[Youth Report] Cheaper Than Golf and Better Photos... MZ Generation Picking Up Rackets

'Tennis Fever' Continues This Year Following Last Year
Attractive Factors Such as Cost-Effectiveness and Accessibility
Popular Among MZ Generation Who Value Individuality

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The tennis craze, which has been ongoing since last year centered around the MZ generation (born between the 1980s and early 2000s), is expected to continue this year as well. Tennis is relatively inexpensive, yet it carries the image of a 'premium sport' like golf, offers a good amount of exercise, and is easily accessible, making it popular among young people. Another characteristic is that the attire is flashy, making it great for taking certification photos. As the tennis craze is expected to continue, the distribution industry is also paying attention to this trend.

Popularity of Tennis Due to COVID-19... Increase in Domestic Tennis Population

Office worker Choi (27) said, "I really like exercising and have tried almost every sport like soccer, golf, and swimming, but tennis is the most fun," adding, "Compared to other sports, the injury risk is lower, the exercise effect is definite, and you can even customize your racket to suit your taste."

He continued, "I've been learning tennis for about two years. At first, I was frustrated because my skills didn't improve, but at some point, it became so fun that I developed a strong desire to get better."

The background of the tennis craze ironically relates to COVID-19. Tennis is basically considered a non-contact sport. It consists of singles matches between two players and doubles matches with two teams of two players each, making it a 'socially distanced sport' that attracted much attention during the COVID-19 era.

Additionally, social distancing measures made it difficult to engage in indoor sports like gym workouts, yoga, and Pilates, which also contributed. Although golf was popular during the COVID-19 period, its popularity gradually waned due to expensive golf course fees.

As interest in tennis expands, the related market is steadily growing. The domestic tennis population increased from about 500,000 in 2021 to 600,000 last year, and the tennis market size grew from 250 billion KRW to 300 billion KRW.

The 'Hip' Charm of Tennis Attracted Young People

[Image source=Pixabay]

The generation leading the popularity of tennis is especially the MZ generation. Young people have posted photos on social media showing themselves playing tennis in tennis attire. In fact, searching 'tennis' on Instagram yields about 960,000 posts, and searching 'terini' (a term meaning 'tennis beginner') yields about 380,000 posts.

Why is tennis particularly popular among the MZ generation? This is related to tennis's 'hip' image. For young people who are active in self-expression and value individuality, the flashy tennis outfits serve as an attractive element. Tennis attire, symbolized by caps paired with dresses or skirts, has even emerged as a new fashion item among young women.

The relatively low cost burden is also a factor in its popularity. Rackets can be purchased for between 100,000 and 300,000 KRW, and court fees vary depending on whether the court is public or private, but typically range from 5,000 to 50,000 KRW per hour. Since tennis is a sport that can be played in doubles with four people, the cost burden for court rental is also reduced accordingly. Moreover, the recent increase in indoor tennis courts has improved accessibility, contributing to the tennis craze.

Meanwhile, the global tennis market is expected to continue growing steadily. According to market research firm Future Market Insights, the tennis market size is projected to grow from 11.88 trillion KRW this year to 14.35 trillion KRW by 2029. Tennis is considered the most popular individual sport worldwide, with an estimated 60 million people enjoying it globally.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.