American players Jessica Pegula and Frances Tiafoe said tennis is moving in the right direction on diversity as Tiafoe highlighted increased representation at the top of the game and the financial barriers facing young players. Pegula said the sport’s global reach was one of its strengths, pointing to players from around the world and the varied fan bases they attract. Open shares that diversity, she added.
Tiafoe said representation in the women’s game had been strong for years and pointed to an increasing number of players from a range of backgrounds competing near the top of the men’s game. Tiafoe and France’s Arthur Fils made history at the Cincinnati Open last week when they became the first Black players to face each other in an ATP 1000 tournament final. Tennis Association) is doing great getting underserved community kids to play the game,” he said.
Tennis Participation Report said 3.7 million Black Americans played tennis at least once in 2025, an increase of more than 450,000 players from the previous year. The report also showed broader changes in the demographic profile of U.S. tennis players. Hispanic/Latino players accounted for 19% of participants in 2025, up from 18% in 2024, while Asian/Pacific Islander players accounted for 11%, unchanged from the previous year.
While he said the sport was progressing, Tiafoe cautioned that affordability could not be solved quickly. It’s got to come from somewhere.“
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