Novak Djokovic Says Pickleball Is Making Tennis an ‘Endangered’ Sport

Tennis star Novak Djokovic expressed his concerns about the future of tennis following his Centre Court win at Wimbledon 2024 on Saturday, July 6. Djokovic, 37, warned that “tennis is endangered” and highlighted the rapid growth of paddle sports like pickleball as a significant threat. He urged for collective action to prevent tennis clubs from being converted into pickleball and paddle courts. Djokovic emphasized the need for improvements in tennis to attract a larger audience, drawing comparisons to the successful marketing strategies of Formula 1.

Djokovic elaborated on his views about the current state of tennis, pointing out that while the sport is historic and global, it remains fragmented and in need of cohesive growth strategies. He called for better efforts to increase the number of professional players who can make a living from tennis. Djokovic acknowledged that the economic appeal of pickleball for club owners—where three pickleball courts can fit into the space of one tennis court—poses a financial challenge for the sport of tennis. He stressed that addressing these challenges is crucial for the sport's future.

Despite his concerns, Djokovic continues to excel on the court. He recently defeated Alexei Popyrin to advance to Wimbledon’s Round of 16, aiming for his eighth Wimbledon title to tie Roger Federer’s record. Djokovic holds the world No. 2 men’s singles ranking and has a record 24 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, including ten Australian Open titles. He made history in 2008 by breaking the dominance of Rafael Nadal and Federer, securing his first major title at the Australian Open at age 20.