Demand For Tennis Lessons Shoots To Highest In 14 Years

You’d be forgiven for thinking the great British public had swapped their remote controls for rackets lately – because interest in tennis lessons has bounced back harder than a Novak Djokovic return.

A fresh analysis of national search trends reveals a 40% spike in demand for tennis lessons across the UK since the last pre-pandemic Wimbledon in 2019. And leading the charge? Edinburgh – where locals seem more game, set, and match than ever.

As one of the nation’s largest providers of public tennis lessons, Better dug into the data and served up some fascinating stats. Their deep dive into tennis-related queries – including “tennis lessons near me” and “kids tennis lessons” – shows that Edinburgh has seen an 84% jump in search interest compared to the lead-up to Wimbledon 2019. That’s a lot of people dusting off their racquets and re-learning the difference between a slice and a shank.

The Scottish capital is followed closely by Sheffield (66% increase) and Glasgow (64%), with the latter no doubt channelling the spirit of local hero and former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.

It’s not just a pandemic blip either. According to Google search trends, April 2021 marked the highest interest in tennis lessons in the UK since 2007. Compared to April 2019, that’s a jaw-dropping 140% year-on-year rise. May also clocked in as one of the strongest months on record for court-curious Brits.

Overall, 18 of the 25 cities analysed showed growth in tennis interest since the last Wimbledon, with only five – including Cardiff and Newport – seeing a drop. Perhaps the Welsh were too busy perfecting their rugby passes.

And the online buzz is translating into real-world action. Better’s own booking data reports a 17.5% increase in tennis sessions between May 2020 and April 2021 compared to the year before.

Joachim Treasurer, Better’s National Tennis & Specialist Sports Manager, pointed to the impact of lockdowns on the sport’s renaissance: “The fact that outdoor tennis was one of the first activities to be allowed after lockdown saw a real boost to the sport,” he said. “With lots of people working from home or on furlough, the uptake of off-peak times soared as they had much more flexibility in their day.”

But this isn’t just a post-pandemic pastime for the bored and isolated. There’s a strong grassroots push too.
“Supporting newcomers into the sport is vital, especially among youngsters,” Treasurer added.

“We strive to encourage participation by sending coaches into schools across the country, including inner-city schools with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. We provide tennis equipment, and our coaches take PE lessons, put on lunch break sessions, and get involved in after-school clubs.”

As Wimbledon fever takes hold once more, it’s clear that tennis lessons are no longer just a summer fling. The UK is rallying around the sport – and who knows?

Maybe the next Centre Court champion is booking their very first session right now.