ASSOCIATED PRESS E Partner forDavis Cup Rakuten to BecomeGlobal PRO TENNIS ships, andwelookforward toworking ing ustoenterexciting newpartner- technologies fortheDavis Cup isallow- embracing innovation. new Adopting been aboutmaintainingtradition while Haggerty. “TheDavis Cuphasalways Rakuten,” says ITFPresidentDavid finals andqualifi ers. receive highvisibilityintheDavis Cup year extension. Rakutenisexpectedto 2019 and2020, withtheoption ofatwo- International Tennis Federation isfor ment partner.” Theagreement withthe Cup’s “globalinnovation andentertain- Cup by Rakuten. The competition willberenamedDavis www.tennisindustrymag.com “We aredelightedtowelcome Rakuten alsobecomestheDavis Industry partner forDavis Cup. new globalpresenting company Rakutenisthe tions andfi nancial tech -commerce, communica- Information tohelpyou runyour business ATP RakutenJapan Opensince2009. also hasbeenthetitlesponsor ofthe Basketball Association.Thecompany Golden StateWarriors andtheNational powers suchasFC Barcelona,the sharing forsupporters. of onlinecommunicationsandcontent- Plans includeopeningupnewavenues aimed atenhancingthefanexperience. through digitalando ine activations bring globalinnovation totheDavis Cup and membershiployalty programsto experience andexpertiseine-commerce wide, Rakutensays its itwillleverage in newanddiverse ways.” with Rakutentoreachaglobalaudience Rakuten has partnerships with sports Rakuten haspartnershipswith sports With over 1.2billionmembersworld- News says thecompany. Visitdunlopsports.com. work withsquashandbadmintonframes, precise measurements, are portableandalso ($1,000) andBalanceBoard ($50)enable speeds; andpre-stretch function. trol; table-topcompatibility;multiplepull sion metalbrake withautoormanualcon- clamp baseswitheasy-pushbuttons; preci- tures include:premium, non-slipclamps; to accommodatetwotooltrays. Otherfea- badminton racquets. It’s alsowideenough handle anysizeframe, includingsquashand or Diablogrippingsystem.Themachinecan company, includingeitheraLinearGripper easier, fasterandmore convenient,saysthe offers several features that make stringing Board. Swingweight MachineandDunlopBalance lop StringingMachine2.0(above),Dunlop designed forracquet technicians:theDun- Craig Jones, Rosemary Owinoandother Stacy, David Bailey, Dr. TimothyRussell, Jorge Capestany, Dr. MarkKovacs, Jason Paul Lubbers, Patricia Hy, Pat Harrison, Shriver, Paul Annacone,Lynne Rolley, Kathy Rinaldi,SamanthaEttus, Pam include BillieJean King,KatrinaAdams, Arthur AsheKids’DayonAug.24). (where manyattendees willbehelpingat Billie Jean KingNationalTennis Center in NewYork, ashortdrive from theUSTA will beattheMarriott LaGuardia Hotel the startofUSOpen.Theconference held onAug.23-25, theweekend before Machine, OtherServiceProducts Dunlop Introduces NewStringing For Aug.23-25inN.Y. WTCA Conference Set TheWTCA Conference NY2019willbe Dunlop introduced atrioofnew products Dunlop’s newSwingweightMachine The newstringingmachine($6,000) Speakers attheWTCA conference will
August 2019 IndustryNews TennisIndustry
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industry experts. For more informa- tennis category manager. “Players need to and a joint women’s initiative. tion and to register for the third trust that their racquet will provide the nec- USPTA Florida will continue to annual WTCA Conference, visit essary feel, stability and responsiveness to support USTA Florida tennis programs wtcatennis.org. meet their expectations—to be the perfect and initiatives, including four new extension of their arm. For this new genera- growth priorities: adaptive, adult Babolat Launches New tion, we wanted to keep what they appreci- beginner, family play and after-school. Pure Strike Frames ated while improving the feel and The addition of these priorities is responsiveness to create a racquet that significant in that it marks a com- control players will love even more.” mitment from both organizations to Racquets in the new line include the grow tennis at the community and 100-square-inch, 10.1-ounce, Pure grassroots level—and not just through Strike Team ($209 suggested retail) and established USTA programs. 100-square-inch, 10.6-ounce Pure Strike 100 The organizations also have ($219), both with a 16 x 19 string pattern. committed resources to a new Visit babolat.com for more information. “Pro-Women” initiative, designed to help more women become teaching USTA Florida, USPTA Florida professionals and serve as leaders in the organization. Dominic Thiem uses the new Pure Strike. Re-Sign Collaboration Pact The boards of directors of the USTA “There is no question that having a Babolat has introduced the new Pure Florida Section and USPTA Florida strong partnership with USPTA Florida Strike racquet, which was used by French recently signed their fourth consecutive and its certified tennis professionals Open finalist Dominic Thiem. two-year collaboration agreement. is absolutely critical to growing the “Today’s avid competitors want to take First signed in 2013, the renewed game of tennis,” says USTA Florida big swings with precision, so ball feel at agreement expands on the existing part- President Clark Higgs. “Our board is impact is key,” says Alex Israel, Babolat nership, adding new growth priorities excited to extend this agreement, and we look forward to working closely with USPTA Florida to advance our key growth priorities.”
12th Annual TIA Tennis Forum Set for Aug. 26 in New York
TENNIS FORUM 2019 NYC
The 12th Annual TIA Tennis Forum will be held on Monday, Aug. 26, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on the Ballroom Level of the Grand Hyatt New York City. TIA Tennis Forum will present the latest news about the state of the tennis indus- try, including participation, marketplace trends, grassroots initiatives, updates from TIA, ITF and USTA leadership, and additional information. Also joining this year’s event will be Andrew LaFiosca of Nielsen Sports, who will share player and consumer insights, and Tom Cove, executive director of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, with insights on sports and fitness trends.
A new feature at this year’s forum is the PRESS ASSOCIATED BABOLAT, COURTESY
8 TennisIndustry August 2019 www.tennisindustrymag.com IndustryNews
“Discovery Challenge,” an online compe- PRO TENNIS tition designed to showcase innovation and solutions around a problem facing Oracle Challenger Series the tennis industry—in this case the “retention of tennis players.” The chal- Brings Tennis Back lenge will be moderated by Carlos Salum, president of Salum International to New Haven Resources. He will be joined by Lena Belogolova, a behavioral science expert and former Facebook manager. The he Oracle Challenger Series Discovery Challenge is designed to be announced that the first an interactive and solutions-producing event of the 2019-2020 session with a panel of experts. T Series will be in New Haven, Conn., Immediately following the Tennis at the Yale Tennis Center Sept. Forum and Discovery Challenge, there 2-8. The event also will feature the will be a short induction ceremony to Oracle Champions Cup, a one-night honor the 2019 inductees into the Tennis men’s legends Invesco Series QQQ Industry Hall of Fame. event headlined by Connecticut While the Tennis Forum, Discovery native James Blake. Challenge and Hall of Fame induction are Now in its third year, the Oracle free to attend for those in the industry, Challenger Series aims to help space is limited, so registration for the up-and-coming American players James Blake event is required. secure ranking points and prize will return to the Yale Tennis Visit TennisIndustry.org/forum for money, leading to wild cards into the Center for a registration and more information. BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. legends event.
www.tennisindustrymag.com August 2019 TennisIndustry 9 IndustryNews
Ashaway's new badminton strings also come with a Worcester Named President family of accessories. Of Universal Tennis Anne Worcester, former WTA CEO and Connecticut Open tournament director, has joined Universal Tennis as and performance, says the company. president. The two TX strings, the 68 TX and In her new role, Worcester will the 64 TX, both include a proprietary oversee the growth and development textured surface coating to enhance of UTR worldwide. Her focus also will RACQUET SPORTS feel and control of the shuttle. They include increasing grassroots efforts also utilize Ashaway’s proprietary to connect communities to the sport BETA polymer fibers and are con- and fostering diverse partnerships Ashaway structed using the company’s special within the tennis ecosystem to build ZyWeaVe string core technology. participation on the platform. Off ers New Ashaway says these features allow the “What drew me to Universal Tennis ZyMax TX string family to offer excel- is its digitally savvy approach to make TX Badminton lent elasticity and dynamic stiffness tennis more affordable, accessible for maximum shuttle speed, as well as and fun for all players,” says Worces- Strings optimum power and durability. ter. “Level-based play helps to break ZyMax 68 TX and ZyMax 64 TX down some of the biggest barriers to shaway’s ZyMax TX family of measure 0.68 and 0.64 mm (21 and 22 our sport, so that it’s not about age, badminton strings combines a gauge) respectively and are available in gender, where you play or how much trio of proprietary features to white, orange and optic yellow in both you can afford.” A “Anne has an exceptional career in provide both amateur and professional sets and reels. For more information, players with a new level of playability visit ashawayusa.com. tennis, marked by her commitment to improving the game for players and serving as a champion for tennis worldwide. Her dedication to the betterment and growth of the sport is unparalleled,” says Mark Leschly, Universal Tennis chairman and CEO.
2020 Racquet & Paddle Sports Show Set for Jan. 21-24 in Fla.
The 2nd Annual Racquet & Paddle Sports Show will be Jan. 21-24 at the Or- ange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., featuring product, dem- os, exhibits and education. A Demo Day will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, which will be followed by exhib- its, seminars and presentations on Jan. 22-24. There will be courts set up inside the convention center to try new products and view demonstrations from top industry experts and pros. The Racquet & Paddle Sports Show (RAPS) will again be co-located with the PGA Merchandise Show. The TIA is work- ing with Reed Exhibitions, which puts on the PGA Show, to produce RAPS. Visit
racquetpaddlesportsshow.com. ASHAWAY COURTESY
10 TennisIndustry August 2019 www.tennisindustrymag.com IndustryNews
Wilson Introduces Three Nominations Announced board will be elected to four-year terms, New Clash Racquet Models For ITF President, Board from 2019 to 2023. The ITF has announced official nomina- The nominations for president are: tions for the elections of the ITF president incumbent David Haggerty (U.S.), Ivo and board of directors, to be held on Sept. Kaderka (Czech Republic), Anil Khanna 27 at the ITF’s Annual General Meeting in (India) and David Miley (Ireland). Nomi- Lisbon, Portugal. nated to the board of directors is Katrina The president and 14 members of the Adams (U.S.), the former USTA president.
Clash frames have been popular buys. Earlier this year, Wilson intro- duced the Clash racquet collec- tion, frames which the company says are “the first to be designed for the modern tennis swing by flexing, without compromising stability or power.” Three new Clash racquets are available now: the Clash 98 (sug- gested retail $249), the Clash 100L ($229) and the Clash 108 ($229). Visit wilson.com for more.
PTR Launches UTR Event Certification Level 1 In May, the Professional Tennis Registry and Universal Tennis (UTR) launched the Event Certification Level 1 course, a live online class that will be held every month. Participants will receive train- ing on how to set up and run both UTR and Verified UTR events, and will learn how to use UTR’s fully integrated tournament and event management platform to run flexible formats, take registrations and pay- ments, create draws, post scores and manage events. Part of the PTR edu- cation pathway, the course includes written and practical assessments for certification, along with continuing education credits. “The launch of the Event Certifica- tion Level 1 course is a key resource for coaches organizing UTR events,” says PTR COO Brian Parkkonen. “This will ensure PTR coaches have the ability and confidence to run the most effec- tive UTR events possible. The more ef- ficient the event, the better the overall player experience, which ensures continued participation and competi-
COURTESY WILSON COURTESY tive growth.” Visit ptrtennis.org.
www.tennisindustrymag.com August 2019 TennisIndustry 11 IndustryNews
Laver Cup, ATP Join Forces Short Sets
The Davis Cup Madrid Finals will be TGA Premier Sports announces the held on Nov. 18-24. The 18 teams com- launch of a new Premier Tennis franchise peting for the Cup are Argentina, Austra- in the Raleigh, N.C..area. Sam Mahesh- lia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, wari, who recently worked as a coach Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, with the USTA Mid-Atlantic Section in Team Europe won the Laver Cup in 2018. Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Loudoun and Prince William counties Russia, Serbia, Spain and the U.S. in Northern Virginia, has relocated near The Laver Cup and the ATP announced North Carolina’s Research Triangle and an agreement that will make the annual A “pop-up” padel club will be open opened the new TGA franchise. men's team event—which pits Europe through October in the Manayunk against a team of players from the rest neighborhood of Philadelphia. Called Tourna, known for high-performance of the world—an offi cial part of the ATP “Padelphia,” it features two state-of-the- grips, now has a line of pickleball-specifi c Tour calendar. The agreement gives the art padel courts, a pro shop and viewing accessories, including USAPA-approved event, now approaching its third com- petition in Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. area. Visitors of all abilities are welcome indoor and outdoor Tourna Strike pickle- 20-22, access to ATP services, such as to try the sport. For more information, balls, along with portable and permanent marketing and social media, along with contact Scott Grote, president of All pickleball nets. Visit uniquesports.com operational personnel such as offi cials. Racquet Courts USA, at sgrote@allrac- or contact [email protected], or call “The Laver Cup team is incredibly quetcourts.com, or call 717-468-4567. 770-442-1977 for more information. excited. It has always been our hope to build the Laver Cup in partnership with the tennis world, and certifi cation by the ATP after only two editions is an overwhelming validation of our vision,” says Tony Godsick, president and CEO of TEAM8, and chairman of the Laver Cup.
USTA Signs U.N. Sports for Climate Action Framework The USTA, which has been a leader in the sports industry when it comes to environmental sustainability through its US Open Green Initiative, has signed the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action Framework. The USTA joins a group of international sports organiza- tions that have committed to drive cli- mate awareness and action in support of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. The Framework’s two main objec- tives are to promote a set of principles for the global sports community to LOVE LOVE adopt in order to combat climate change and to use sports as a unifying Club members and students will LOVE facing tool to drive climate awareness and off against the phenom. You will LOVE action among global citizens. offering the added advantage. USRSA Certifi es Master Racquet Technicians ® • Luca Alifredi, Torino, Italy • Francesco Castelletti, Ascoli Piceno, ® follow lobstersports on play more. win more. Italy For more information, please call or visit www.lobstersports.com 888.380.9460 • Ryan Lisenko, Camden, N.Y. PRESS ASSOCIATED
12 TennisIndustry August 2019 www.tennisindustrymag.com IndustryNews
TENNIS ON TV Tennis Channel Sees 42% More Viewers during 2019 French Open
Tennis Channel’s 15-day live coverage of this year’s French Open averaged 266,000 viewers, according to Nielsen. Compared with 187,000 viewers on average in 2018, the network saw a 42 percent increase in audiences watching its live telecasts. Tournament coverage led to live tune-in growth across key demograph- Tennis Channel's live French ics for Tennis Channel: 35 percent Open telecasts saw an increase increases in adults 18-49; 41 percent to 266,000 average viewers. increases in adults 25-54; and 55 per- cent increases in adults 35-64. eight of the network’s 10 highest-rated Plus, than any time in the subscription Rare for the broadcast industry, the matches in its history aired during this platform’s five-year history. With a network’s areas of demographic growth year’s French Open broadcast. record number of up to 12 live courts are growing by higher percentages than The French Open also generated per day, Tennis Channel Plus took in its household gains this year, driven more revenue for Tennis Channel’s more than $1 million in subscriber rev- by younger audiences. Additionally, streaming service, Tennis Channel enue, a 25 percent increase vs. 2018.
People Watch
USTA New England inducted three held Aug. 23-25 in New York City. The ITA Beau Fieldsend is the USTA’s new members into its Hall of Fame in June: Jeff will also donate $1,000 to the Duquesne Manager for Strategic and Section Infra- Bearup of Natick, Mass., Lesley Sheehan University men’s tennis program. structure. He joined the USTA in 2016. of Stoneham, Mass., and George Ulrich of East Lyme, Conn. Also honored were University of Georgia sophomore Head/Penn racquetball pros Jake Ken and Dorcas Miller of Concord, Mass., Katarina Jokic and Mississippi State Bredenbeck of Minnesota and Kelani Bai- with the Irving Levine Award, and Alberto University senior Nuno Broges are the ley Lawrence of Virginia are the 2019 USA Garcia of Chestnut Hill, Mass., with the 2019 ITA NCAA Division I National Play- Racquetball National Singles Champions. Gardner Ward Chase Memorial Award. ers of the Year. Both finished atop their respective Oracle/ITA National Rankings. University of Redlands Head Coach Duquesne University senior men’s Geoff Roche is the ITA/Wilson Division III tennis player Andrew Akins has been USTA Player Development has hired West Region Men's Coach of the Year. selected as the 2019 recipient of the Andy Gerst as a national coach for Intercollegiate Tennis Association Ann women’s tennis. He will be based out of Two-time French Open champion Jim Lebedeff Leadership Award endowed by the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Courier received his International Tennis Billie Jean King. Akins will be honored dur- Fla., and report to Kathy Rinaldi, head of Hall of Fame ring during the 2019 Roland ing the ITA Leadership Awards Weekend, Women’s Tennis. Garros tournament in June. ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED
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