preference for TV over in-stadium viewing. Are more open Somewhat positive Somewhat positive
to other viewing experiences than Skeptics but less than Enthusiasts.
Skeptic Have a slight preference for TV over in-stadium viewing. Have the most Neutral, no Neutral, no
dislike for smartphone viewing. opinion opinion

We followed the Pew Research Center methodology in categorizing generations: Generation Z (Gen Z; 22 years old and younger), Millennial (23-38);
Generation X (Gen X; 39-54); Baby Boomer (55+).

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THE FUTURE OF TENNIS
We conducted this research to better understand There is also unequal access to training, as well as to
the current state of tennis and how technology and the technology that feeds statistics and analytics-based
advancements in analytics were shaping the sport. In coaching.
baseball, which has a longer history of using analytics,
Many of our interviewees discussed tennis being perceived
players and fans have questioned whether data and
as expensive to play and watch, and also difficult to play. Our
analytics are ruining the game. 27, 28 Likewise, the recent
survey backs up perceptions of tennis as being expensive
introduction of video review in football has sparked outrage
and exclusive. More than one third (35%) of current fans
among fans. 29 Although there has been some controversy
find tennis expensive to play and nearly half (49%) find it
in tennis over the use of Hawk-Eye, specifically over whether
expensive to attend (see Figure 25). If current fans find tennis
it should be used at Roland-Garros, 30 these issues are not as
expensive to play and attend, this reinforces expense, and
prevalent in tennis.
exclusivity, as barriers to reaching new players and fans.
Our study confirms this: We consistently heard that
Tennis Industry Association’s de Boer describes the close
the biggest threat to the future of tennis was not how
connection between participation rates and tennis’ visibility
technology was changing the game, the delivery, or the
— watching on TV, attending a tournament, seeing displays
fan experience. Instead, the biggest threats revolve around
at mass merchants: “People emulate what they see. If you’re
issues of access.
not exposed to it, if you don’t see it, you don’t try it.”
For professional players, traveling to tournaments is
expensive, so not everyone has equal access to compete.

Figure 25. Current fans find tennis expensive, presenting a challenge for reaching new audiences

Cost of attending 49% 7% 40% 4%

Cost of playing 35% 8% 51% 6%

Too expensive I do not have an opinion Affordable Very affordable

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

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FANS SEEK STORIES
Star players that resonate with people are crucial to drawing the next phase of tennis in China: growing popularity in the
in and keeping fans. People “need to relate to champions,” general public.
states Micky Lawler, president of the WTA.
We heard this again and again: “That’s the only way to
Many of our interviewees mentioned the importance of grow a sport in a country. If you have a champion from
having homegrown stars to inspire tennis fans and players. that country, then it will grow. You can bring a hundred
“All it takes is one player to come along and become a star,” tournaments there, and if people don’t know tennis well and
says an event organizer. They describe that when Djokovic they don’t have a star, they’re not going to go watch tennis,”
plays events, they notice how much stronger their television says coach and commentator Patrick Mouratoglou.
viewership is in Serbia.
Michael Tonge, Director of Hospitality, Sponsoring, and
Serbia’s population is about 7 million — imagine the Ticketing, Roland-Garros: “The impact of having a home-
impact a star player can have on the game in a country grown talent progress in any sporting tournament is
with 200 times that population, like India and China. enormous and this ‘local hero’ effect has a very positive
Indeed, several interviewees mentioned the importance impact at a club level by generating more interest in
of Li Na in increasing popularity of tennis in China. Duan tennis across France; it increases interest, interaction, and
Shaowu, owner of TT. Tennis, explains: “As we see more and engagement across digital platforms; and it drives TV
more professional Chinese players winning medals at the audiences due to the success of a homegrown, national
international tournaments, like Li Na did, when we see the icon. Nevertheless, France has Roland-Garros, a unique
rising of the flag of our country, we are very excited. We Grand Slam being the only one played on clay, which tests
are proud to be a part of the Chinese tennis industry.” He players like no other surface. The strength of the tournament
also emphasizes that behind Li Na were a large group of and this brand is established on a global scale, and with
people who were working in and contributing to the tennis or without the ‘local hero’ effect, attendance numbers, TV
industry in China. These role models have now helped spur audiences, and digital platform audiences continue to grow,
year on year.”

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Ankita on Indian players: “Sania, Leander, Mahesh, and be visible and reach fans, especially the vast majority not
Rohan have not only inspired children but have also given attending the event. To become engaged, fans need to
them hopes of becoming world competitors.” People see get caught up in the story they are watching unfold on the
themselves in these tennis stars, or they want to. There is tennis court.
an element of national pride, and they identify with them
By expressing his emotions, McEnroe challenged the
because they share a national identity. They can read their
status quo of tennis, and he challenged the long history
stories as a nation.
of European elitism and polite society. As described by
Today’s core tennis audience segment came of age when a Washington Post writer in 1979, “Scoffed one appalled
giants of the court were John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and gentleman after encountering a sticky-fingered McEnroe
Bjorn Borg. As Mouratoglou starkly describes it, the majority in the players’ tearoom: ‘The boy wonder is … eating the
of tennis fans came of age watching these greats: “We were traditional strawberries and cream without benefit of the
lucky to have had McEnroe and Connors, and those who traditional spoon.’”31
brought so many people to tennis who have stayed in
He drew people to the sport. He generated controversy.
tennis. But if tennis were to start now, I tell you, we would be
Some people tuned in for that, and for the great athleticism.
in trouble already.”
Through the “superbrat’s” explosions at polite society, he
Mouratoglou explains, “People watch sports for the same mirrored the turmoil of the times — the punk movement
reason they watch a movie ... they want to feel emotions. of the late 1970s and early 1980s in Britain and the U.S. and
So how can we give more emotions to the people and its ethos of social class warfare, the miners’ strike in Britain
especially to people who are not tennis fans? They turn on in the mid-’80s, the U.S. recession of the ’80s, and the loss of
the TV to tennis, and the show they see today is not a show. manufacturing jobs.
It’s people hitting a ball, turning their back, maybe for a
“I saw myself as part of punk,” said McEnroe. 32 His fans did,
towel, choosing three balls, throwing back one and serving
too — at least some of them — and the story of social class
again and again. That’s it. You don ’t get people emotionally
struggle they saw playing out on the court resonated with
involved when you have two robots playing on a tennis
them. It was exciting, and they were rooting for him. Or they
court. Our sport is complex. Unless you’re a real tennis
were rooting against him, shocked or dismayed at his lack of
addict, that’s the only thing you see, with a complicated
decorum as he shook up tennis.
way to count, like 15 or 30 and 40, and complicated rules.
This is why I advocate for on-court coaching and a much Similarly in current times, Serena Williams pushed the
lighter code of conduct as I believe it could partially solve boundaries of on-the-court conventions when she wore a
those issues. We have to create a space where the players black Nike catsuit on the court. She called it her “Wakanda-
can express their emotions and show their personalities and inspired catsuit” and her post on Instagram dedicated it to
passion. I am convinced that this would bring our sport to “all the moms out there who had a tough recovery from
the next level.” pregnancy.” She said, “It feels like this suit represents all the
women that have been through a lot to have confidence
It’s a game that takes a long time to play, that is rigidly
and to believe in themselves.” When she was barred from
structured, and has a scoring system that is not intuitive.
wearing the suit, anyone who identified with Williams’s story,
Star power is particularly important, and today’s stars are
including working mothers, had the opportunity to think to
interesting people. However, the current state of tennis
themselves, “I see myself in Serena’s place, and tennis is not
makes it difficult for that charisma and human element to
for me.”

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A NEW AUDIENCE FOR A NEW ERA
Tennis has tremendous opportunities to reach new For these people, the inaccessibility of tennis becomes a
audiences if the stars resonate with them, if they can see vicious cycle (see Figure 26), and tennis doesn’t resonate.
their own stories playing out on the court and having what The experience of watching it doesn’t resonate, and they
they perceive as a positive outcome — David beats Goliath, can’t see themselves playing.
outsider beats the establishment, women overcome the
However, this cycle can reverse course, from exclusion
challenges of re-entering the workforce.
to inclusion, when opportunities to increase access are
For every fan and player, there are millions more who will seized upon, building momentum — and technology is a
never watch or play tennis because they think it is, as our positive factor that feeds the cycle at each entrance point.
interviewees said, “not cool,” “an old person’s sport,” “exclusive,” (See Figure 27.)
“a country club sport,” “difficult to play,” and “difficult to learn.”

Figure 26. The vicious cycle of exclusion Figure 27. The virtuous cycle of inclusion

Tennis doesn’t Tennis

resonate with resonates with
enough people more people

Stars all look More stars Tennis is “for me,”

the same, Vicious Tennis is from wider Virtuous regardless of
no stories cycle “not for me” backgrounds cycle my background

Tennis More fans and

doesn’t grow players from wider
backgrounds

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

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Increasing access to tennis is key to this virtuous cycle, Finally, despite the common conception that younger
making the game more diverse. Getting more fans who generations don’t have the attention spans to watch tennis,
want to see players who look like them is what brings drama which many of our interviewees echoed as well, 84% of
to the court and exploits “ideological opportunity.”33 In other respondents in our survey found that match length is just
words, tennis has incredible opportunities to propel this right. Generation Z (84%) and Millennial (85%) fans scored
cycle forward. nearly the same as Generation X and Baby Boomers (84%),
as shown in Figure 28. In other words, tennis appeals to
This virtuous cycle helps form a cultural strategy 34 in
people of all ages, everywhere, it just needs to reach and
which fans identify with stars who look like them and have
retain them.
compelling stories. They can read their own stories into
tennis and connect with tennis’s “deep historical and cultural
undercurrents.”35

Figure 28. Majority of fans think match lengths are appropriate, regardless of age

18 – 22 14% 84% 2%

23 – 38 13% 85% 2%

39 – 54 13% 84% 3%

55+ 13% 84% 3%

Too long Just right Too short

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

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 TECH’S ROLE IN TENNIS’S
NEXT BIG ERA
We asked the question, How can tennis, with its rich
tradition, continue to stay relevant and be even more
successful in a rapidly evolving world shaped by consumer
experience and driven by technology?
Our research found that tennis can thrive in the future by
increasing access to the game and by using technology to

1. Experiment at every level

2. Democratize data and analytics
3. Focus on the social element
4. Protect the human element

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1. EXPERIMENT AT EVERY LEVEL
Challenges to access exist at every level — event organizer, Jason Goodall says, “Be innovative, try something new. “He
player, coach, broadcaster, fan. At each of these levels, we describes that “since the dawn of television,” tennis is always
saw innovations and experiments that increase access to viewed from camera one, high above the court, with the
the game. Experimentation is important to reach the next lower third of the screen being used for basic statistics. He
generation of fans. questions why it is still the same. “Why have we not been
able to find a better way of showcasing this sport? Use
different camera angles, try a lower camera angle, get closer
to the eye level of the players. Experiment. My message is to
be open minded and try something new. There’s so much
data available now, so let’s find a better way of incorporating
that to enhance the experience for the fans.”
Tennis is also experimenting with gamification to reach new
fans, including VR and augmented reality (AR) games. For
instance, fans at the Australian Open can play against the
greatest tennis players in the world using Virtual Reality (VR)
and Augmented Reality (AR) technology — in a simulation
of Rod Laver Arena, the Australian Open’s center court.
Similarly, because of successful experimentation in digital,
Roland-Garros’ social media reach went from 1 million to
4 million, and the live stream went from 62,000 views to
73,000 views. Their plans for the next year are to involve pros
Source: Infosys Virtual Reality from esports within the Roland-Garros eSeries, to tighten the
link between Roland-Garros and the people really involved
The Davis Cup, the Laver Cup, and as of 2020 the ATP Cup in esports — especially those who have their own social
are experimenting with adding a team and coaching networks.
element to tournaments to try to reach new audiences and Roland-Garros leaders had a note of caution about engaging
bring drama to the court. Brad Gilbert says that at the Laver in the right ways with esports: Engagement goes both ways.
Cup, when fans see the greats coach each other, they get to These are very engaged communities, as are Millennial fans,
see a side of tennis they’ve never seen before. “I thought the and if an esports star participates in, say, a Roland-Garros
access was great. I think that’s something at ESPN that we’ve tournament that seems to be inconsistent with that star’s
wanted to see for a while, because tennis is an individual profile and interests, fans will immediately disengage.
sport so players are guarded.” Likewise, the NextGen ATP
Finals has innovated on and off the court, with player
coaching at certain points in the match, video review, and
free movement in and out of the stadium for fans.

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2. DEMOCRATIZE DATA AND ANALYTICS
Analytics delivered as experiences to fans, players, coaches, and democratic data-sharing. As the technology advances,
and the media (see Figure 29) bring a new understanding this will enable more data-sharing and lead users to
to the game and help new fans access the game — it can create additional compelling analytics. Those analytics will
show fans a side of the game they don’t know. Technology- then spawn even more new experiences to attract and
driven game enhancements show the most resonance engage fans.
and growth potential in India and China and for the next
On the player and coaching side, it is important, and difficult,
generation.
to access stats and analytics for coaching at most levels.
Figure 29. Analytics delivered as insights bring a new As one interviewee says, “How do you add analytics to that
understanding to the game next tier of events, the next 100 top players in the world?
Those guys are good too, and they win events, yet lack
the resources of the elite players.” The ATP is addressing
this by continuing to invest in their platform and making
performance data available, in better formats, to the touring
pros. While not the same as having a $100,000 a year
statistician on call, it is another step to the democratization
of data, and improving the tennis product.
The right data and technology exist to democratize analytics.
Tennis is waiting for its own version of the “dividends of the
smartphone wars,” 36 that is, when general tech proliferation
drives down the cost of sophisticated data analytics to be
made available to all.
In the meantime, entrepreneurial coaches and strategists
like Damien Spizzo are finding their own workarounds,
through apps and video. “For the teaching pros, at the end
of the day, if you’ve been out there for eight hours and then
Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute you’ve got to sit in front of a computer and manually enter
all the notes, it’s hard. As we move forward with technology,
Tech and analytics bring an element of the live experience we need the tennis industry to also move forward.”
to fans not attending in person--it is a wholly new, not
This is indeed beginning to happen, with programs like
replicated, experience for them. Infosys tennis platform
Players and Coaches Portal, which opens the door to data for
leaders developed their analytics using open-source
more people.
software as a way to demonstrate a commitment to open

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3. FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL ELEMENT
Our interviewees consistently emphasized the social aspects Figure 30. Social media groups increase
of the game and the promise of social technologies to engagement with tennis
connect people to the game and to each other. For tennis
to grow, de Boer says, “It’s not that you need to know how
to have that perfect stroke. That’s not what our research is
showing that people want. They want social. They want fun.
We have to make it easy, social, and fun.”
And yet, the social part of tennis largely remains untapped.
The methods of engagement with fans are largely limited to
groups within existing social media sites. Smaller, selective
groups exist, but the open, digital social world should
connect tennis stakeholders so they can communicate,
learn, and debate. For instance, one WhatsApp group of
250 global tennis fans operates like a formal entity, electing
admins who serve specified terms, limiting the number of
members to 250, and having no public-facing conversations
(see Figure 30). The group includes weekly games for its
members, with a year-end tournament, and the group
interfaces with TennisDrawChallenge.com, an online tennis
fantasy site.
Murray notes that it is usually the social aspect that keeps
most people involved in tennis: “It’s about developing a
workforce of pied pipers who make tennis fun and doable
and who create a sense of belonging to a squad, a team, or a
club. Fun, friends, and fitness are the three things that attract
people into an activity and it’s the same three things that
retain them.”

Source: India Tennis Daily group. Used with permission of group.

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4. PROTECT THE HUMAN ELEMENT
The paradox of technology in tennis is that while it allows She is just as proud of the program’s “massive social
the game to reach more people, media delivery at scale impact”: “Sports can change lives, and our sport happens
often obscures the nature of the sport — its elegance, to be tennis. We are giving people opportunities to train
beauty, and brutality. Instead, it is seen as “genteel” and for possible careers or part-time roles that they may not
“austere,” according to our interviewees. As Michael Tonge have otherwise had the chance to do, because we offer
describes, “Clay court is a living, breathing, changing surface, everything we do for free.”
which is a unique factor and which plays a crucial role in the Similarly, Jamie Capel-Davies, Head of Science and Technical
theatre of our matches, where players battle for hours, one Unit, ITF, describes the ITF’s efforts to develop the game by
against one in the magnificent arena that is Roland-Garros.” building a base of players globally so there is a continuous
supply of talented individuals, of all genders, from various
Technology can help bring these human elements back to
backgrounds, from various nations who are coming through
the game by showing the human side of the sport and by
and providing variety and diversity in the sport. In the
getting more diverse groups involved. At the visible top end
process, they will create a stronger sport, “not reliant on a
of the sport, the live action can be enhanced by allowing
particular type of pathway or one or two nations.”
more expressive behavior while still observing some
decorum — a little ‘bad boy’ behavior without the cringe These programs are having an impact. As ITF’s Miguel Crespo
factor. This mirrors life and increases entertainment without describes, “Some of the players who started in the school
tennis program have ended up playing for their national
impacting the game. Looking at other sports like football, a
team, so that for us is great. Or cultures that started in our
major part of the experience is witnessing a raucous partisan
basic level program, and then eventually ended up being
crowd supporting certain teams or players.
Davis Cup size.” When we talked to Crespo, he rattled off a list
Talent Pipeline of ITF successes in many countries, like coach education in
Cuba and Sri Lanka, and school tennis in Guatemala.
While Judy Murray is best known for her role in developing
Crespo also emphasizes the importance of recreational
her Grand-Slam-winning sons Andy and Jamie, she is
tennis — the 87 million people who are not the superstars
perhaps most proud of her role as tennis ambassador
but who benefit from tennis. “We are absolutely, truly
in her home country of Scotland and beyond. The Judy
passionate about tennis at all levels of the game for
Murray Foundation is “quite small and basically a van full of everyone — all genders, playing standards, and physical
equipment” that takes tennis into rural and disadvantaged abilities. Research has shown that tennis is one of the best
areas of Scotland. Murray and team then stay in an area for sports for health.”
three years, teaching locals how to deliver starter coaching
The TIA has worked with its industry partners in support
and fun competitions in whatever spaces they have
of United States Tennis Association’s (USTA’s) mission to
available. “We go back, and we keep going back, and we
increase participation, showing people that it does not
build a workforce in the local community and help them
have to be expensive or exclusive. Executive Director Jolyn
to create a development plan,” Murray explains. She helps
de Boer describes one of the industry-wide campaigns
spread the word that tennis doesn’t have to cost anything
called “Try Tennis for Free,” where people could get an hour
and that “it is absolutely the best family sport,” because it
lesson just to try it out, followed by a six-week program “Play
works for all ages, stages, and genders. Tennis Fast” to get them to keep going: “Try, learn, play. Get

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play. Get people to experience it.” USTA’s Net Generation has PlayTennisConnect, Kourts, and several others, in which
also worked to adopt rules, courts, equipment (red, orange, users can schedule courts, invite others to play, one-tap “I’m
green balls) to better match youth — as other sports have in,” and customize it. Similarly, Tennis Australia implemented
done. She further describes, “We have to lower the barriers the Book a Court and the FFT launched Ten’Up. People
and perception that ‘it’s a country club sport’ or ‘it’s too can reserve courts, find a club or competition, watch
hard to learn’ or ‘I don’t have the equipment,’ all those other instructional videos, track match statistics, and connect with
misconceptions. How do we make it more accessible and other people to play with.
how do we keep people engaged?”
The USTA has also made significant investment in players
Leadership
through its National Campus in Lake Nona, Florida, near Murray also discusses the need for more women in
Orlando. Many of the 100 courts use PlaySight or other leadership positions in tennis. She points out that if you
instrumentation for immediate performance feedback. look at the number of women playing tennis, the sport
Players also can hone their performance for clay, hard, and may appear equal, but if you look a little harder at gender
acrylic courts. Lake Nona is emblematic of USTA player equality in tennis further down the pyramid, “you will find
development efforts and its commitment to creating a that tennis is still, like many sports, dominated by men. The
robust talent pipeline. key decision makers are men.” So that means that anything
happening in tennis is “looked at from the perspective of
China understands the calculus of supporting its players. Cui
a man, and my feeling is that the governing bodies should
Wei, Associate Editor-in-Chief for Tennis World Magazine, the
include a female-focused development strand that is led by
magazine of the China Tennis Association, describes China’s
women, because women understand much better how to
support of players. “We have a strong sports administration
create environments in which women and girls can thrive
who is keen” to grow tennis and support players, he says.
within the game.” She says, “The women’s tour is dominated
He also says, to relieve the players’ financial burden and
by male coaches.” Murray continues, “We need to have more
encourage them to realize their maximum potential, Chinese
female coaches, who understand the world according to
players receive salaries and bonuses for wins, and the China
girls and understand the importance of adapting your
tennis national team at the Grand Slams is large, with many
content, communication, and equipment to fit your
coaches, many players and some officials. Now, he says, with
audience. We lose many teenagers from sport through the
the rising middle class, the paths for training professional
high school years, where emotions and bodies are changing
tennis players have become more diversified. Some families
so much, and my argument is that if there were more female
pay for coaching, court fees, and international training for
PE teacher/sports coach influence, we would retain more. If
their children to play tennis. The tennis industry is growing
we don’t, we are going to continue to lose teen girls from all
in China, including growth of new tennis organizations and
sports.
clubs. These clubs are on the lookout to sign young players
and help pave their ways to the championship. One rising This problem mirrors what many businesses experience,
star is 18-year-old Wang Xiyu, winner of Girls’ Singles title at especially the high-tech industry. However, tennis as a sport
US Open 2018 and one of the Chinese up-and-comers; she has separate men’s and women’s governing bodies, which
has signed a contract with a tennis club in Beijing and has further complicates the leadership pipeline. Each governing
an IMG agent. body, not just the WTA, can proactively promote women for
leadership roles as they become available. 37, 38
How can technology assist these efforts? de Boer suggests
that social technologies can help tennis grow, including In the next era, increasing access means that people see
at the club level, mentioning apps like Foundation Tennis’s themselves in tennis players, coaches, and leaders.

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TECH SHOWS THE WAY
Today’s world demands that tennis keep up, and it is. Its big are increasing access to the game for anyone, everywhere,
investment in cutting-edge digital technologies is paying across the globe.
off. Backing up some of our interviewees’ statements about
“Tennis is an amazing sport because it connects the world.
the impact of digital on reaching younger audiences, a
I think that there’s no other sport that has that kind of a
recent study reported in Sports Business Journal found that
diversity and that kind of reach,” says one of our interviewees.
the average age of women’s tennis fans has gone down. The
decrease was small — from 58 to 55 — but this incremental In fact, technology is as essential to this aspect of the game
step is a good sign. as it is to all other aspects. As summarized by Judy Murray,
“So yes, technology. It’s a huge part of young people’s lives,
Technology is helping increase access to tennis and
so we must keep up with it, embrace it, and use it to help us
changing who plays tennis, how they play it, and how it is
showcase and teach our sport.”
consumed. Tennis organizations and grassroots programs

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In October 2019, the Infosys Knowledge Institute conducted an anonymous online survey of 3,085 tennis fans from eight
countries — Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (See Figures 31a-31c.)
To enrich insights, we also conducted phone interviews with more than 30 stakeholders representing player, coach, event
organizer, club owner, equipment manufacturer, media, and broadcaster perspectives.

Figure 31a. Survey responses by country Figure 31b. Survey responses by age Figure 31c. Survey responses by gender

6%
7% Men-50%
26% 25% 22%
7%

13% Country Age Gender

14%
26%
13% 27%
14% Women-50%

United States Germany Spain 18-22 23-38 39-54 55+

France Australia China
United Kingdom India

Source: Infosys Knowledge Institute

Authors
Jeff Kavanaugh Nikki Seifert Isaac LaBauve
Dallas Dallas Dallas

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Infosys Knowledge Institute thanks the following people for their time, insights, and contributions to this report.

Guillaume Beroard Florian Le Moigne

Sponsorship Coordinator, French Tennis Federation Head of Digital, French Tennis Federation

Finn Bradshaw Patrick Mouratoglou

Head of Digital Strategy, Tennis Australia Coach and commentator

Jason Brown Judy Murray

Head Coach, Men’s Tennis, University of Montana Tennis coach

Jamie Capel-Davies Sumit Nagal

Head of Science and Technical Department, International Tennis Federation ATP professional tennis player

Miguel Crespo Craig O’Shannessy

Head of Coaching and Participation, International Tennis Federation Professional tennis coach and author

Jolyn de Boer Ankita Raina

Executive Director, Tennis Industry Association WTA professional tennis player

Jenny Dent Ron Rocchi

Owner, The Birch Racquet and Lawn Club, Texas Advanced Innovation Manager, Player Insights and Global Tour, Wilson

Brad Gilbert Duan Shaowu

Author, coach, and tennis analyst, ESPN Owner, TT. Tennis

Jason Goodall Johnny Lee Smith

International sports broadcaster Tennis Manager, 5Dimes Sportsbook and Casino

Catherine Harrison Damien Spizzo

WTA professional tennis player Professional tennis coach and former player

Adam Hogg Dustin Tankersley

Master Racket Technician, Wilson and MOZI Tennis
Event Director, Nitto ATP Finals

Alice Jacques Craig Tiley

CEO, Tennis Australia; Director, Australian Open
International Development Project Manager, French Tennis Federation

Thanasi Kokkinakis Michael Tonge

Director of Hospitality, Sponsoring, and Ticketing, Roland-Garros
ATP professional tennis player

Micky Lawler Cui Wei

Associate Editor-in-Chief, Tennis World magazine
President, Women’s Tennis Association

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22. Barclays ATP World Tour Finals giving fans immersive virtual reality experience, Mark J. Burns, Nov. 18, 2016, Sports Illustrated.
23. Live from Wimbledon: Taking social media further with Wimbledon digital, Heather McLean, July 10, 2019, Sports Video Group Europe.
24. Wimbledon Reinvented: How All England Cub stays ahead of the game, Sean Ingle, June 29, 2017, The Guardian.
25. Tennis players embracing technology, analytics in their training, Sarah Farrell, October 16, 2019, GlobalSport Matters.
26. Biggest stories of 2019 will be driven by data, Eric Fisher, January 7, 2019, Sports Business Journal.
27. Are super-nerds really ruining US Sports? Aaron Timms, August. 161, 2018, The Guardian.
28. The downside of baseball’s data revolution--Long games, less action, Brian Costa and Jared Diamon, October 3, 2017, The Wall Street Journal.
29. Growing anger over VAR stems from FIFA putting fans last, Steve Price, June 26, 2019, Forbes.
30. French Open sticks with umpire’s eye over Hawk-Eye on clay, Christopher Clary, May 23, 2016, New York Times.
31. McEnroe was McNasty on and off the court, Larry Schwartz, n.d., ESPN Classic.
32. John McEnroe: ‘I saw myself as part of punk,’ Brian Boyd, July 8, 2017, The Irish Times.
33. Cultural strategy: Using innovative ideologies to build breakthrough brands, Douglas Holt and Douglas Cameron, 2010, Oxford University Press.
34. Ibid.
35. Ibid.
36. Epiphanies from Chris Anderson, Ben Pauker, April 29, 2013, Foreign Policy.
37. The need for women in technology, March 27, 2019, VentureBeat.
38. To succeed in tech, women need more visibility, September 13, 2016, Shelley J. Correll and Lori Mackenzie, Harvard Business Review.

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