Tennis proves its social benefit for men and women alike, says European survey

Posted on 19 May 20249 July 2025by Racket One

A survey conducted by Tennis Europe reveals that a majority of regular tennis players see the sport as a positive social activity — particularly highlighting its suitability for men and women to play together.

According to the results, 52% of regular players agreed that tennis is a good sport for men and women to do together. This was one of the strongest signals of the sport’s perceived social value, alongside its reputation for being sociable, challenging, and a good form of physical exercise.

Comparison of how tennis is perceived by UK players vs. the general population. — Participants, including both tennis players and non-tennis players, were asked to mark statements with which they agreed. Source: Tennis Europe

Beyond gender inclusivity, players also rated tennis highly for its adaptability across age groups and skill levels:

– 46% said it’s a good sport for people of different ages to do together,
– 31% agreed it suits people with varying ability,
– 45% described tennis as a sociable sport.

Another striking finding was how differently players and non-players perceive the sport. For example, only 5% of tennis players considered the sport boring, versus 14% of the wider population. Similarly, 62% of players said tennis offers good exercise (vs. 50%), and 43% found it challenging (vs. 30%).

Tennis players report feeling healthier than non-players on a 7-point scale. — Participants were asked to agree with the statement that they felt generally healthy. Credit: Tennis Europe

The perception gap extended to personal wellbeing. When asked whether they generally feel healthy, tennis players reported significantly higher levels of agreement than the general population. Notably, 25% of players gave the strongest possible response (7 out of 7) — compared to just 18% of non-players. Across all high-agreement levels (5 to 7), tennis players consistently scored higher, reinforcing the connection between regular physical activity and perceived health.

These findings reinforce the idea that tennis is not only physically beneficial, but also socially engaging — particularly for men and women looking to play together on equal terms. For clubs, coaches, and organizers, the data highlights the value of designing programs and messaging that emphasize tennis’s versatility, approachability, and social appeal.