Tommy Paul says 'nobody cares' about tennis in United States, calls it 20th most popular sport
ATPSunday, 08 October 2023 at 01:00
World number 12 Tommy Paul believes that there is not much focus
on the development of tennis in the United States.
The 26-year-old was recently quoted in a report where he
made those remarks where he suggested that it is great to have two American
players in the top 10 despite having very little focus from the authorities.
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“Tennis is probably the 20th most popular sport in the
United States,” he said. “Nobody cares and we still have two players in the top
10. So it's a good thing we're at the top of the game. I mean all of our best
athletes play other sports, so that's our excuse, I suppose.”
Tommy Paul might have added some more arguments proving that USA tennis is having a hard time. First and foremost, there is the absence of an American male superstar playing tennis. There’s no Sampras, no McEnroe, no Connors.
The last time an American male won a Grand Slam was in 2003 (Roddick). That’s more than 20 years ago. Secondly, there is the undeniable fact that college tennis is on the decline. Most players playing it in the USA come from abroad.
Thirdly, there is the absence of major tournaments in the States. If you look at California, there is one big event: Indian Wells. China, for instance, is nowadays hosting a string of tennis events. American investors simply seem to have moved on to other sports.
Paul is currently taking part in the Shanghai Masters where
he has already booked his place in the third round after beating Australia’s Sebastian
Ofner with a score of 6-3, 6-0.
The New Jersey-born will be hoping to go all the way after
having a disappointing time in the big tournaments during the second half of
the year.
Paul started the year brightly as he played in the semifinal
of the Australian Open and lost to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic with a score of 7-5,
6-1, 6-2.
However, after that, he failed to qualify in the quarterfinal
or beyond in any of the three other Grand Slams.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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