Why Tennis Remains Out of Reach for Many Children in Ukraine

Despite strong and consistent interest in tennis among children, the opportunity to train regularly remains limited for many families in Ukraine. Research conducted by the Marta Kostyuk Foundation in partnership with the research company Gradus shows that financial costs and unequal access to infrastructure across regions are the primary barriers.

Tennis as a High-Cost Sport

According to the research, 81% of parents consider tennis to be an expensive sport for regular participation. The cost of training is the main reason many children drop out of the sport before achieving their first competitive results.

Financial pressure includes not only training fees, but also expenses related to equipment, court rental, travel to competitions, and tournament participation.

The Real Cost of Tennis for Families

The research data indicate that 59% of families spend more than UAH 12,000 per month on tennis training. In addition, 25% of parents report that annual expenses for tournaments can reach up to UAH 50,000.

For many families, these costs are prohibitive. As a result, the choice of sport is often determined by financial capacity rather than a child’s interest.

Access to Tennis for Children and Teenagers

The issue of accessibility affects both younger children and teenagers. According to the research survey, 79% of parents believe that tennis training is equally inaccessible for both age groups.

This suggests that barriers do not diminish with age and are not offset by increased motivation or skill level.

Unequal Access Across Cities and Regions

Access to tennis varies significantly depending on place of residence. In large cities, parents are more likely to find available clubs and coaches. In smaller towns and rural areas, tennis is either completely unavailable or financially out of reach for most families.

Most parents report a lack of tennis programs in their communities. The absence of training opportunities becomes a serious barrier even for highly motivated children.

Why the Problem Extends Beyond the Capital

The issue of tennis accessibility is not limited to Kyiv alone. In many regions of Ukraine, tennis is either not included in school and extracurricular programs or remains difficult to access due to the high cost of training.

This limits the geographic spread of youth tennis and reduces the number of children who can view tennis as a long-term opportunity.

Why Accessibility Matters

Access to training directly affects the development of tennis in Ukraine. Without systematic financial support, access programs, and infrastructure development, children’s interest does not translate into regular participation or athletic progress.

This is why accessibility is one of the key focus areas of the Marta Kostyuk Foundation.

Conclusions

The research shows that tennis in Ukraine remains financially challenging for most families. High training costs, a lack of regional programs, and unequal access to infrastructure create barriers for children who want to play tennis.