Formerly the American Tennis Industry Federation, the TIA traces its history to 1974 and is an affiliated organization with the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.

At the first Tennis Industry Association Forum held at the Super Show in February of 1993, the leadership of the TIA began to campaign for a unified industry-wide effort to build tennis participation. During the spring and summer of 1994, working together with the USTA, pilot programs geared at attracting new players were held in four U.S. cities. The pilot programs showed that by offering non-players a free tennis lesson followed by the USTA's ongoing introductory program called Play Tennis America (renamed USA Tennis 1-2-3 in 1998), new players could successfully be brought into our sport. During this same time research was conducted to poll attitudes about tennis, particularly with kids and young adults. The research indicated the need to change the way youth perceives our sport.

On September 3, 1994, at a TIA Board Meeting held during the US Open, representatives from most of the major tennis companies and organizations pledged to launch the "Initiative to Grow the Game." The focus of this initiative was two-fold: (1) increase tennis participation by introducing new players to tennis through free tennis lessons and Play Tennis America and (2) change the way tennis is perceived, particularly with youth, through an image campaign.

In the Spring of 1995, the TIA's Free Lesson Blitz program began in 25 cities. That same summer, our Image Campaign kicked off in 4 communities. Funding for these activities came from the major racquet, ball and string companies through an assessment program on their product sales. In addition TIA received contributions from the USTA, SGMA and other tennis companies and organizations. Since 1995, these participating partners have invested over $17 million dollars in theTIA's grow the game activities.

The TIA's Initiative to Grow the Game served as a catalyst for the USTA to focus more on increasing tennis participation. In September of 1997, the USTA announced their plans for the USA Tennis Plan for Growth. This comprehensive 5 year plan to build the player base includes an additional investment from the USTA of over $31 million dollars between 1998-2002. The TIA is a partner with the USTA on the USA Tennis Plan for Growth. A key component of the Plan for Growth is the USA Tennis Pathway. This pathway was developed to provide new tennis players with local opportunities to: Try-Learn-Play and Compete.

In the fall of 2003, the TIA, USTA and industry leaders join together in a groundbreaking campaign to increase tennis participation through an image campaign and the website - tenniswelcomecenter.com where people can enter their zip codes, find a Tennis Welcome Center location near them and learn how to "play tennis fast". More than 3800 Tennis Welcome Centers have signed-up to offer introductory programs to new players with a focus on making committed players.