A Big Year for Chinese Tennis: Understanding New Consumption

After Zheng Qinwen’s Olympic women’s singles championship win, the tennis craze in China has reached new heights. The 22-year-old’s victory has inspired many young people and adults to take up the sport, leading to a surge in demand for tennis-related products and services.

According to Euromonitor’s tennis market research data, the scale of China’s tennis product market has increased from RMB 4.5 billion in 2019 to RMB 5.88 billion in 2023. It is expected that by 2024, the scale of China’s tennis product market will reach RMB 6.4 billion, with an annual growth rate in the high single digits.

The tennis industry in China is booming, with many sports brands and companies laying out tennis-related industrial belts. Anta, Li Ning, Xtep, and 361 Degrees are among the domestic sports brands that are deeply involved in the tennis sports industry and sports equipment.

However, the Chinese market still faces many challenges in forming a sports industry with an independent commercial closed loop. The public acceptance and popularity of tennis are still relatively low, with the number of tennis enthusiasts in China accounting for less than 1.5% of the country’s total population.

To cultivate more Li Na and Zheng Qinwen, China needs to improve the development of domestic youth events and provide more opportunities for young players to participate in competitions abroad. The growth and performance points of Chinese young players often require them to participate in competitions abroad, making the growth path of Chinese tennis players with personal influence and strength relatively longer and their commercial value difficult to keep up.

Despite the challenges, the tennis industry in China is expected to grow steadily with the support of regional industries, sports stars, and brand business cultivation. With the US Open and the 2024 China Open starting one after another, many world-class players, including Zheng Qinwen, will participate in the competition, and the tennis fever is expected to continue this autumn.

The Rise of Tennis in China

China has become the world’s second-largest tennis country, with the number of tennis enthusiasts rapidly growing to 19.92 million. The country has a team of 11,000 tennis coaches and over 800 tennis clubs.

The commercialization of tennis in China is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to become a significant market. The country’s tennis product market is expected to reach RMB 6.4 billion by 2024, with an annual growth rate in the high single digits.

Tennis-Related Consumption

The tennis craze in China has led to a surge in demand for tennis-related products and services. Tennis experience classes and tennis training quarterly packages are hot on the platform, and the number of tennis-related group purchase orders has increased by 172% year-on-year.

The demand for adult tennis training is relatively scattered, and the level of coach training is uneven, resulting in different charging standards for different teaching models. A professional coach with a good level charges 400-500 yuan per hour for one-on-one training, and 350-250 yuan per time for small class training.

Tennis Equipment and Apparel

The tennis equipment and apparel market in China is booming, with many sports brands and companies laying out tennis-related industrial belts. Wilson, a world-renowned brand of tennis sports equipment, clothing, and accessories, has become a popular choice among Chinese tennis enthusiasts.

Tennis skirts have become a fashion trend in China, with many luxury brands and sports brands launching their own versions. The search volume for tennis skirts on 618 increased by 256% year-on-year, and the transaction volume increased by 160% year-on-year.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the growth of the tennis industry in China, there are still many challenges to overcome. The public acceptance and popularity of tennis are still relatively low, and the country needs to improve the development of domestic youth events and provide more opportunities for young players to participate in competitions abroad.

However, the tennis industry in China also presents many opportunities for growth and development. With the support of regional industries, sports stars, and brand business cultivation, the industry is expected to grow steadily and become a significant market in the future.

Conclusion

The tennis industry in China is booming, with many sports brands and companies laying out tennis-related industrial belts. However, the country still faces many challenges in forming a sports industry with an independent commercial closed loop. To cultivate more Li Na and Zheng Qinwen, China needs to improve the development of domestic youth events and provide more opportunities for young players to participate in competitions abroad.

Despite the challenges, the tennis industry in China is expected to grow steadily with the support of regional industries, sports stars, and brand business cultivation. With the US Open and the 2024 China Open starting one after another, many world-class players, including Zheng Qinwen, will participate in the competition, and the tennis fever is expected to continue this autumn.