Editor's Note: We asked readers of The Dink newsletter (click here to subscribe for FREE) to share their thoughts on the recent comments made by 24-time Grand Slam tennis champion Novak Djokovic, who suggested recently while playing Wimbledon that "tennis is in danger" because of the rapid growth of pickleball (and padel).

Here's a response we received that we thought was worth sharing ...

Novak Djokovic Voices Concern Over the Future of Tennis With Pickleball Gaining Ground

Novak Djokovic is currently in search of his eighth Wimbledon singles title, but after his third-round victory he took a moment to address the health of his sport compared to padel and pickleball.

The Dink PickleballThe Dink Media Team

Is tennis really in danger?

by Ann Amaral, The Dink newsletter subscriber

I would like to compliment Novak Djokovic on his efforts to help tennis regain its popularity. 

I love his idea on reducing the number of games played until the championship round. What about reducing the number of serves to one?  Or rethinking the scoring system? How about open play with a faster game that does not leave people sitting around waiting and also alleviates the concept of having to find your own opponents? 

Tennis courts remain vacant everywhere. You can almost see tumbleweeds blowing through. On the other pickleball hand, when pickleball courts are built, people flock. More people want to play it versus tennis. On any given day, the PB courts are packed and the tennis courts remain lonely.

Clubs must acknowledge that, if they want to stay alive, they must convert some courts to pickleball. It is simply where people's interests lie. 

Having grown up playing and loving tennis, it is nowhere near the social sport.  Pickleball is more fun because it is less serious and it has a very open gateway (Is it a gateway drug? Maybe, I feel addicted. It also allows people to get their competitive selves back out in the sporting world.

He has a point that there is financial benefit due to the size of the court.  The smaller size makes it easier to install a backyard court. Whether it be tennis or pickleball, backyard courts are really fun. In a public setting, four highly-used and enjoyed pickleball courts vs one underused tennis court serves more people in the community.

Pickleball has single-handedly saved many clubs. I believe the solution lies locally.  Tennis needs grassroots and local efforts to revive it in each community. Make it more social and figure out fun ways to get more people on one tennis court in quick competitive rounds ... something that is less intimidating for people to enter. 

From potlucks to night glow events and every fun thing I have seen in the pickleball community, I think there are many fun and creative ways to revive tennis.  Maybe tennis is like a very long term marriage where the couple has stopped trying. Pickleball is the new, exciting love and people are pouring into it big time.

Maybe tennis needs some couples therapy.   

Have thoughts of your own on the state of tennis and the impact pickleball is having? Shoot us an e-mail!