Tennis becomes Burgenland’s second-largest club sport

Tennis has become increasingly popular as a recreational sport in Burgenland and now ranks second among the province’s club sports, with around 13,000 members, ORF reports. Football remains the most popular, with about 17,000 club members.

Statistics from Sport Austria show that tennis has gained significant ground in recent years, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. While the pandemic affected football, tennis grew because it was among the first sports allowed to resume.

“There was no physical contact because the net was between you. We saw major increases. And the trend continued after the coronavirus pandemic,” said Günter Kurz, president of the Burgenland Tennis Association.

Burgenland currently has 139 tennis clubs. Many compete in championships, often with several teams. Kurz said the province now has more than 800 teams, over 5,000 licensed players across age groups from children to people aged over 70, and more than 10,000 championship matches each season.

A study cited in the report says tennis may increase life expectancy more than any other sport. According to the study, the combination of physical and mental activity involved in playing tennis could extend people’s lives by an average of 9.7 years.