IndustryNews Industry News Information to help you run your business Pro Pickleball Tour Signs PROFESSIONAL TENNIS Data, Video Partnership Deal The Professional Pickleball Association US Open to Have 100 percent (PPA), the professional tour of the sport of pickleball for men and women, has Fan Capacity for Full Tourney announced a long-term partnership with Genius Sports, the official data, technolo- gy and commercial partner that connects sports, betting and media. The partner- ship will set the stage for regulated sports betting on PPA events for the first time in history. Genius Sports has been granted the exclusive rights to capture and distribute live data and video broadcasts from more than 1,200 PPA matches per year with its global network of over 150 sportsbook partners. Each PPA event will feature eight courts of live streaming action per day, via GeniusLive, offering unprece- dented broadcast coverage of pickleball. After 25 Years, Eliasch Steps Down as Head CEO Johan Eliasch has stepped down as CEO of Head to take on the position of president of the International Ski Federation (ISF). Eliasch has held the CEO position at HEAD since 1995, presiding over the transformation of the brand to a highly profitable sports equip- ment group with leading market shares in all its segments. he USTA announced in the pandemic were tough on us all, but “It has been a privilege to lead Head for June that fan capacity for our sport came together like never be- the last 25 years, but now it is time for a new the 2021 US Open will fore and tackled each challenge head on. challenge,” he says. “ISF has tremendous be at 100 percent for the Interest in tennis has accelerated, with potential, and my new role as president will two-week tournament, 4 million new and returning players be my focus. I leave Head in very capable and that all ticket categories for the 25 taking to the court last year. Our sport hands with an exceptionally strong manage- T sessions—from reserved stadium seating surged in the toughest of times, and this ment team.” to general admission grounds passes— year’s US Open promises to be an unfor- will be available. gettable celebration of the game, those Junior Wheelchair Tennis “We are extremely excited to be able who play it and those who revel in it.” Tournament Series Debuts to welcome our incredible fans back to The tournament will be held at the The USTA launched a new USTA Junior the US Open this year,” says USTA CEO USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Series, a Michael Dowse. “While we were proud Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., from group of eight nationally ranked tourna- that we were able to hold the event in Monday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, ments taking place across the country. 2020, we missed having our fans on-site, Sept. 12. The US Open will continue to The series started in June in Virginia and because we know they are a large part follow CDC Covid-related guidelines runs to December in Georgia. of what makes the US Open experience that are in effect. The focus of the series, the first-ever unlike any other. Tickets can be purchased by visiting unified structure of national junior wheel- SHUTTERSTOCK “Indeed, the challenges presented by USOpen.org and Ticketmaster. chair tennis events, is to provide junior www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com August 2021 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7 IndustryNews wheelchair players with level-based play and to encourage providers to expand tournament offerings for junior wheel- chair athletes. The eight tournaments are open to all junior wheelchair tennis play- ers. Some tournaments provide fi nancial support to cover entry fees and other expenses. Remaining tournaments in the series for this year include: • Aug. 13-15: Cincinnati Wheelchair Junior Tennis Open (Level 4), Ohio • Sept. 16-19: USTA Wheelchair Champi- onships (Level 1), St. Louis • Oct. 8-10: Alabama Open (Level 2), Tuscaloosa • Nov. 11-14: America Championships (Level 1), Locust Grove, Ga. YOUTH TENNIS • Dec. 10-12: Clocktower Indoor Classic (Level 3), Rome, Ga. USTA and PHIT America RSI & USRSA Seek Your Expertise As the offi cial publication of the U.S. Rac- Team Up to Get Kids Active quet Stringers Association, RSI magazine is seeking your expertise. “To inform our he USTA has partnered with kids’ fitness and mental health,” says members, tennis providers and the general PHIT America, a national PHIT America founder Jim Baugh. playing public of the latest in racquet, paddle T charity focused on improving “To date, we’ve introduced over half a and stringing technology and techniques, the physical and mental health of chil- million kids to regular physical activ- we always welcome USRSA member and dren in the U.S. by providing increased ity in schools through [our] programs. reader input,” says Bob Patterson, executive physical-activity programs. As part of Together with the USTA, we are build- director of the USRSA. the partnership, the USTA will be the ing new opportunities for the tennis “We’d love to hear your suggestions or presenting sponsor of the new PHIT pathway and getting kids active.” receive submissions for RSI articles such as America “Play Tennis” program, de- For schools with PHIT America’s Racquet Tech, Ask the Experts, Tips & Tech- signed to provide free tennis curricu- AMPED incentivized running/walk- niques, Your Serve and Letters to the Editor, lum and equipment to after-school and ing program, the Play Tennis program including ideas for longer stories, commen- out-of-school programs. introduces kids to the basics of tennis tary and features.” “We are excited to partner with the in a fun, personalized way. Schools To reach us, email [email protected] USTA to help increase our efforts at can apply for these free programs at or [email protected]. PHIT America on the importance of Tennis.PHITAmerica.org. Short Sets After a Covid hiatus last year, the PTR tennis team, develop a gender equity plan at center court. AEW CEO Tony Khan says $8,000 Wheelchair Tennis Championships and come into full compliance with Title IX he’s planning to hold a Grand Slam show returns to Hilton Head Island, S.C., Sept. to avoid a sex discrimination class action every year after the US Open. 24-26. This year, it will be a USTA Level for depriving female student-athletes of 2 National event and will feature play in equal opportunities and treatment in its Tennis Channel’s coverage of the 2021 Open, A, B,C, D and Quad divisions. The intercollegiate athletics program. French Open led to the most-watched tournament will resume its ITF Level II sta- match in network history. The men’s tus in 2022. PTR also is offering an Instruct- All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is going on singles semifi nal between Novak Djokovic ing Wheelchair Tennis Workshop. Contact tour across the U.S., and its “Dynamite: and Rafael Nadal on Friday, June 11, gen- 843-785-7244 or visit ptrtennis.org. Grand Slam” live show will be at Arthur erated 511,000 viewers on the channel, Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King surpassing the 2019 Australian Open con- The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, National Tennis Center in Queens, N.Y. on test between Roger Federer and Taylor Minn., has agreed to reinstate its women's Sept. 22. The wrestling ring will be placed Fritz, which led with 448,000 viewers. SHUTTERSTOCK 8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY August 2021 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com BAB_ap-JetMach3_TennisIndustry.indd 3 26/01/2021 14:38 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com BAB_ap-JetMach3_TennisIndustry.indd 3 26/01/2021 14:38 IndustryNews USTA Mid-Atlantic Teams With Topcourt for E-Learning The USTA Mid-Atlantic Section has named TopCourt its official e-learning platform and will offer 14-day free trials of TopCourt to the region’s fans, players and USTA members. TopCourt provides access to the lives, minds and training techniques of the world’s best tennis players and coaches. “USTA Mid-Atlantic prioritizes increasing access to tennis and helping players of all ages, abilities and back- grounds get into and stay in the sport,” says Beth Twomey, COO for the section. “With TopCourt, we can give people FACILITIES the opportunity to learn tennis skills or develop new ones from the very best experts that normally wouldn't be avail- Better Bubble Can Keep able to the average player. Its digital delivery makes it easily accessible and Play Going Year-Round convenient.” As part of the collaboration, TopCourt etter Bubble is a new existing court and then inflated to will donate one-year paid subscriptions state-of-the-art system provide column-free indoor space. to recipients of the USTA Mid-Atlantic Ju- that can be placed over The Better Bubble system comes nior Player Scholarship program, which any tennis or pickleball with the air-supported dome enclo- helps players at any level pay for tennis- court to keep play going sure, heating system, LED lighting, related expenses. Scholarship awardees Byear-round. The system, available in doors and more. For more informa- can use TopCourt to help develop their different sizes to cover one or more tion, visit BetterBubble.com or email tennis skills and gain inspiration from courts, is anchored directly to the [email protected]. professionals and legendary coaches. People Watch John Callen, currently the longest serv- Americas general manager. Grange, chief executive in IHRSA’s 40-year history. ing USTA section executive director, an- who was most recently vice president of nounced he will retire, effective Jan.