It’s not Pickleball. It’s not Padel. It’s US. ( Article 1/4) Come on guys!!

It’s not Pickleball. It’s not Padel. It’s US. (1/4)

Come on guys!!

In recent times, many in the tennis world have raised concerns about the rapid growth of pickleball and padel. They ask, why are they growing so fast while tennis seems to be losing ground? I read, hear, and watch people complaining in multiple occasions.

But the real question isn’t about them. No!!

It’s about US!!

The answer doesn’t lie in external threats.

The answer lies in our own mindset, actions, and leadership.

I’ve had conversations with many tennis professionals lately.

Many are just complaining about losing courts, about losing space, about other sports taking over.

But do you know what pickleball people are doing?

They’re calling their local governments every week, multiple times, asking for space, pushing for actions, demanding more.

And tennis? How often are we doing the same?

Almost never. We are not doing it like in the '70 in USA. We are in our confort zone.

We don’t lose courts because of pickleball.

We lose them because we’re too quiet, passive, and too disconnected.

Tennis suffers when we stop fighting for it.

When we stop innovating, developing, and promoting our sport with the urgency and fire it deserves.

We need to stop waiting for someone else to "save" our sport.

We are the sport!!

We are coaches, leaders, parents, players, and organizations that should carry the torch. It’s time to reignite it.

Toni Nadal used to said "Nobody will win matches making excuses". It's very funny how we love the "fighting- warrior spirit" of Rafa or Nole, but we behave like small little people in this matter.

Come on guys, let's think BIG!

What made tennis great was more than just the game. It was the spirit, passion, relentless drive to grow, and the ability to inspire across generations and cultures.

Let's recovery the spirit of Major Walter C. Wingfield who founded Lawn Tennis in February 24th, 1874 when was approved the Patent by Queen Victoria. 151 year ago.

If padel and pickleball are growing, it’s because they’ve embraced innovation. They’ve simplified access. They’ve created community.

Tennis can do that, we can do that and much more, if we commit to:

+ Be more open in our mindsets

+ Innovating our methodologies and formats

+ Making tennis more accessible and inclusive

+ Continuously promoting, promoting, and promoting our

game with passion and creative ways

Reigniting our spirit of play that first brought us to the court.

Creating a tennis culture that inspires, and give positive vibes.

We don’t need to compete with other racquet sports.

We need to compete with our past.

We have 300 million people playing Tennis in the world (Official & un-official info) Let's go for next 300M. Building the future of tennis with courage, creativity, and collaboration.

Let’s stop complaining and start leading.

Let’s bring back the fire.

Let’s bring back the drive.

Let’s bring back the tennis of the heart.

It’s an opportunity.

It starts with US.

Fernando