In case you missed it, here is an article at On the Baseline about what the WTA Tour can do to to improve the popularity of tennis (as a spectator sport). For the most part, I agree, especially with the suggestion to make sure the top players compete i…

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That said onto what can be done.

The “sex” thing.
I’ll say physical attraction. I think the thing is to combine a focus on both skills and appeal. I think it fair to say that many woman NFL fans have fav players that they find sexy. Actually traditionally in many quarters athletic women are often considered anti-sexy. The trad sexist view is that it’s men who are supposed to have buff, in-shape bodies and be hardcore athletes. Think about it – a muscular woman who is 6’2″, plays to ******* and grunts more than any man is considered sexy? I think that’s great. What I don’t think helps is the focus on it outside of an athletic context. E.g. The evening gown/pumps stuff.

Beyond that I think what would make a difference is camera use. The way matches are televised doesn’t use angles and perspectives that maximize the action. And as much as people complain about the aforementioned grunting, it adds sound effects that heighten the sense of action.