When four of Chennai’s leading club tennis players Vikram Seshasayee, Sooraj Viswanathan, G Rajesh and B Venkteshwar met up in November 2024, it was not to discuss tennis. The four of them were in final discussions about putting up Chennai Picklersss by Sports Den, a state of the art indoor Pickleball facility at Porur that would be open to the public round-the-clock.
In recent years, a growing trend has emerged in the world of racquet sports. Tennis players, from professionals to recreational enthusiasts, are increasingly trading in their tennis rackets for pickleball paddles. One revealing statistic is that out of 144 players currently listed on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour, 130 of them have some level of tennis background.
Indian tennis legend, Ramesh Krishnan says “Pickleball is the new fad. There is plenty of excitement around it and it is certainly on its way up. There is good potential for the sport to grow.” Ram Sukumar, CEO of Indium and veteran tennis player on the Chennai club circuit agrees says that having played tennis for 37 years, he was initially sceptical about pickleball. he adds, “When discussions started 18 months ago to add pickleball courts at our club, I found the sport intriguing but a little odd—a mix of tennis and table tennis that I thought was mostly for older players.”
Palyers playing Pickleball at EA mall, Chennai
| Photo Credit:
RAVINDRAN R
However, after playing it regularly for the past 6 months, Ram says that it has started to grow on him. “While I will always remain a tennis purist at heart, I’ve come to appreciate pickleball for what it is: a sport with low entry barriers, fun to play, and accessible to people without formal training. Hand-eye coordination sports like pickleball are fantastic for exercise.”
Less physical impact
Tennis is a high-intensity sport that requires quick movements, rapid changes of direction, and explosive power. Pickleball, on the other hand, is generally less physically demanding, making it an attractive option for tennis players who may be looking to reduce the impact on their bodies.
Paddle serves
Globally, pickleball has more than 5 million players across 84 countries.
The global pickleball market is expected to grow from $1.9 billion in 2023 to $7.9 billion by 2033
Over 50,000 people in India played the game in 2024 and at the time there were over 500 courts throughout the country.
-40 to 50 new courts are being added in India every month.
159% growth in the number of Indians playing pickleball between 2019 and 2022.
China is expected to add over 10,000 courts in the next 5 years and is projected to have a total of 100 million pickleball players by 2030.
Out of 144 players currently listed on the Professional Pickleball Association Tour, around 90%, of them have some tennis background.
Out of this 90% of pro pickleball players that played tennis, 18% were professionals on the ATP and WTA tours and 47% were collegiately competitive – some even going on to win NCAA championships.
Vikram Seshasayee, captain of the the Madras Club tennis team says, “Over the last many decades we have seen many of our tennis buddies completely stop playing tennis due to injuries or because they found the sport too tiring as they got older. Aside from being easier to learn than tennis, pickleball is also slower-paced and requires less ground to cover.”
Current Davis Cup Player and India No. 3, Ramkumar Ramanathan says he has played Pickleball a couple of times. He adds, “Touch and feel is the common factor between the two sports and I see many tennis players getting involved in Pickleball as it’s a fun sport.”
Accessibility and affordability
Pickleball’s accessibility and affordability are also major draws for tennis players. Pickleball courts are often easier to find and access than tennis courts, as pickleball courts do not require much space and are easier and cheaper to set up. For space-constrained cities, this is a big advantage. Inclusivity and ease of setup have played a huge role in its rapid adoption
The U.S. Tennis Association says that 10 per cent of courts in America have already been taken over or repainted since the pickleball boom began. For private clubs, pickleball makes commercial sense as the same court that accommodates up to four paying customers for a doubles tennis match can be carved up into at least two and upto four separate pickleball courts, meaning that clubs can charge more players to rent the same real estate. All it takes to convert a court from tennis to pickleball is a few dabs of paint.
Pickleball equipment such as paddles and balls are less expensive than tennis equipment.
| Photo Credit:
RAVINDRAN R
Now, more community centers, parks, and retirement communities have pickleball courts, making it easier for players to find a game. Additionally, pickleball equipment like paddles and balls are less expensive than tennis equipment.
Ram Sukumar says,” The sport’s accessibility is a major factor. Equipment is affordable, with paddles ranging from $30 (Rs. 2700) to $300 (Rs. 27,000), and it’s easy to pick up the sport without needing extensive coaching and training. Players of all skill levels can start playing right away, making it a social, inclusive activity. Compared to tennis or badminton, pickleball is less physically demanding at the same time players get a good workout, which makes it appealing across age groups.”
Making the switch
Several professional tennis players have already made the switch to pickleball. Andre Agassi, the former world No. 1 has become a global ambassador for pickleball, which is starting to take off in a big way in India, China and the rest of Asia. Tennis legends John McEnroe, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick, Michael Chang and Maria Sharapova amongst others have also been known to play the game.
“These players have all been paid handsomely to promote pickleball”, says Ramesh Krishnan.
Mukund Sasikumar, current Indian Davis Cup Player and India no. 2 says, “Retired tennis legends have a lot of time and definitely want to stay active with something less physical than tennis. The features of both tennis and pickleball are quite similar because the body motion is mostly from down to up, both games are feel based and both require hand eye coordination.”
Ram Sukumar adds that it is not just retired legends playing the game now. He says, “Even active tennis players like Jack Sock, Donald Young, Sam Querrey, and Eugenie Bouchard are embracing pickleball. For them, the barriers to entry are minimal, and the confidence of excelling in a similar sport is a big draw. It’s a natural fit, and that’s why we’re seeing so many tennis pros picking up the paddle.”
The Future Of Pickle Ball
Ram Sukumar says, “I see a bright future for pickleball. Growth will come through structured leagues and tournaments across countries, along with better-organized associations similar to tennis. Creating tiered systems and robust ranking mechanisms—both globally and nationally—will be key to long-term success.”
As Pickleball is a relatively young sport there are a lot of rule innovations happening, designed to make the sport faster, more strategic, and engaging for players and fans says Vikram Seshasayee. He adds, “In the World Pickle Ball League an innovative format, conceptualized by former Indian tennis players Gaurav Natekar and Arati Ponnappa Natekar, has been a resounding success among players and fans. The introduction of 15-minute timed matches ensures that the games are fast-paced and spectator friendly.”
Pickleball is a relatively young sport there are a lot of rule innovations happening, designed to make the sport faster, more strategic, and engaging for players
| Photo Credit:
RAVINDRAN R
“I hope Pickleball and Tennis can compliment each other,” Ramesh Krishnan says, adding that pickleball can be an ideal starting point for youngsters who will then “hopefully graduate to tennis.”
Chennai Picklersss by Sports Den, at Kimberly Garden, Pallavaram Road, Kolapakkam, will be open 24 x7 and will have three indoor pickleball courts as well as a store for equipment and accessories. Call +91 98402 94518
Published – February 10, 2025 01:01 pm IST
