Since then, there have been numerous indications every year that tennis popularity and participation is definitely on the rise. Actually, three out of the top five autographs were tennis players.
Tennis is one of only two sports that increased in TV viewership in the last two years.
Soccer was the other fueled by the women's World Cup victory. NBC's Wimbledon coverage was up 14 percent. Ratings for the 2000 U.S. Open were the second highest in five years. Tennis ball sales were up 6.7 percent. There are various reasons for all of the increases.