Top tennis expert speaks out amid pickleball craze

According to renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou, tennis must adapt if it doesn't want to be left behind. In the context of pickleball's explosive growth, he issued a clear warning: change is no longer an option, but a condition for survival.

Mouratoglou: Tennis needs to change if it doesn't want to be overtaken by pickleball

Mouratoglou – who once coached Serena Williams and founded the Mouratoglou Academy – is not someone who easily makes alarmist statements. But this time, his message carries particular weight. "Will tennis change if we do nothing? The reality is it has already changed," he shared in a video circulating on social media.

While not calling tennis "dying," Mouratoglou emphasized that the sport is facing real pressure. If core issues are not addressed, tennis "could fall into serious trouble." That's a warning he has mentioned many times, but now it has become more urgent than ever. That pressure is not theoretical; it comes from a rapidly rising rival: pickleball.

According to Mouratoglou, the boom in pickleball isn't just about the number of players, but also about how this sport fits the new era.

First, pickleball is extremely accessible. Beginners can quickly join in rallies after just a few minutes, instead of needing years to get comfortable like in tennis. Smaller courts and simpler equipment also significantly reduce costs and barriers to entry. Not only that, pickleball attracts a diverse audience, from older adults playing recreationally to highly competitive young athletes. The development of professional systems like the PPA Tour or Major League Pickleball, along with modern organization, also helps propel this sport forward.

Particularly, pickleball is seen as "born for the digital age." Fast rallies, highlight moments like close net duels or direct scoring shots are very suitable for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. This helps the sport spread powerfully in terms of image and culture.

One of the things that worries Mouratoglou most is the trend among young athletes. Increasingly more people start with pickleball instead of tennis. The reason is very clear: pickleball offers an "instant playability" feeling, allows early competition, and creates quick excitement. Meanwhile, tennis requires a long training process before players can feel confident. This shift at the "starting point" could have a long-term impact on the entire ecosystem of racket sports.

Mouratoglou affirms he is not siding with pickleball or opposing tennis. His message is: tennis needs to evolve to stay relevant. Over many years, Mouratoglou has pushed for innovation through initiatives like Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) – a tournament adopting shorter formats, faster pace, and increased fan interaction.

But this time, the urgency is clearer. Pickleball is not just growing; it is reshaping audience expectations: faster matches, more engaging content, more personal stories, and easier accessibility. Meanwhile, tennis – with its long tradition, lengthy match durations, and high technical barriers – risks becoming "out of sync" with how modern audiences consume sports.

Not only pickleball, sports like padel are also developing globally, making competition within the racket sports group fiercer. However, in the US, pickleball is the clearest "disruptive" factor. Mouratoglou emphasizes: this is not a story of replacing tennis, but a story of relevance. If tennis doesn't change, the next generation might not wait.