U.S. Tennis Losing Ground in Developing Players

Serena, left, and Venus Williams with former President Ronald Reagan in 1990. They were the only Americans in the WTA top 36 as of March 23.

[Tyson]

First- USTA look at the teaching programs outside the US, Bolleteri's is a glorified summer camp teach kids competition and how to win not become backboards.
Second look at the size of the top male players, in the States those boys would be geared to basketball or football.
Third- The college programs are inendated by European and other foreign players who never made the top tours.
Fourth- To many US citizins see tennis as a country club sport.

[TMD]

Tyson wrote:

First- USTA look at the teaching programs outside the US, Bolleteri's is a glorified summer camp teach kids competition and how to win not become backboards.
Second look at the size of the top male players, in the States those boys would be geared to basketball or football.
Third- The college programs are inendated by European and other foreign players who never made the top tours.
Fourth- To many US citizins see tennis as a country club sport.

You left out one of the most important factors - expense.

How many inner city kids who would like to play tennis instead of basketball can afford to go to these tennis academies? How many are even being offered any kind of tennis scholarships?

If you want to attract more kids to tennis you have to make it as attractive, and accessible as the other, more traditional sports. If a kid can see a way to become rich and famous playing a sport, they'll try it.

Unfortunately, as you say, tennis is one of the fringe sports that is viewed as an upper class, country club sport, played by royalty and millionaires. American tennis will not improve until this changes.