Match-Making for Tennis Players
Connecting tennis players in rewarding match play experiences through market and user research.
My Role
Lead Product Designer
Research, Wireframes, Usability Testing, Visual Design
Timeline
Aug - Dec 2021, 4 months
Technology
Adobe XD
Miro
Overview
As a tennis player myself, I often found it difficult to find similar players and schedule matches. Most online services felt unreliable or complicated, making it hard to enjoy spontaneous and competitive play.
For my Senior Thesis, I designed a concept that makes it easier for players to connect and commit to matches, focusing on higher accountability and a more rewarding tennis experience.
1
The Discovery
The Problem Space
Tennis has grown in popularity, but current methods of getting playing time such as lessons or clinics can be expensive and involve commitment. Additionally, online meetup services often fail to provide players with a successful connection experience.
I researched interfaces, features, and feedback of player-finding apps to understand the current landscape. A few themes quickly emerged:
Poor Accountability
Users reported inactive players, no-shows, and unreliable scheduling, which broke trust in the experience.
Feature Overload
Services often bundled social feeds, private lessons, and coaching services that players weren't engaging with.
Reimagining the Journey
This research pointed to a need for something much simpler – a platform focused strictly on helping tennis players find each other, confirm interest, and show up to play.
I mapped out a new player experience, from browsing nearby players to post-match engagement. Each step was designed to prioritize simplicity, commitment, and flexibility.
Streamline Discovery
Make it simple for players to find matches and players – focus on features that support match play.
Encourage Commitment
Build in steps that improve accountability and help players follow through.
Find Players
Users can explore profiles of nearby tennis players and send match requests.
Find Matches
Users can join nearby matches or create their own, increasing opportunities for spontaneous play.
Match Confirmation
Players are required to confirm availability before a match – unconfirmed matches are canceled.
Boost Score
Players can increase their in-app score by optionally submitting match results or simply by playing matches.
2
Testing & Validation
Information Architecture
I created a high-level navigation diagram to visualize how users would move through the system and define what needed to be built.
Feedback from Players
I surveyed 20 tennis players about my app concept, from professionals to casual players on campus, which revealed one crucial insight.
Key Discovery
Tennis players preferred connecting with others directly instead of joining matches.
3
Design Iteration
A Quick Pivot
This feedback led to a major design shift. I replaced the 'Find Matches' feature with an 'Interested' or 'Not Interested' interaction on player's profiles.
If both players match, then they can setup a game. This new flow was quicker, more familiar, and better aligned with user's goals.
Old User Flow
New User Flow
Low-Fidelity Design
I translated the features into low-fidelity wireframes in Figma, laying the foundation for the final interface.
4
Visual Design
Profiles That Prioritize Style & Play
Essential Info Only
Profiles highlight skill level and tennis experience to help users quickly evaluate a potential match.
Player Tags
During profile setup, users can choose tags such as Competitive, Looking to Rally, or Beginner-Friendly.
Reinforcing Accountability
Player Confirmation
Since no-shows were a top concern from research, both players must confirm availability before match time.
Mutual Accountability
Matches are cancelled if players don't confirm, creating a safeguard to promote a more reliable match culture.
Low-Pressure Gamification
In-App Rankings
Players can see leaderboards of other players nearby or that they’ve played with, encouraging friendly competition.
Your Score Your Way
Playing matches automatically increases score, while optionally submitting results offers extra points
5
The Results
Final Showcase
I presented this project at my Senior Thesis Exhibition, walking through the research, user feedback, and high-fidelity prototype.
By understanding player's frustrations and focusing on simplicity, I was able to transform an idea into something that reimagined how tennis players connect.
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