116,483 people are members of a tennis club in Sweden.

In 2020, the number in the country increased by almost five percent.

In Småland more than that, where it increased by eleven percent. 

- We notice that many who left the sport during the 80s and 90s have now returned, says Johan Sjögren. 

Takes advantage of paddle wave

According to the Swedish Tennis Association, there are several reasons for the increased number of members in the tennis clubs.

On the one hand, the pandemic has forced us outdoors and then tennis games have attracted.

But tennis has also been able to surf on the big paddle wave that sweeps over Sweden.

Many people who try and like padel also try tennis. 

- When the clubs build paddle courts as a complement to tennis, it attracts more members.

We also see that adult paddle players put their children in the clubs' tennis schools, says Johan Sjögren. 

Has kept young people during the pandemic

Tennis is one of the sports that has managed well to keep its young players during the pandemic.

- In the local and regional tennis competitions that were arranged during the summer, we actually had more participants than in very many years, says Johan Sjögren. 

How will you work to keep the members even after the pandemic? 

- If we look at the young people, it is about making them want to start playing competitive games at different levels.

To make them feel so good that they want to start playing matches and league games.

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The tennis club switched to paddle - now the business is flourishing again Photo: Frida Lindhe SVT