Social media plays an integral role in promoting and elevating sports, more so in the current digital age. Although tennis is an individual sport, players tend to use social media platforms like Instagram to stay connected with die-hard fans and share regular updates of their day-to-day lives outside the court. This enables them to feel part of a group setup.
Engaging with the wider tennis community is also a way in which tennis stars can build their brand and become ambassadors not just for the sport but also for their sponsors in this ever-changing world of data and technology. In 2024, at least ten active players have attained two million followers on Meta’s popular social media platform Instagram, but who are they?
Top 10 Most Followed Active Tennis Players on Instagram in 2024
#1. Rafael Nadal (21 million)
Top of the list is 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. The decorated Spaniard became the first tennis player, active or retired, to cross the 20 million mark last September. And it barely even took him a full year to add another one million tennis enthusiasts to his legion of followers as of April 2024.
#2. Novak Djokovic (14.4 million)
A man who trails Nadal very closely is long-time rival Novak Djokovic. The Serbian star has amassed 14.4 million followers on the platform. Despite playing second fiddle to Nadal and retired legend Roger Federer for most of his career when it comes to fanfare, Djokovic is overwhelmingly popular on Instagram thanks to his record-setting runs in Masters and Grand Slams.
#3. Carlos Alcaraz (4.6 million)
Carlos Alcaraz takes third spot on the list and is nearing the 5 million mark—a number that he should easily surpass before the end of the year. Alcaraz rose to fame in 2022 when he became the youngest World No. 1 in ATP history following his maiden Grand Slam success at the US Open. But it was his stunning five-set win over Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final that saw his stock skyrocket.
#4. Nick Kyrgios (4.2 million)
A polarizing figure and a man who is no stranger to speaking his mind out—that is Nick Kyrgios. Despite his growing reputation for making regular thought-provoking remarks, Kyrgios proudly boasts his social media following. Currently on an injury hiatus, Kyrgios is one of only four active players with at least 4 million followers.
#5. Naomi Osaka (2.7 million)
Naomi Osaka has won four Grand Slams and recently rejoined the tour after becoming a mother for the first time. The Japanese woman is only 26 but has conquered some major milestones in her short career. Aside from scooping four majors, she remains the only Asian player to top the world rankings in singles.
#6. Emma Raducanu (2.4 million)
Trailing Osaka by a few hundreds of thousands of followers is British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu. Like most players on this list who each have some sort of unique record, Raducanu’s might be the most impressive. She won her first and thus far only Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open as a qualifier and without dropping a set – a feat that has not been achieved before in tennis history.
#7. Jannik Sinner (2.4 million)
Jannik Sinner is the hottest player on tour in 2024, and his groundbreaking success has translated into a soaring number of Instagram followers. Last November, Sinner almost singlehandedly guided Italy to their first Davis Cup title in almost half a century. In January, he became the first Italian man or woman to win the Australian Open. During that historic run, he defeated then-defending champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
#8. Eugenie Bouchard (2.3 million)
She may not be active on the tennis circuit right now, but Eugenie Bouchard has not formally retired from tennis. Bouchard last played on the women’s tour last September before deciding to switch to pickleball. She even played her first professional paddle sport tournament in January. Bouchard’s meteoric rise during her early 20s earned her a growing number of sponsorships. Her glamorous lifestyle has enabled her to become one of the most followed WTA players on Instagram.
#9. Venus Williams (2 million)
Venus Williams will turn 44 in June and recently kickstarted her journey of playing for a remarkable 31st season on the WTA tour. The evergreen American has 2 million followers on Instagram and is very active on the platform, sharing announcements of brand deals, tennis drills, and fashion.
#10. Andy Murray (2 million)
Andy Murray’s days as a professional tennis player are numbered, but the former World No. 1 is looking for a fitting farewell, potentially at this year’s Olympics. The two-time gold medalist rounds up this list with multi-million followers on Instagram.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
