Around noon on Sunday I sat down to watch the Gentlemen’s Final of Wimbledon between two of the game’s all-time greats, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Lynden, my 12 year-old, and Everett, my 6-going-on-26-year-old, reacted as I switched off the Fortnite playing, obnoxious YouTuber in favor of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
“Come on, Dad! Tennis sucks!” Lynden scoffed.
Everett, compelled to agree with his big brother, chimed in, “Yeah, Dad. No one plays tennis. Plus, these guys are old.”
Unfazed by their criticism and coveting the power of my “but I pay the cable bill” retort, I sunk into my chair to watch the end of match up of these two greats.
After a few magnificent points that evened the match at 4-4 in the fifth set, Lynden and Everett were engrossed. Each cheered loudly for “the guy in the headband” because, as I explained to them, he (Federer) was the underdog against his younger opponent (Djokovic).
Mind you, both of my boys know NOTHING about the game – each had no idea how to keep score, no clue about foot (or double) faults and neither could understand why Federer or Djokovic refused to attempt passing shots with each swing. The poetry of a drop-shot was certainly a lesson for another day.
In spite of their ignorance of the game, the greatness on display Sunday captured their attention. Unfortunately for tennis, though, that intrigue would soon vanish.
At the conclusion of the grueling final that saw Djokovic win in a tiebreak, I was left thinking that tennis has totally screwed up the galvanizing power of drawing kids to the game during the decade of domination by four of it’s all-time greats – Federer, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. More kids should love tennis. Like my boys, though, they don’t.
My kids love sports – all of them. Everett, in fact, wants to play baseball each time we attend a local Minor League game, he begs to play a round of golf whenever Tiger is in contention and practices flashy one-handed catches after watching highlights of the NFL’s Oden Beckum, Jr.
But, as compelling as the Wimbledon final was, Everett didn’t ask Lynden to hit the tennis ball around in the driveway afterward. His small racket is wedged far below the wiffle bats in our garage storage bin.
No, my sports-loving kids don’t think of tennis as an option – why?
My first hypothesis regarding tennis’ waning popularity is marketing. While there are no “Be Like Mike” campaigns associated with these tennis superstars, there are big-time marketing dollars behind each. Williams has a huge Nike deal and often frequents my television in Chase Bank ads. Federer, in fact, signed a 10-year, $300 million apparel deal in 2018. The endorsement deals in tennis are there – maybe it isn’t the marketing.
So, is this a “USA” problem – the propensity for Americans to participate in sports where the stars are born and raised here? Said another way, three of the four G.O.A.T.’s are not American so there is less domestic interest as a result?
There may be something to this argument. After all, using Serena Williams as a test case, during the years of her prime participation rates amongst female players has generally increased. The long term impact of the Williams’ sisters (Serena and her sister, Venus) is thought to be generational for American female tennis.
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This patriotic argument, though, falls apart when I think about my kids’ love of soccer – a game whose best universally play professionally overseas. A quick look through Lynden’s closet tells me so – stocked full of colorful Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Hazard jerseys (all play professionally in Europe).
If it’s not the marketing wherewithal and not the narrow focus of the American audience, then, why isn’t tennis enjoying a resurrection in light of never-before-seen level of play on the grass, clay or hard court?
Talking to Lynden that day, it finally hit me – the sport is too stuffy. There just isn’t enough flare to counterbalance the country club nature of the environment.
When kids of average means look at traditionally “rich people” sports (like golf and tennis) they immediately believe (whether true or not) that their access is limited.
When kids see tennis at the highest levels, played by the sport’s greatest, they see far too much elegant, fancy, bureaucracy. Note the number of times the camera focused on Princess Kate Middleton during Sunday’s match.
The crowd is dressed in suits and ties (except for the one-off crazy fan wrapped in a tennis net and donning a ball for a hat).
The concession of choice is strawberries and cream.
Each athlete wears a collar, is fed balls my kids standing at full attention, in front of a silent crowd during points.
The perceived arrogance of tennis will limit the sport’s growth – and other youth activities with sagging participation figures should take note.
So, I say, let the crowds cheer (and jeer) loudly.
Let athletes wear what they choose – screw the all-white polos and skimpy skirts.
Substitute the strawberries and cream with ketchup-clad and relish-topped hot dog.
Get rid of the pretension and fill the courts that, from where I’m standing, are now empty.
