‍During the Middle Ages, a game was played with small balls and hands in northern France, which we now know as tennis. So, where is tennis most popular today?

Initially known as Jeu de Paume, this game became popular, and instead of hands, racquets started to become a part of it, along with the small balls.

Today, tennis is most popular in England and Australia. It is the most played sport in the world. In fact, you can find tennis courts in most countries of the world. Professional tennis is a huge sport, and many countries, including the United States and France, have magnificent tennis courts.

There is no denying that a true tennis champion can train in any part of the world, as long as a tennis court exists. As one of the most played sports in the world today, finding a tennis court should be no problem at all.

We have put together a list of the countries where tennis is the most popular. These countries have been short-listed based on factors like accessibility, recreational play, professional players, and professional events.

Where is Tennis Most Popular?

Over the years, tennis has gained a lot of popularity, becoming a successful and recognized sport worldwide. It is also a great recreational activity that individuals from different countries can bond over. This is why we hear about new tennis champions from different countries every year.

Here are the top seven countries where tennis is the most popular:

1. England

England is the most common place where tennis has been played for many decades. In fact, the All-England Club has hosted most tennis events. We must admit that recently, there have not been too many tennis champions here but there is no denying that this country ranks high in tennis circles.

The first-ever game of tennis was played in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Back then, tennis was known as lawn tennis, but in the 19th century, many tennis clubs started opening all over the world, after which the sport became known as tennis.

One of the cons of tennis in England is that there is not much space for tennis courts. Moreover, since it is a costly sport, it remains an elite sport rather than one that can be enjoyed by the working class. Court time can be pricy, and the balls and equipment needed to play the game can add up.

That said, England is still the most popular hub for modern tennis. In 1877, the first tennis tournament was played at Wimbledon, garnering lots of support and love for the sport.

2. Australia

Australia is known to be the most overzealous country when it comes to tennis. The public loves to play tennis, and watching it at a professional level brings the crowd to the street. You will always find professional Australian players competing on the WTA and ATP tours.

In 1905, the Australian Open was established as a tennis championship. This was organized by New Zealand and Australia in partnership. Even though it was popular, when the tournament moved to Melbourne in 1980, it gained even more popularity. Even though there are not many international tennis tournaments today, the Australia Open remains constant as stadiums remain packed every year.

The public remains excited about tennis in Australia since every year, an international tournament is held. Of course, world-class tennis players like Ashleigh Barty and Nick Kyrgios added to the country's fame.

3. France

For many centuries, tennis remained a popular sport in the royal court of France. In fact, King Francis I was a wonderful tennis player. Of course, France was the first country where Jeu de Paume- the first tennis game- came into being.

In 1891, the French Open was established and managed to bring together a number of players. It was called the Championnat de France International de Tennis, but initially, it only welcomed the French. Players. In 1925, international players were welcomed, after which the sport became even more popular.

France remains popular because of the French Open, where tennis has been around for more than a century. However, today there is not much tennis talent left in France.

4. United States

Tennis became part of the United States in the 19th century. The first game was organized in 1874 in Nahant, Massachusetts. By the 1880s, many tennis clubs were introduced in the area, and by 1881, the US Open was established.

As far as tennis is concerned, the United States has been in the professional game for centuries. Even though it is a popular sport, there is loads of competition within the tennis circles here. One of the main reasons for the sport's popularity is that the general public has access to a number of tennis courts. This makes the sport easily accessible, especially since it is only reserved for a particular class in other countries.

In the United States, you will find a few public parks where tennis courts can be accessed for free. However, you can pay a small fee to gain access to other courts and continue practicing your tennis skills there.

Moreover, compared to other parts of the world, the tennis equipment in the US is more reasonable. All you have to do is visit a local store and get a beginner racquet, along with some balls, which will not cost too much. To enjoy tennis, you do not always have to play at a professional level. The best part is that this sport can be enjoyed by both genders.

5. Switzerland

The best tennis player in the world wears Swiss colors making Switzerland one of the most popular countries where tennis is played. Even though Roger Federer has consistently excelled at tennis, he is not the only Swiss tennis player to have garnered so much success in such a short time.

Roger is considered in the top 10 list of best tennis players in the world. He is a proud winner of more than 100 ATP singles. Only one other player, Jimmy Connors, an American, has won more titles than Federer throughout his career. Other Swiss players like Stan Wawrinka and Martina Hingis have also made their mark in history.

The best part is that Switzerland is one of the very few countries that have established a female tennis team. The Grand Slam tournament was won by Martina Hingis, the first-ever Swiss tennis player. She was only 16 years and three months of age when she became the proud winner of the Australian Open. This is definitely an achievement considering that Switzerland is a cold country with lots of mountains and not much open space.

6. Spain

Spain is another country where tennis is extremely popular. The game was introduced in the 17th century at the Spanish court, where it became a well-loved sport. However, by the 19th century, Napolean took over Europe, and slowly the love for tennis began to die down.

However, recently, there has been a lot of success at the professional level, making Spain even more popular and well-known among tennis lovers. After football, tennis is the most popular sport in Spain. The country is responsible for winning the David Cup 6 times in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2019 respectively- all within the 21st century.

The most popular tennis player currently is Rafael Nadal. In fact, he has managed to earn himself the title of the most successful tennis player in history. The reason why tennis is so popular in Spain is because of the number of courts available, allowing people to play for cheap and polish their skills.

7. Germany

Did you know that tennis is one of the most common sports to kill time in Germany? In fact, there are more than 5 million active tennis players, and more than 1.4 million have registered themselves in the local federation. This number is higher than any other place in the world, which is what makes Germany a country where tennis is extremely popular.

The two players that have helped tennis become popular in Germany are Boris Becker and Steffi Graf. In fact, these two are the most iconic players in the world. When Becker won Wimbledon, he became a well-known, internationally recognized tennis player. He was only 17 when he achieved his first Glam Slam victory, after which he went on the achieve five more.

Loads of people in Germany love the sport and are taking an interest in it every day. Germany has a large number of tennis players and houses a chunk of individuals who love watching the game. In the future, we hope to see more and more Germans support the sport and become a part of it.