Mouratoglou predicts a catastrophe: "Tennis is in danger"

Fernando Murciego | 3 Apr 2026 | 23.28

Mouratoglou predicts a catastrophe: "Tennis is in danger in the next 30 years". Source: Getty

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The discourse of Patrick Mouratoglou announcing the imminent death of tennis as a mass sport is becoming recurring. Taking advantage of the celebration of a new edition of UTS, the Frenchman reiterated his prognosis.

Few people seem more concerned about the future of our sport than Mr. Patrick Mouratoglou, who years ago came up with a tournament called Ultimate Tennis Showdown where he brought together the biggest names on the circuit to showcase their potential in a format closer to young viewers. That's great, but what truly worries the Frenchman is that the rest of the organizations may not share his views. Is tennis really in danger in the medium term? Our protagonist seems to be very certain about it.

“Tennis is a very popular sport among people of my generation who basically discovered tennis in the 70s-80s. The fan base is huge, but it is an older audience, so sponsors are there and so are television rights. Everything is fine in that sector, however, if we project ourselves 20, 30, or 40 years from now, the fan base will no longer exist, so there will be no more tennis,” predicts Mouratoglou in an interview with Eurosport France. “It's beautiful to preserve what we have, it's fabulous, but we also have to think about the future, this is what I always say. The ATP and the Grand Slams are living in the present, they are doing their job extremely well because they are very profitable, but no one is thinking about the future of tennis,” he adds.

And when an idea gets into Patrick's head, he won't stop until everyone knows about it, even if many no longer turn their heads to see him land another headline. “I really don't understand how tennis can survive until 2050 or 20255, I see no possible way. Once again, whatever sport we're talking about, it will only be profitable and successful the moment people watch it. If there is no broad fan base, then there will be no sponsors, nor an audience. Therefore, if people under 30 do not consume this type of product, tennis is in danger in the next 30 years,” he asserts vehemently.

“Tennis is the world of yesterday, it was created before 1900, and the format has never changed since then. Today, consumption patterns have completely changed with social media, streaming platforms, video games... people under 30 no longer consume content as before. Even the players, when I ask them, 100% tell me they no longer watch full matches, they say matches are too long, they just focus on watching the highlights. The product is not suitable; yes, it's suitable for us, suitable for me, but not for people under 30,” he concludes.

Patrick Mouratoglou's solution to save tennis

It goes without saying that after telling us that tennis is close to disappearing from the mainstream, Mouratoglou would be the first to propose some innovative idea to save it. His greatest creation so far is the UTS, an event with a reduced format, special rules, and where each player earns an amount according to their performance. In other words, a kind of exhibition, but where you have to sweat a bit if you want to earn more money than your opponents. While not claiming this to be the definitive revolution, for Patrick, it represents a good starting point.

“The UTS is a combination of a real sport and also entertainment, it's both things. Let's say it's not just one or the other. An exhibition is 100% entertainment, where players compete at 20 or 30% of their potential, that's why players complain that the calendar is too restrictive while participating in exhibitions. People don't understand these things, but an exhibition can never tire you out the same way a tournament does, it's not comparable at all. On the other hand, when you have to play an official match, there is significant physical and mental fatigue,” the Frenchman argues in defense of his stance.

Mouratoglou's position is firm, and he won't stop until everyone acknowledges that he is right. Otherwise, time will speak and respond to this matter. For now, the Frenchman is the first to extend a hand so that others board the ship before it's too late. “If people no longer want to watch traditional tennis, the ATP and the WTA will be forced to completely change the format the next day, which will be complicated. Perhaps they can partner with us and have these two formats coexist until there is potentially a change,” he concludes.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mouratoglou vaticina una hecatombe: “El tenis está en peligro”