The Great Racquet Swap - Why Tennis Players Are Embracing Pickleball

Discover the rise of pickleball among tennis players, its accessibility, affordability, and potential for growth in the sports industry in Chennai

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.”

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.”

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.

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.”