Grand Slam Transformation New and Improved USTA National Tennis Center Sets the Standard Plus: New Apparel and Shoes for Fall

Home , Donnay (sports), Gene Scott (tennis), Margaret Scriven, Tecnifibre, Tennis technology, Yvon Petra

Executive Point Racquet Tech Tennis Industry Hall of Fame CRAIG MORRIS Tips to deal with Industry honors looks to focus on SHARED-HOLE GENE SCOTT, tennis ‘consumers’ string patterns EVE KRAFT

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 / VOLUME 44 / NUMBER 9 / $5.00 Grand Slam Transformation New and improved USTA National Tennis Center sets the standard Plus: New Apparel and Shoes for Fall

09_TI_COVER.indd 1 7/22/16 10:05 AM ads.indd 1 4/29/16 12:43 PM Stars_Stripes_Net_News_Print_Ad_8.125x10.875v3paths.indd 1 6/6/16 9:08 AM Te nnisIndustry www.tennisindustrymag.com SEPT/OCT 2016

DEPARTMENTS p.28 4 Our Serve 6 Letters to the Editor 9 Industry News 16 TIA News 18 Racquet Tech 20 Retailing Tip 22 Grassroots Tennis 24 Executive Point: Craig Morris 26 Tennis Industry Hall of Fame 36 Ask the Experts 38 String Playtest: Ytex Square-X 40 Your Serve, by Ed McGrogan

INDUSTRY NEWS COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF USTA 9 USTA names 2016 Facility Award winners p.32 FEATURES 9 ITHOF enshrines Henin, Saﬁ n 9 USPTA World Conference set for 28 A Grand Slam Indian Wells Transformation 10 US Open offers richest purse in tennis history With the expansion and renovation of the 10 Cahill, Annacone join PlaySight USTA’s National Tennis Center, the US Open coaching team now has a home that is unrivaled in the world. 10 USTA Foundation distributes $100,000 in grants 32 Fashion Fallout 12 Renner Sports Surfaces renovates Colorado park Bold colors, comfortable blends: New 13 Short Sets tenniswear to help players look their best. Peoplewatch 14 p.34 14 USRSA seeks associate director 34 Stepping Out 15 TennisTrunk.com offers tennis The US Open is a chance for manufacturers to essentials monthly build their brands with new shoes for fall.

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OFFICIAL PLAYING SURFACE OF THE CITI OPEN® TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Citi Open is a registered service mark of Citigroup Inc. PUBLISHER Our Serve JEFF WILLIAMS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PETER FRANCESCONI

MANAGING EDITOR SCOTT GRAMLING

CREATIVE DIRECTOR IAN KNOWLES

SENIOR EDITOR ED M GROGAN

ART DIRECTOR CRHISTIAN RODRIGUEZ

Stating the PRODUCTION EDITOR SAM CHASE

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR Case for Tennis BOB PATTERSON CONTRIBUTING EDITORS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, I GET AN sta devoted to advocacy, and with the ROBIN BATEMAN, CYNTHIA CANTRELL, email or a call from someone looking Advocacy Committee itself. PEG CONNOR, KENT OSWALD, CYNTHIA for information they can use to help For those of us committed to grow- SHERMAN, MARY HELEN SPRECHER them make the case for tennis. ing the game, advocacy is what it’s all CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Often it’s a person from a Commu- about. It’s time we brought this impor- BOB KENAS, DAVID KENAS nity Tennis Association, park and rec tant group back. association, school district or other While the Tennis Industry Associa- WEBMASTER community group hoping to get data or tion and di erent USTA committees GREG RAVEN research they can present to local and departments all contribute to “ad- ASSOCIATE EDITOR o cials or boards on the need for ten- vocacy” in their own ways, the fact is, TIM M ARTHUR nis courts, facility renovations, tennis we could benefi t from more coordina- sta or programming. Or it might be tion, and less duplication of e ort. We EDITORIAL DIRECTION 10TEN MEDIA a tennis director at a country club or should be developing easily accessible commercial facility who has to report tools and resources to help state the TENNIS INDUSTRY to his or her board or management. case for tennis that everyone involved 48 W 21st St., New York, NY 10010 Even teaching pros and retailers have in this sport can use. 646-783-1450 been in touch about fi nding resources Lobbying for tennis on Capitol Hill [email protected] that can help not only their businesses, is important, but right now, we need but also help to grow the game. to focus on providing the right tools, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR The common thread, of course, is resources and research to help advo- JOHN HANNA that all these groups are looking for cate for tennis in local communities— 770-650-1102, x.125 [email protected] ways to ensure tennis remains vital in to get the two courts built in the small their communities. town, to resurface school courts, to get APPAREL ADVERTISING A lot of our colleagues in this racquets into the hands of kids, to get CYNTHIA SHERMAN industry—whether you earn your living funding for a local tennis league. 203-558-5911 from tennis or are a volunteer—can We need to make everyone in this [email protected] use information and guidance when it sport an advocate for tennis. comes to growing this sport at the local Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year: monthly, January through August with combined level. Who should you approach? What issues in September/October and November/ should your “pitch” be? What numbers December, by Tennis Media Company, 48 W 21st St., New York, NY 10010. Periodical postage paid in can you use to “state the case” for ten- Duluth, GA and at additional mailing offi ces (USPS nis? How can you show how important #004-354). Sept/Oct 2016, Volume 44, Number 9 © 2016 by Tennis Media Company. All rights reserved. tennis is to a community? Tennis Industry, TI and logo are trademarks of Many years ago, I attended the fi rst Tennis Media Company. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation meeting of a Tennis Advocacy Task and editorial: 646-783-1450. Yearly subscriptions Force that the USTA put together. That Peter Francesconi $25 in the U.S., $40+ elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send turned into the USTA Advocacy Com- address changes to Tennis Industry, 48 W 21st St., Editorial Director New York, NY 10010. Tennis Industry is the offi cial mittee, which worked to state the case [email protected] magazine of the USRSA, TIA and ASBA. for tennis in ways that ranged from Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/Racquet local advocacy to lobbying in Wash- Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our website ington, D.C. In 2013, rather abruptly at TennisIndustryMag.com for free digital versions. and for reasons that were never really made clear, the USTA did away with its

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09_TI_OurServe_FINAL.indd 2 7/22/16 10:47 AM “TENNIS HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE PLAYSIGHT BEFORE”

Darren Cahill Coach of Simona Halep, former coach of Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt

playsight.com

PS Tennis Industry-CAHILL-JAN2016.indd 1 2016-06-24 1:41 PM Letters

I believe people aged 50-plus are trying to take better care of themselves as they approach retirement. Modified tennis (using shorter courts and racquets, and low-compression balls) is the perfect sport for new players, former players, players with injuries and families. It’s accessible, affordable, fun, social, time-friendly, much more attractive to new players and allows former players to keep competing. It’s all about Red, Orange and Green balls—they’re the new “yellow” when it comes to getting people of all ages into this great sport! I can't wait to hear what some of my longtime colleagues have to say about this, especially those who are still questioning why we modified 10 and Under Tennis. On a separate point, I was surprised to see in recent TIA research (“2016 State of the Industry”) that African-American tennis players made up only 10 percent of all “core” players. We are making inroads in Hispanic participation, but given the many recent African-American tennis stars, I feel that percentage should be much higher. Bill Ozaki Hooking the Director of Programs & Player Development 50-Plus Market USTA Southern

I really related to “Fishing in Profit- The “Our Serve” column in the market might result in more able Waters” and couldn’t agree more. It July issue, “Fishing in Profit- widespread tennis play and brought to mind work being done by USTA able Waters,” really hits home. increased social presence, New England’s Maine Tennis Service Rep, While the 10 and Under Ten- which is very important to the Eric Driscoll, developing a play method nis initiative has proven to be a baby-boomer market. that fits everyone, anywhere and anytime. We just need to give these programs bet- Denny Schackter great investment by the USTA, ter marketing to get them out there and growing adult tennis partici- Tennis Priorities Co. offered as an alternative to yellow-ball, pation has been challenging. full-court tennis. Short-court forms of racquet Once again, Pete Francesconi gently Maine has several successful pilots in sports, such as pickleball and points us in the right directions: Continue the works; we just need visibility! Who do platform tennis, have been youth promotions and increase promo- we recruit? Is there a USTA database of tions for the 50-plus market! 50-plus players, or families, that we can experiencing faster rates of With few exceptions, most parents and unlock so we can offer them an opportu- growth throughout the country. children seem to really enjoy competitive nity to try out our programs? My view is that both of these tennis, especially at higher skill levels. We Ron Friedman short-court games have an all want this for more children, but we will Maine Tennis Association intrinsic social value that have to decide if it’s worth the effort and money required to provide such to less tennis is not providing to the financially fortunate families due to the We welcome your letters and opinions. same degree. As you say, more inherent high cost of training and travel Please email comments to

marketing work on the 50-plus involved with competitive tennis. [email protected] • SHUTTERSTOCK

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Tennis Hall of Fame USTA Names Winners Enshrines Four The International Tennis Hall of Fame of 2016 Facility Awards in Newport, R.I., inducted its 2016 class on July 16. Enshrined in the “Recent Player” category are Justine Henin of Belgium and Marat Safin of Russia. Enshrined in the “Master Player” category are the late Yvon Petra of France and Margaret Scriven of England. Also honored this year was Amelie Mau- resmo of France, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015 but was unable to attend the enshrinement ceremony due to the birth of her son. USPTA World Conference Set for Indian Wells

he Candy Erickson Tennis Center be a private or commercially owned and in Park City, Utah, has been named operated facility that offers both USTA Tthe USTA’s 2016 Featured Facility, and public programming designed to help the organization’s highest facility award. grow tennis. Other 2016 USTA Facility The tennis center will be honored at the Awards Program winners are: The USPTA World Conference will USTA Semi-Annual Meeting in September. be held on Sept. 25-29 at the Hyatt Opened in 2011, the Candy Erickson cen- • Public Courts—Small Tennis Centers Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa ter (above) is part of the $11.25 million Park (2 to 10 courts): San Sebastian Tennis in California. This year, the Buying City Municipal Athletic Recreation Center, Courts, San Sebastian, Puerto Rico Show will be held at the start of the which is home to Park City’s Recreation and conference, on Monday, Sept. 26, Tennis Departments. The 11-court indoor/ • Public Courts—Large Tennis Centers from 5 to 10 p.m. The Awards Lunch outdoor facility includes a pro shop and (11 or more courts): Cherry Hill (N.J.) will be held on Sept. 27. other amenities. Park City tennis currently Health & Racquet Club; Cooper Tennis Presenters will include Hank has six full-time certified pros and 14 part- Complex, Springfield, Mo.; Henry L. Pfister, Paula Scheb, Stan Oley, Jeff time pros. The center also is home for the McMullen Tennis Complex, Clearwater, Salzenstein, Pat Shields, Jeff Gear- high school boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. Fla.; Oak Brook (Ill.) Tennis Center; Okla- heart, Scott Schultz, Craig Jones, “Great facilities like the Candy Erickson homa City Tennis Center; Sound Shore Martin Blackman, Kurt Kamperman, Tennis Center help us to grow the game Indoor Tennis LLC, Port Chester, N.Y.; Craig Morris, Peter Burwash, at the grassroots,” said Kurt Kamperman, Owensboro (Ky.) Tennis Facility Michele Krause, Ajay Pant, John the USTA’s chief executive of Community Yandell, Brian Teacher, Feisal Has- Tennis. “The center has embraced many • Educational Institution: McCallie san, Gerry Faust and Bob Patterson, of our tennis initiatives and kept the sport School Strang-Voges Tennis Center, Chat- among others. A panel discussion at the forefront of its community each year.” tanooga, Tenn.; Michael & Anne Green- moderated by Todd Martin will To be considered for an award, facilities wood Tennis Center, Stillwater, Okla. include Rosie Casals, Lindsay must be under the jurisdiction of a park Davenport and Pam Shriver. and recreation department, an education- • Private Facility: Sea Colony Tennis, For more information or to

COURTESY CANDY ERICKSON TENNIS CENTER/USTA CANDY COURTESY al institution, a nonprofit corporation or Bethany Beach, Del. register, visit uspta.org.

www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com Sept/Oct 2016 TennisIndustry 9

09_TI_IndustryNews_FINAL.indd 8 7/22/16 11:15 AM Industry News

Cahill, Annacone Join PlaySight Coaching Team World-renowned tennis coaches Darren Cahill and Paul Annacone have joined PlaySight as the new heads of the Coaching and Player Development team. Cahill and Annacone will assist with the creation of instructional content for Play- Sight users and tennis players. In addition, the former ATP pros will oversee the development of a PlaySight coaching curriculum, using SmartCourt video and analytics technology to work with tennis players of all ages and abilities around the world. Annacone and Cahill will also advise PlaySight in the rollout of SmartCourts across key collegiate, club, federation and tournament locations. Playsight recently announced a partnership with the USTA that will bring Smart- Courts to the USTA National Campus and will provide the USTA Player Develop- ment and its coaches and players with cutting-edge technology and tools. Visit US Open PlaySight.com for more information. Offers Richest Ball Machine Updates In the July “Guide to Ball Machines” chart, a price was incorrect for one of the Purse in Tennis Sports Tutor models. The manufacturer suggested retail price for Sports Tutor’s History Wilson Portable should be $1,145. For Playmate, the toll-free number otal prize money for the 2016 should be 800-776-6770. US Open is a record $46.3 mil- For Spinfire USA, the correct contact lion, making it the richest purse information should be 888-244-0003 T and www.spinfireusa.com. in tennis history. The $4 million increase in prize money represents a 10 percent boost from last year’s event, USTA Foundation Distributes which saw Novak Djokovic and Flavia $100,000 from Chase Pennetta win singles titles. This year’s The USTA Foundation has partnered with singles champions will earn $3.5 mil- longtime US Open sponsor Chase for the lion, the largest payout in tournament third consecutive year to award 10 National history. Singles players who lose in the Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapters first round will earn $43,300. with $10,000 grants. The money will go Both the men’s and women’s toward year-round tennis and education pro- doubles champion teams will earn gramming to engage kids in the A.C.E. (Aca- $625,000, also the highest purse in US demic Creative Engagement) curriculum. Open history. The US Open Qualifying In July, Chase also helped each NJTL grant Tournament will offer more than $1.9 recipient host a #ReturnTheServe Fun Day, million in prize money. which included a variety of tennis-related This year’s US Open, held from activities for the youth participants of the Aug. 29 to Sept. 11, will feature a num- NJTL programs, along with their families. ber of facility upgrades, including a NJTL chapters receiving $10,000 grants retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Sta- are: A's and Aces, New Orleans; Youth dium, a new Grandstand Stadium and Tennis Advantage, San Francisco; Dallas a redesigned southern campus to ease Tennis Association, Addison, Texas; MaliVai

accessibility throughout the site. • Washington Youth Foundation, Jacksonville, AP

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Fla.; New York Junior Tennis & Learning, Woodside, N.Y.; Portland After-School Tennis & Education, Portland, Ore.; LA 84 Southern California Tennis Association NJTL, Los Ange- les; Metropolitan Tennis & Education Group, Upper Marlboro, Md.; The ACE Project, River- dale, Ill.; and Houston Tennis Association. Dick’s Sporting Goods Acquires Sports Authority Name Dick’s Sporting Goods recently paid $15 million at auction for the Sports Authority brand name as well as additional intellectual property. Dick’s also paid an additional $8 million to take over 31 Sports Authority store leases. The intel- Renner Sports Surfaces lectual property reportedly includes SA’s website, SportsAuthority.com, a loyalty program with 28.5 million members, and Renovates Colorado Park a list of 114 million customer files. enner Sports Surfaces of Denver recently completed the renovation of four The purchases need to be approved by asphalt tennis courts and a basketball court at Meadowwood Park in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Aurora, Colo., rebuilding them with a post-tensioned concrete overlay. Del., which is where Sports Authority filed R Renner rebuilt the badly cracked, undersized courts and expanded them to 14 feet for Chapter 11 in March. Going-out-of- wide, regraded for proper slope, installed new fencing to handle 90 M.P.H. wind business sales have been taking place at loads and added new LSI Courtsider XL lighting and a Bakko practice wall. RSS Sports Authority’s 450 stores since May. Acrylic Color was used for the playing surfaces, which also have blended lines. • COURTESY RENNER SPORTS SURFACES RENNER SPORTS COURTESY

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09_TI_IndustryNews_FINAL.indd 11 7/22/16 11:15 AM Industry News

Wilson Global Headquarters. will feature Emmy Kaiser, Dana Tennis Jay Berger were named Short Sets For details and to register go to Mathewson and Kaitlyn Ver- as women’s and men’s coaches The 10th annual IART sympo- iartsymposium.com or contact fuerth; and the quad team will for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Ten- sium will be held on Sept. 23-27 [email protected]. consist of David Wagner, Nick nis Team, which competed in in Chicago and will offer six con- Taylor and Bryan Barten. Dan Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 6-14. tinuing education credits for Eight players will represent James is the USTA’s U.S. national USPTA members and 10 credits the U.S. in the 2016 Paralympic wheelchair tennis team coach. Nike has created the Nike- for PTR members for attend- Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Court x Roger Federer collec- ing the entire conference. Day Sept. 9-16. The men’s team U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary tion featuring off-court apparel passes also are available. The will be Jon Rydberg and Steve Joe Fernandez and USTA Player and footwear. Visit nike.com/ Sept. 23 kickoff will be at the Baldwin; the women’s team Development Head of Men’s nikelab for more info.

Sportsmen’s Receives $225,000 Grant from Boston Foundation Sportsmen's Tennis & Enrichment Center has been awarded a $225,000 grant by the Boston Foundation. The grant will partially fund Match Point, Sportsmen's signature community outreach program, into 2019. Through Match Point, and with funding from the Boston Foundation, Sportsmen's has partnered with dozens of nearby schools and community organizations to provide school-based and out-of-school tennis instruction since 2008. The most recent grant will be used to expand Match Point, which includes work with high-risk youth. Inaugural PTR Tennis Tech Conference on Hilton Head

The PTR’s inaugural Tennis Technology Conference and Expo, dedicated to innovations and technology to help grow the sport, will be held on Nov. 3-4 at the Marriott Resort Hilton Head Island. The conference will feature interactive ses- sions covering the latest in products and software to help tennis coaches and club directors/managers run their businesses more effectively. Session topics will include Software Integration for Clubs, Digital Marketing, Match Analysis Video Software, Teach- ing Apps, Green Initiatives, On-Court Technology and Racquet Technology with Software Integration. There will be an opportunity to demo on court as well. For more information about the Con- ference and Expo, visit ptrtennis.org.

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09_TI_IndustryNews_FINAL.indd 12 7/22/16 11:15 AM Industry News People USRSA Seeks Watch Edwards recently won an Gullikson, among others. Associate Apex Award of Excellence Wright produced the for PTR TennisPro magazine. “Tennis Rocks” CD, a Director collection of tennis-themed he USRSA is accepting Head racquetballer songs he composed and applications for the position of Rocky Carson won his 12th performed. He also was the Associate Director, located in World Outdoor Racquetball owner/director of Bio-Tennis T its Birmingham, Ala., headquarters. Championship in July in Sports Science. Candidates should be USRSA certifi ed Huntingdon Beach, Calif. He as a Master Racquet Technician (or be also was part of the winning Bruce Littrell, who served ready to qualify as an MRT within three doubles team. as USTA director of profes- months) and possess great customer sional offi ciating and as service skills. A working knowledge of Tennis coach Bruce the chief umpire at the US computers is required. Applicants must Great Britian's Andy Wright, Ph.D., passed away Open, passed away in early possess good communication skills Murray, who plays with the June 21 in Sarasota, Fla., at July in Orlando, Fla. and have the ability to lead and direct Head Graphene XT Radical, age 72. Wright taught at others. Send cover letter and resume to won his second Wimbledon the U.S. Naval Academy, Shelby Payne is the new USRSA Executive Director Bob title in July, beating Milos MIT and the U.S. Military production coordinator for Patterson at [email protected]. Raonic in three sets. Academy, and worked at the Intercollegiate Tennis Harvard. During his career, Association. A principal PTR Director of Commu- he worked with Stan Smith, role will be as the liaison to nications and Editor Peggy Virginia Wade and Tim FloTennis.

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09_TI_IndustryNews_FINAL.indd 13 7/22/16 11:22 AM WTT Smash Hits Returns to Las Vegas World TeamTennis Smash Hits, the annual charity event co-hosted by Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John, returns to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Oct. 10. Headliners on the court this year will be John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport. The action will begin at 7 p.m. on a specially- constructed tennis court in the valet parking lot. The 2015 Las Vegas debut of WTT Smash Hits at Caesars Palace raised more than $1 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Ticket prices and packages range from $55 to $500. Visit WTTSmash- Subscription Hits.com or call 866-320-9763. ‘Zero Poly’ Trend Gains ‘Box’ Delivers Momentum, says Ashaway Tennis Essentials Ashaway Vice President Steve Cran- dall says a trend toward “zero poly” Monthly monofilament strings is “gaining momentum among tournament and ennisTrunk.com is a subscrip- other high-end players.” tion service that sends a box of “More and more high-end players are tennis essentials to tennis play- coming to realize they can get equal, T if not better, performance from newer ers’ doorsteps every month. Products can include balls, wristbands, over- zero poly monofilament alternatives, grips, sunblock, socks, protein bars, along with better feel, better playabil- electrolytes and more. ity, and reduced risk of injury,” says TennisTrunk.com was started by Crandall, who helps lead one of the old- Andres Vallejo, a tennis teaching pro est family-owned businesses in the U.S. at the Weston Hills Country Club in In terms of spin generation, Crandall Weston, Fla., who was frustrated one points to technical reports by physicist day by not having tennis balls on hand Rod Cross and Tennis Warehouse when he wanted to play. “Later that University's Crawford Lindsay, which day, I got an email from Dollar Shave demonstrate that topspin is generated Club notifying me that my razors were not by the stiffness of a string mate- on the way, then it hit me,” he says. “I rial, but by the string's ability to move decided to create a subscription box laterally and snap back when striking for tennis players. I wanted players to the ball, characteristics shared by non- have an experience every time they poly alternatives such as Ashaway’s opened their box. It’s like getting a MonoGut ZX strings. MonoGut ZX, says surprise in the mail every month.” Crandall, “can generate almost as much The cost for the service is $34.99, spin as poly, but with more power. Not shipping included, with a month-to- to mention that it plays softer and month plan; prices decrease depend- offers better feel.” ing on the number of months in the For more information, visit plan. Users also can skip a renewal or ashawayusa.com. cancel a subscription at any time. “My goal is to motivate people to USRSA Announces play more tennis,” Vallejo says. “Our New MRTs and CS subscribers tell us they get excited to Master Racquet Technicians play tennis every time they receive Anthony Nazzaro—Shenorock, N.Y. their box and it has made them play Marco Commuzzo—San Luis Obispo, Calif. more tennis every month.” Visit Certified Stringer TennisTrunk.com for more info. Matt Deratnay—Toronto, Canada •

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09_TI_IndustryNews_FINAL.indd 14 7/22/16 11:16 AM Equipment Survey Brings Out Retail Issues Since 2008, the business of tennis has felt the lingering sting of the recession. In particular, trends in the equipment category show troubling erosion on both the wholesale and retail sides of the racquet marketplace. The TIA has formed a task force with major brands to help address issues and challenges, and a special series of consumer studies has been commissioned, with the first survey already producing some important findings. From 2008 to 2015, total U.S. wholesale racquet units The TIA will present the fell 39% and youth racquet units sank 47%. Racquet REGISTER FOR 2017 fourth annual Tennis shipment units under $50 wholesale also dropped Owners & Managers T.O.M. CONFERENCE 44% between 2008 to 2015. On a more positive note, (T.O.M.) Conference high-end racquets ($50 and above wholesale) have March 27-29 at Rosen March 27-29 in Orlando held fairly stable over this period, decreasing 6%. Shingle Creek (above), Contributing to these issues in the wholesale market a 230-acre resort in Orlando, Fla., complete with world-class amenities and are changes among distribution channels, with U.S. cutting-edge technology. racquet shipments at mass merchants and sporting The T.O.M. Conference will focus on addressing the needs of all types of tennis goods chains plunging 47% and 40% from 2008 to facilities—public, commercial, private, country clubs, resorts—as the tennis 2015, respectively. industry looks to the future and to innovative business models that will help to Likewise, the U.S. retail sporting goods landscape increase tennis engagement and growth at the facility and club level. The event has seen a recent shake-up after several large will bring together leading experts in facility management and development, companies shut their doors. Tennis pro specialty programming, staffing, technology, and other key areas to provide vital information. retailers—despite not experiencing the level of decline The 2017 conference in Orlando also in racquet shipments that sporting chains have felt— will include a site tour of the USTA ORLANDO 2017 nonetheless have seen a 23% fall in racquet shipments National Campus at Lake Nona—the from 2008 to 2015. new Home of American Tennis—with In 2007, tennis consumers on average purchased its 102 courts. For more information one racquet every 3.7 years; in 2015, this increased on the conference and to register, visit TheTOMConference.com or contact to one racquet purchase every 6.4 years. The number [email protected] or 866-686-3036. of new models continues to expand, from roughly 100 models in 2000 to 200 in 2015. Half of all players’ disposable income is unchanged TIA Educational Webinar in the past year, with 60% expecting it to remain at similar levels in the next year. Players also appear Series Continues to Grow unimpressed with the technological innovation in equipment, as 62% stated there has not been any Through July, nearly series for its coach innovation or improvement in the past five years that 1,500 people had development. has encouraged more tennis play or improved their registered for a WEBINAR The series will playing experience. webinar in the TIA’s LEARNING SERIES continue with added Research also shows that as players age, they hold series of educational webinars, including onto their racquet longer, a concern given the aging webinars which ran through August. a “how to” series from different tennis base of players. When considering expenditures, The recorded webinars are available manufacturers that will include topics players place the highest priority on shoes, followed by online at TennisIndustry.org/webinars. on how to stock, demo and sell tennis racquets, clothing and membership dues. The PTR and USPTA are offering equipment. The TIA will continue to lead special consumer continuing education credits for those For more information and to register studies in equipment and participation categories to who attend the webinars, and Tennis for future webinars, visit TennisIndustry. gain greater insight and spur action into improving Australia is promoting the TIA webinar org/webinars. market conditions.

16 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org NYC Meetings to Highlight Issues in Tennis Marketplace

The ninth annual TIA Tennis Forum—with a focus on addressing the current marketplace, outlining industry TENNIS FORUM efforts under way, and presenting the latest news and trends—will be held on Monday, Aug. 29, at the Grand Hyatt New York City, starting at 8:30 a.m. The Forum will be followed on Tuesday by a roundtable working session to examine ways to better engage consumers in an age of disruption that is impacting industry businesses, manufacturers and retailers. For both events, attendees must register at TennisIndustry.org. The Forum will include the latest on tennis participation and consumer research, equipment sales data, grassroots initiatives, updates from the USTA, and more. Registered Retail Expert to Lead Roundtable attendees will receive a copy of the 16-page “2016 TIA Dan O’Connor, the founder and CEO of RetailNet Group, State of the Industry” report. In addition, the TIA will a leading advisory and insights firm that works with present a Tennis & Technology focus highlighting many large-scale retailers and brand leaders worldwide, will innovative products on the market. The Forum will also lead the roundtable discussion on Tuesday, Aug. 30, include a ceremony honoring the 2016 inductees into the on engaging consumers in today’s retail environment. Tennis Industry Hall of Fame: Eve Kraft and Eugene Scott RNG’s clients include Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and (see page 26). Home Depot, among others. The roundtable on Tuesday, Aug. 30, will be facilitated O’Connor is the founding “dean” of the Retail by retail expert Dan O’Connor (right), the founder and Leadership Program, an executive program at UCLA, CEO of RetailNet Group. Discussion will focus on how to MIT and Stanford for rising retail leaders from more engage consumers in the age of Amazon and online retailer than 50 countries. In addition, he is a frequent guest lecturer for major retail disruption and what new business models may be explored and brand marketing association meetings globally. Most recently, O’Connor for this industry and its businesses to thrive. was named a 2017 Fellow with Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. He also serves as a managing director at Front 4 Ventures, a consumer, media and marketing services advisory and investment firm, and he has extensive experience serving on boards of directors for companies such as Daymon Worldwide and publicly-traded firms such as Coinstar, Emak Worldwide and DemandWare, as well as on the board of Premier Retail Networks, a division of Thomson. DemandWare is a cloud-based software platform provider that powers digital commerce for some of the world’s most successful retail bands, including Panasonic, Land’s End, and Adidas. Space is limited for the Aug. 30 roundtable, so registration (open only for manufacturers and retailers) is mandatory. Visit TennisIndustry.org.

2016 TIA/PAC Participation Report Available to Members The TIA, in partnership with the Physical Activity Council (PAC), has released the 2016 Tennis Industry Association Participation Report, which examines tennis participation trends, play frequency, participant profiles, venue information, tennis business spending, fitness & health, tennis fans, cross participation in other sports, and more. The tennis survey is part of an overall PAC online study of more than 100 different sports and activities during 2015. Some of the top-line survey results have already been reported (see “2016 State of the Industry” in the July issue of Tennis Industry), but the full 20-page report dives deeper into many areas vital for tennis businesses. The 2016 Participation Report is available to TIA members at the Associate level and above. Email [email protected]. The TIA also has been working in partnership with the International Tennis Federation to measure the global tennis marketplace, including participation and play frequency in countries around the world and global shipments of racquets, balls and tennis strings in 26 countries, as well as track participation in 20 nations. The 2016 Global Tennis Marketplace Report will be produced to provide a top-line summary on tennis participation and shipment trends and provide valuable research to help identify growth of initiative efforts. For more information, email [email protected].

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org Sept/Oct 2016 TennisIndustry 17 Racquet Tech

Plan ahead so strings through shared holes lie Use Care When Sharing parallel on the outside of the All stringers have to deal with shared-hole frame. string patterns. Here are some tips to help. By Bob Patterson

n the days of wood racquets, shared are crossovers on the outside of the the bottom of one to the bottom of the holes for main and cross strings frame and, quite simply, trying to fit two next, or top-to-top, so the strings lie Iwere common. The fewer holes strings into one space. parallel on the outside of the frame. drilled into the wood frame, the stron- Most shared holes may have a larger Otherwise, it will create a crossover ger it remained. With the emergence grommet to accommodate both strings, when the cross strings are installed. In of stronger frame materials, though, but others have double grommets in some cases the notes in the Stringer’s shared holes all but disappeared. one hole or a grommet barrel divided Digest will instruct you if the manufac-

In recent years, however, there’s been either completely or partially. With all turer designates a certain order for the ON/USRSA a resurgence of shared holes in racquets of these, though, it’s important to plan strings, meaning the top or bottom of as manufacturers are using various ahead to avoid crossovers. If the mains the grommet. string patterns and string spacing to aren’t installed properly, you won’t be Fitting the second string through enhance features like spin, control, able to install the crosses without hav- a shared hole can be frustrating. All comfort and power. Even on strings ing a crossover. stringers eventually encounter a without a shared-hole pattern, you will If you have two shared holes on one shared-hole pattern that sends a seem- always have to "share" a hole when tying side of the frame, make sure the main ingly simple string job into double off. Two common problems you may string is in the same section of both. In overtime. Here are a few tricks to make

encounter with a shared-hole pattern other words, the string should go from the process easier. • PHOTO S BY BOB P ATTERS

18 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_RacquetTech_FINAL.indd 18 7/22/16 11:26 AM With shared holes, pull the second string slowly to avoid burning the string.

• Pull your second string slowly. When installing a string into a grommet hole already occupied, you risk burning the string if you pull too quickly. Applying a small amount of wax to the first 6 to 8 inches of string will reduce friction.

• Keep your string tip sharp. String tips wear quickly during installation, especially coreless synthetics and natural gut. Working with a frazzled tip can really slow you down. Keep cutters handy to maintain a sharp string tip.

• Harden the string. On softer strings, some stringers add a dab of glue, lacquer or clear nail polish (allow adequate drying time) to keep fibers from unraveling or “mushing.”

• As a last resort, use a waxed awl to carefully enlarge the hole. This flattens the grommet material around the hole to give the extra room you need. Use only a blunt-tipped awl and wax the tip. You don’t want to damage the string already in place.

09_TI_RacquetTech_FINAL.indd 19 7/22/16 11:26 AM Retailing Tip

Service With a Smile Hiring customer-service naturals will help drive sales and build shopper loyalty. By Jay Townley

n 2012, Walmart decided to do away with its door greeters—a feature Ithat founder Sam Walton had instituted decades earlier. Evidently, the bean counters thought that greeting people with a smile as they entered the store was an unnecessary expense. But this past May, after a pilot program, Walmart announced the return of its friendly greeters, because—surprise, surprise—the company found they make shoppers feel welcome! What Sam Walton knew a long time ago was that a sincere smile goes a long way to helping drive business and sales, and building customer loyalty. For a local tennis shop, this should be a no-brainer. Consumers want and expect great retail-store experiences, and those start with a friendly greeting by employees. Retailers should hire sales associates who want to sincerely serve—a personal touch that online retailers and many big-box stores simply can’t match. Your staff should include customer- education takes over. Make sure to should always be respectful, but they service naturals, sales associates who focus on these five fundamentals: must also ask intelligent questions are hardwired to help, are naturally to find out what customers want and cheerful and comfortable around oth- • Greeting customers: Your sales need, and to match players with prod- ers, and genuinely want to help shop- associates need to be sincerely inter- ucts that can help them improve. pers. This may mean rethinking some ested in helping, including guiding of your usual hiring practices. customers to products without being • Suggesting tennis-lifestyle For instance, as a tennis retailer, it’s overbearing or intrusive. solutions: Salespeople need to develop tempting to hire someone who is a great ideas and solutions that are appro- player because they know the game and • Maintaining a smile—and meaning priate for the customer’s wallet and the equipment. But that may not trans- it: It’s always been about being friendly, consistent with what they’ve expressed late to exemplary customer service, approachable and understanding the as their expectations. Your employees' and may not be well-suited for a retail customer. A natural smile goes a long knowledge is their greatest asset. environment. The player may even feel way to closing a sale. uncomfortable dealing with shoppers. Your tennis retail business can’t To help you screen job applicants, • Listening: Your store employees afford sales associates who aren’t natu- online customer-service assessments need to listen to customers to find out rals at delivering customer service. • are available at very reasonable costs, what they are looking for, or need for which are invaluable in today’s job their games or lifestyle. Jay Townley is a partner in the retail market. Of course, once you hire sales consulting firm Gluskin Townley Group

associates, your in-store training and • Ask questions: Sales associates (www.gluskintownleygroup.com). PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK

20 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

08_TI_RetailingTip_FINAL.indd 20 7/22/16 11:30 AM TI MAG AD pg.indd 2 5/26/16 12:53 PM Grassroots Tennis

Play It Forward! CTAs, public parks, schools and NJTLs are on the front lines when it comes to growing our sport in communities.

CARIBBEAN Kids Join ‘Mini-Tennis Tour’ in Puerto Rico

Nearly 200 youngsters ages 8 to 12 came out for the USTA Caribbean Sec- tion’s “Mini Tennis Tour” stop in late May at the Honda Tennis Center in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The fun-filled event had the kids playing tennis on shorter courts, using Red, Orange and Green balls and shorter, age-appropri- ate racquets. Kids 8 and under played SOUTHWEST with the Red ball, those 8 to 10 years old used the Orange ball and those 10 to Life, and Tennis, On the Border 12 used the Green dot ball. The Bayamon event was the third of On the U.S.-Mexico border, there’s Ore., Cutler is a former pro player who five Mini Tennis Tour stops for 2016. a town called Nogales, Ariz., with a was ranked as high as No. 1420 on the The remaining venues will be the San population of 22,000. Just across the ATP tour. He has a master’s degree Francisco Tennis Club in San Juan in line to Mexico is Nogales, Sonora, with in International Human Rights and September and the Mayaguez Racquet a population of more than 400,000. started teaching tennis in Nogales after Tennis Club in November. Now, a bi-national organization is he took an internship there with the Similar to Play Days, Mini Tennis looking to improve the lives of the nonprofit Border Community Alli- Tour events are one-day tournaments youngsters who live in both cities ance. Now, BYTE “is an NJTL from organized by the Puerto Rico District. through tennis, education and cross- all aspects—the tennis aspect and the “We started these eight or 10 years border interaction. educational aspect,” Cutler says. We’ve ago, but it’s evolved quite a bit, so now Called BYTE—Border Youth Tennis begun to create a mirror curriculum on we try to organize them by beginner, Exchange—the NJTL has been devel- both sides of the border. intermediate and advanced levels,” says oping partners on both sides of the line, “I think the most important question Monica Carrasquillo, the youth tennis including USTA Southwest, the USTA this project asks is, how do we want manager for USTA Caribbean Section. Southern Arizona district, the Univer- to interact as countries? The answer “For many kids, it’s their first experi- sity of Arizona and the Green Valley would probably be to find a way to ence playing tennis. (Ariz.) Tennis Association. connect on a human level, connect the “We’re very excited. Now, many kids Charlie Cutler founded BYTE late communities that are in the trenches know what the Mini Tennis Tour is and

last year. Originally from Portland, dealing with these issues.” are excited to be a part of it.” (RIGHT) CARIBBEAN SOUTHWEST (LEFT)/USTA USTA COURTESY

22 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_Grassroots_FINAL.indd 17 7/22/16 11:31 AM Nova3221.RSI HAWAII.2016:Layout 1 3/14/16 9:21 AM Page 1 Ask for NOVA All-weather sport surfaces are all we do. We have to do it better!

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TI MAG AD pg.indd 2 5/26/16 2:27 PM Executive Point

Craig Morris The USTA’s general manager of Community Tennis & Youth Tennis talks about growing the sport, focusing on the customer and maintaining a passion for tennis.

"Getting young adults back into the sport is critical for growth," says Morris.

ast November, the USTA hired Craig director of participation. Based out of the USTA Morris as general manager of Communi- National Campus in Orlando, Fla., Morris will Lty Tennis and Youth Tennis. Morris, who oversee the day-to-day operations of all areas of reports to Kurt Kamperman, USTA chief execu- Community Tennis and Youth Tennis, includ- tive of Community Tennis and USTA National ing Tennis on Campus, Adult Tennis and more. Campus, comes to the organization after many Tennis Industry recently caught up with Morris

years with Tennis Australia, most recently as its for a few questions and answers. USTA COURTESY

24 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_Executive_FINAL.indd 18 7/22/16 11:31 AM Tell us about your new role. What able to connect families to their local coaching education. I look forward drew you to this job? providers. It was a big part of the to working with both the USPTA and My role includes overseeing the success—Australian families knew PTR around the role that coaches play development and implementation of exactly where to go when they wanted in getting more people to play tennis all community tennis, with an empha- to get their kids into tennis. more often. Coaches are often the sales sis on youth, which is critical to grow- Increasing participation will be a lot force of the sport—not only delivering the sport. To make tennis accessible around accessibility, branding, ing lessons but also running facilities, and get more people playing the game, encouraging healthy and active life- delivering tournaments and leagues, we need to invest in both youth and styles to combat childhood obesity, etc. It is critically important that we adult tennis. and making sure people know how to support coaches in what they are doing As to what drew me to the job, it was get into tennis. across the industry. really the opportunity to take my learn- ings from Australia and bring them Health and fitness were major There have been a number of to the U.S., adapting and modifying components in driving increased initiatives to engage younger what I learned there to establish that tennis participation in Australia. adults in tennis. What are your same growth here. The health of tennis What are your plans in this area? thoughts here? internationally is heavily influenced by With the growth of the health and Getting young adults back into the the health of tennis in the U.S. Being a sport is critical for growth. The passionate tennis person, I want to see under-40 market, not only as young tennis thrive in the U.S. and, ultimately, One major focus is the adults but also as young parents, is vital internationally. The U.S. market is key for us, so we can get and retain them to that success. youth market. There has in the sport as well as motivate them been great work the last to get their kids into the game. I have What are your top priorities? several years with the been very impressed with the social One major focus is the youth market. leagues, which have been driven by the There has been great work the last introduction of 10 and USTA Sections and different organi- several years with the introduction of Under Tennis. Ultimately, zations. How we brand and message 10 and Under Tennis. Ultimately, we that to the entire under-40 market is want to sell tennis to American we want to sell tennis currently being worked on—it is a criti- families, particularly with young kids, to American families, cally important audience. and get them involved in the sport in a way they haven’t before. The priority particularly with young You’ve been on the job for several is to align all of our efforts and connect kids, and get them months now. What’s impressed the dots to focus on the consumer. you most so far? involved in the sport in a I’ve been impressed with the You had great success in Australia way they haven’t before. enthusiasm of both the national and bringing kids into the game. What Section staffs, key stakeholders and strategies will you use to increase the passion of the entire tennis junior participation in the U.S.? fitness industry, Tennis Australia industry to ensure the sport flour- We had a junior program called Hot utilized Cardio Tennis to get people ishes. There is enormous opportunity, Shots that was a tremendous suc- into the sport. With Cardio Tennis and that’s been motivating for me. cess, with more than 10 percent of initiated here in the U.S., we will be We have an amazing product that will the Australian population ages 5 to working through strategies on how we become more appealing to American 12 registered in tennis programs. The use Cardio Tennis and link that into the families. If we come together as an strategies I am looking to bring to the ecosystem of all our products to send industry and move in one direction, U.S. are customer-focused. We need the message that tennis is great for then consumers—current and future to make the sport easily accessible for health and fitness. players—will understand where American families. tennis is and how to access it, and In Australia, we used a strategy of Will you have a role in coaching hear our fantastic message. having one brand that was designed education? The passion has been overwhelming. to inspire kids and parents. Through I will be working alongside Scott I look forward to the next several years that strategy, we developed one go-to Schultz, managing director of USTA playing my part in supporting the in- destination (website) where we were University, within USTA’s role in dustry and growing tennis in the U.S. •

www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com Sept/Oct 2016 TennisIndustry 25

09_TI_Executive_FINAL.indd 19 7/22/16 11:31 AM Hall of Fame

Honoring Gene Scott & Eve Kraft An influential tennis journalist and community tennis innovator are this year’s inductees into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. By Peter Francesconi

ennis journalist and player parks, thanks to group instruction,” Eugene L. Scott and community said Anne Humes, former longtime T tennis pioneer Eve F. Kraft are USTA staffer and friend of Kraft’s. “Eve the 2016 inductees into the Tennis saw that, and what she was trying to do Industry Hall of Fame. Both will be was emulate the Princeton tennis pro- inducted posthumously at a ceremony gram [which Kraft helped to found in in New York during the TIA Tennis 1954] around the country—she wanted Forum in August. to help other communities establish Scott, who was inducted into the service organizations for tennis with International Tennis Hall of Fame the idea that you could get quality in 2008 in the Contributor category, group instruction and learn the game was the founder, publisher and editor at affordable prices.” of Tennis Week magazine, where his The late Henry Talbert described column, “Vantage Point,” was consid- Kraft as one of the few “lonely voices ered a must-read. He ranked as high as suggesting to the U.S. Lawn Tennis No. 4 in the U.S. as an amateur tennis Association that group instruction in player in 1963 and as high as world No. parks and playgrounds were the wave 11 in 1965. He also was a member of the of the future, because there were so U.S. Davis Cup team, where he was both many people who fit that model than Gene Scott founded Tennis Week magazine, teammate and roommate to the late there would be people who would while Eve Kraft helped Arthur Ashe. He later served as presi- become champions.” spread enthusiasm for dent of USTA Eastern Section, a board In 2001, the USTA renamed its annu- the sport of tennis. member for the International Tennis al Community Service Award in honor Hall of Fame and on the national board of Kraft; it is the highest award given was created in 2008 to recognize of directors for the USTA. for community tennis and recognizes inventors, founders, innovators and Annually, the International Tennis volunteer tennis leaders for significant contributors who have made a signifi- Hall of Fame gives the Eugene Scott contributions to tennis development in cant impact on the sport of tennis. The Award to honor an individual “who their communities. TI Hall of Fame currently has 10 embodies Scott’s commitment to “We are excited to have Eve Kraft inductees: Howard Head (2008), communicating honestly and critically and Gene Scott as our 2016 inductees Dennis Van der Meer (2008), Alan about the game, and who has had a into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame,” Schwartz (2009), Billie Jean King significant impact on the tennis world.” said TIA President Jeff Williams, the (2010), Nick Bollettieri (2011), Howard Scott passed away in 2006. chair of the Tennis Industry Hall of Gill Jr. (2013), Walter Montenegro Kraft, who died in 1999, was a vision- Fame Committee. “Their contributions (2013), Sheldon Westervelt (2013), ary when it came to bringing tennis continue to help this sport and indus- Jim Baugh (2014) and Peter Burwash into local communities. “In the 1960s try to grow, and continue to impact (2015). A plaque honoring the induct- and ’70s, tennis was starting to come peoples’ lives for the better.” ees is on display at the International

out of the country clubs and more into The Tennis Industry Hall of Fame Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. • SCOTT POLLY TENNIS PROGRAM; GENE SCOTT IMAGE: COURTESY & PRINCETON USTA EVE KRAFT IMAGE: COURTESY

26 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_HallOfFame_FINAL.indd 36 7/22/16 11:33 AM

Facility Construction & Renovation

A GRAND SLAM TRANSFORMATION With the expansion and renovation of the USTA’s National Tennis Center, the US Open now has a home that is unrivaled in the world By Ashley Marshall

28 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_USOpenConstruction_EM.indd 1 7/22/16 11:37 AM TRANSFORMATION

Raise the Roof A 270,000-square- foot retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium is just one of many facility upgrades coming to this year's US Open.

he capstone of the $550 million expansion and renovation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. may be the retractable roof over Arthur Ashe T Stadium, but that enhancement only scrapes the surface of the sweeping transformation that has taken place since construction crews first broke ground on the 42-acre site five years ago. The retractable roof will be fully operational for this year’s tournament, putting an end to rain delays inside the largest tennis stadium in the world. But also debuting when the tourney begins on Aug. 29 is the new 8,000-seat Grand- stand located in the southwest corner of the site, along with 10 field courts that have been rebuilt from the ground up. The entire South Campus has been extended and improved, and fans will benefit from a larger food court, wider walkways and more amenities than ever before. With the completed renovations, the US Open will be able to accommodate an additional 10,000 visitors per day, increasing overall annual attendance by approximately 100,000. “This transformation highlights the continued growth of our sport on both national and global levels. It’s more than just an investment in the US Open, it’s an investment in tennis,” says USTA President and US Open Chairwoman Katrina Adams. “We’re committed to promoting and developing the growth of tennis across America, and the US Open and USTA Billie Jean King National

Tennis Center increases our visibility from coast to coast.” USTA COURTESY

www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com Sept/Oct 2016 TennisIndustry 29

09_TI_USOpenConstruction_EM.indd 2 7/22/16 11:37 AM Facility Construction & Renovation

“The US Open competes in the most competitive sports marketplace in the world and our standard is to build the Heavy Metal The new roof on finest sports venue in New York and the best tennis facility in Arthur Ashe Stadium the world,” adds USTA Executive Director Gordon Smith. “I was built with over 5,500 tons of steel. was a member of the USTA board when the strategic transformation was first discussed. To see it to fruition as executive director gives me great satisfaction.” The ambitious project has not only been daunting in terms of the physical amount of work necessary, but also in terms of east and west sides of the stadium to cover the court. logistics—the construction site still has to host a Grand Slam A high-tech polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fabric tournament every year. stretches over the frame of the roof. New LED lighting will Here’s a closer look at how it’s come together: reduce energy costs while improving visibility, and an innovative cooling system will monitor and control humidity and Arthur Ashe Stadium temperature. The new, 270,000-square-foot retractable roof is octagonal and required more than 5,500 tons of steel. The structure Grandstand is supported by four catenary trusses, each 460 feet long, Similar to Court 17, the new 8,125-seat Grandstand, relo- while the opening for the retractable roof is 62,500 square cated to the southwest side of the grounds, is sunken 10 feet feet, making it the largest such opening of all the Grand below ground level to create an intimate experience. (The Slam venues. old 5,800-seat Grandstand will be used as a practice court for Sitting more than 150 feet above the ground, the two this year and then demolished.) retractable panels that make up the roof weigh 1 million A walkway around the upper bowl of the new Grandstand pounds each. When the decision is made to close the roof, will allow fans to move freely, and a raised viewing plat- five 30-horsepower motors turn each of the four winches form will allow spectators to watch matches on neighbor- (two on each panel) to pull the roof along 27-inch wheels on ing Courts 8, 9 and 10. There also are eight new concessions a track to the center of the stadium. It will take an estimated stands, a picnic area and plazas surrounding the Grandstand.

500 kilowatts and five minutes to move the panels from the Aesthetically, the design features a sun-shade canopy that USTA COURTESY

30 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_USOpenConstruction_EM.indd 3 7/22/16 11:37 AM arcs around two-thirds of the stadium and an exterior skin pat- project, the site’s south boundary was pushed back 30 feet. tern designed to create the perception of peering through foli- By moving and realigning these courts, developers created a age. While the structure may appear to be circular, the design 450-foot-long, 40-foot-wide walkway between Court 17 and actually is a much more complex, 16-sided hexadecagon. the new Grandstand. In order to make these projects possible, designers and For the 2016 tournament, 10 fi eld courts have been planners have leaned on technology, 3D mapping and completely renovated to provide more seating, ease con- computer-aided design. The exterior skin features a total gestion and enhance the overall fan experience. With the of 486 panels that would run the length of 13 football fi elds. exception of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Computer software was used to determine the geometry of Stadium, Court 17 and Courts 4, 5 and 6, every tournament these panel fl ags and to test thousands of possible combina- court has been torn up and replaced, increasing seating tions to ensure the best design. capacity by 36 percent from last year. The design and build of the new Grandstand also meets A new seating structure at Court 12 will increase capacity several important criteria toward LEED certifi cation, a from 216 in 2015 to 1,378 this year. Courts 8, 9 and 10 in the U.S. Green Building Council program that recognizes best southwest corner will hold 20 percent more fans following practices. For example, the new Grandstand—made with 10 the introduction of raised seating behind the baseline, and percent recycled material—will use LED lights to reduce nearly 600 seats have been added to Courts 13, 14, 15 and 16. energy usage by 15 percent and low-fl ow plumbing fi xtures to Moreover, Courts 7 and 11 will each hold around 1,500 fans. A cut water use by 40 percent. In addition, storm-water runoﬀ raised walkway will connect Courts 8, 9 and 10; another will will be treated before being discharged, the white roof will connect Courts 13, 14, 15 and 16. refl ect heat to keep the stadium cool and an updated site- In total, 14 new food and drink stalls will open—six near wide green cleaning policy will be employed. Court 12 and eight near the new Grandstand. The mini food village by the new Grandstand will seat approximately 600 South Campus people (the existing food village seats 1,500). Court 7 will also When the transformation is complete, more than 85 per- feature a 36-foot-long oyster bar, twice as many restrooms as cent of the grounds will have been renovated. As part of this before, and four shops instead of two.

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09_TI_USOpenConstruction_EM.indd 4 7/22/16 11:37 AM Apparel Fashion Fallout New tenniswear for fall includes bold and sporty colors in comfortable blends to help players look and play their best. By Cynthia Sherman

Lucky in Love Inphorm Bolle Tonic Tennis LUCKYINLOVEKIDS.COM INPHORMNYC.CO BOLLETENNISWEAR.COM TONICACTIVE.COM 305-638-5484 214-749-0300 301-362-0360 604-294-9499

Lucky in Love continues its Inphorm’s fall tenniswear Bolle celebrates fall with Martina Hingis partnered affair with fun, tiered skirts boasts warm hues and cute a sporty double strap tank with Canadian-based Tonic that accentuate movement. cuts. Its best-selling ($66) with contrast accents Lifestyle Apparel a few Its “Life in the Fast Lane” Activewear ruched cami at the sides and printed years ago to design its tennis line shows off colors of the tank ($97.50), featured in insets, making the perfect collection. Emphasizing season in black, denim and berry, features a feather accent on the outer strap. environmentally friendly raspberry, including the mesh overlay with a side- The skort ($70) sports a production, Tonic Tennis’ Twist Front Cami (suggested ruched adjustable draw- pleated trim. Both pieces fluid performance Dual Fit retail $58) with a built-in bra string and built-in impact are from Bolle’s Seraphina Light fabric is composed of a and the Bottom Line Pleated bra. The 13-1/2 inch length group and feature a comfort- moisture-wicking poly/ny- Tier skirt ($72). Fabrication flirty flounce Activewear able jersey/poly/spandex lon combination in UV/UPF is a poly/lycra blend. skort ($92.50), featured fabric blend. 50. The Point Dress ($98) is in black, has an edgy mesh shown in geranium. trim. Both pieces are a poly-spandex blend with a polyamide-elastane overlay. TONIC TENNIS PHOTO FROM THOMAS BULLOCK

32 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_Apparel_FINAL.indd 1 7/22/16 12:17 PM Athletic DNA ATHLETICDNA.COM 470-236-2001

Known for bold colors and durable fabrics, Athletic DNA made a splash in men’s clothing when Lleyton Hewitt was one of the first athletes to wear the line. They’ve since expanded to create a women’s/girls’ line, which includes the Mesh Back Racerback Tank ($42 women/$40 youth) in “san- gria spiralgraph” and the Origami skort in dress blue ($50/$42), both comprised of a poly/spandex blend.

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09_TI_Apparel_FINAL.indd 2 7/22/16 12:17 PM Footwear Stepping Out The US Open fortnight is an opportunity for manufacturers to build their brands with new shoes for the season. By Kent Oswald

K-Swiss Fila KSWISS.COM • 800-938-8000 FILA.COM • 800-845-FILA Celebrating its 50th anniversary, K-Swiss dresses up its The recently revamped, lightweight, breathable and high- newest shoes with collector-edition touches, including performance Cage Delirium line ($100) will be releasing dated lace keepers and printed text on the tongue’s inside. new colorways for the fall in both the men’s (shocking Men’s and women’s shoes in special colorways include the orange/Fila navy/white) and women’s (dark shadow/pink supportive Hypercourt (suggested retail $130), the durable glo/royal blue) lines. Hypercourt Express ($110) and the lightweight Bigshot Light 2.5 ($90), which all come with a commemorative bag.

Wilson Asics WILSON.COM • 773-714-6400 ASICSAMERICA.COM • 800-678-9435 Getting a jump on 2017, the new Rush Pro 2.5 ($129) for The Gel-Resolution 6 ($140) gets an update for both men men and women will hit shelves in time for holiday and women with an extra emphasis on mid-foot support shopping and winter play. In addition to multiple vibrant and stability, new colorways and wide options. The men’s colorway options, the shoes will provide an improved feel and women’s low-profi le, lightweight Gel-Solution Speed 3 with no loss of stability, as well as an updated look that lines ($130) receive extensions through new colorways and includes a matte fi nish. an enhanced upper design.

34 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016

09_TI_Apparel_FINAL.indd 3 7/22/16 12:17 PM Adidas ADIDAS.COM • 971-234-2300 The Stella McCartney line will be augmented in the fall with a new, elegant Barricade Boost ($150) and women will have a new option with the comfortable, durable Adizero Ubersonic 2 ($120). New options for men include an Energy Boost ($175) offering support, advanced kinetic technology and a one-month comfort guarantee, and a new choice of the lightweight, stable and supportive Adizero Ubersonic 2 ($130).

Sept/Oct 2016 TennisIndustry 35

09_TI_Apparel_FINAL.indd 4 7/22/16 12:17 PM Ask theExperts Your Equipment Hotline

Prince stencils revisited ence between directional and non- and then start the crosses “backwards” Q: I've been stringing since 1982, and directional racquets in the “Racquet from what you are used to. I disagree with the tip about Prince Tech” article “Following Directions” in The point of all this is that you now stencils in “Tips and Techniques” in the June issue. The item in July’s “Tips have to pay attention to bumper guard the July issue. For years I closed the and Techniques” was an expansion on and/or grommet features that may have non-ink portions, then I saw a string that original article, and included some directional aspects, even though they job that didn’t close them, and it looked peculiarities about two-piece stringing seem conventional at fi rst glance. The much neater to me. When I showed of these directional frames. “Notes” section of the stringing instruc- both versions of the logo to my regular Directional racquets require the tions in the Stringer’s Digest will let you Prince customers (stenciled onto two strings be installed in a specifi c man- know if a frame is directional. separate frames), they also preferred ner, whether to permit stringing in the non-fi lled in version. specially confi gured racquets (such Stringing programs Also, I make sure that Prince rac- as the Wilson T series, Wilson Rollers Q: Are there any programs that track quets over 27 inches have an arrow- series, Prince O-port frames, etc.) or to customer restringing? head at the bottom of the “P.” match special features (such as in wood frames, some new Babolat frames, A: You are certainly free to express newer Donnay frames, new Dunlop yourself in this way if you choose. frames, new Pacifi c frames, etc.). However, if you look at the way Prince Non-directional racquets have more applies ink to the strings, you will see traditional design, grommets and that there are no gaps in the “P.” bumper guards, which allow for greater It is worth noting that when using fl exibility in string installation. white stencil ink with dark strings, leav- Essentially, “right side up” is the A: There are a number of stringing ing black bars in the white stencil makes way you normally mount the racquet software programs available, but we’ll it more di cult to see, and visibility is for stringing, assuming you always mention just a couple here. StringJob the main purpose behind the stencil. mount the racquet the same way each (www.StringJob.com) is a program With the older "arrow P," we com- time. “Upside down” would then be developed by stringer and computer mend you for your attention to detail; when you mount the racquet with what software expert Matt Colton. This is a unfortunately not everyone has that would normally be your “top” side web-based program, which means your older stencil. down. Which side is up is not a major records are not stored on your computer issue with non-directional racquets, unless you copy them to your local disk. Which side is up? but it defi nitely can be an issue with New racquets will automatically appear Q: In July’s “Tips and Techniques,” directional frames. in the drop-down menus without you there was an item about directional and For example, if your custom is to having to enter them. There are three non-directional racquets and which mount frames so the manufacturer logo subscription levels, ranging from free to side to tie the starting knot. Please on the butt cap is facing up, and then as up to $20 per month. explain the di erence between direc- part of your process always tie the start- RacquetRecord (www.racquetquest. tional and non-directional racquets. ing knot for the crosses on the left side com) is a program developed by MRT Also, how do you tell if the frame is of the racquet (at the top, of course), and former TI Stringer of the Year John mounted right side up or upside down? then you may wish to make an exception Gugel and comes in Mac and PC ver- when stringing Prince O-port frames, sions. There is a demo version to try free A: Bob Patterson explained the di er- many of which have to be mounted with for 10 days; the unlocked version is $79. the manufacturer logo on the butt cap Babolat is working to have its My Play upside down to allow you to proceed Point and Racquet Station systems avail- with the crosses with the starting knot able by the end of the year. You can read on the left. The alternative would be more details about this in “New Concept to mount the racquet with the butt cap in Racquet Service” in the February 2016 logo facing up, which then places the issue of Tennis Industry magazine. starting knot on the right side. We encourage anyone who o ers It is up to you whether it is easier to racquet-stringing software to contact mount this frame (and other simi- us at [email protected]. larly confi gured frames) upside down to preserve your normal method of approaching the installation of the Please send questions to Tennis Industry, crosses, or if it is easier to mount the 48 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10010; frame with the butt cap logo facing up, or email [email protected].

36 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_AskExperts_FINAL.indd 38 7/22/16 12:20 PM monogut-advert-update.pdf 1 28/03/2016 20:44

A REVOLUTION IN MONOFILAMENT TENNIS STRING TECHNOLOGY...

MonoGut® ® ZX MonoGut ZX MonoGut ZX Pro C

CMY

ZERO POLYESTER ZERO POLYESTER DYNAMIC SOFT POWER DYNAMIC SPIN

1.27 40 ft 360 ft 720ft 1.22 40 ft 360 ft 720ft mm set reel reel mm set reel reel 16 gauge 17 gauge

Dynamic stiffness of Zyex® polymer provides playability similar to natural gut Absence of polyester increases power and decreases string bed stiffness Superior elongation increases resiliency and control of the ball

® Zyex is a registered trademark of Zyex Limited

www.ashawayusa.com 800-556-7260 String Playtest

On the Court Our playtesters loved the Spin Potential of Square-X, rating it 20th best in this category of the 194 strings we have playtested for publication. Ytex Square-X also rated well above average in Durability, Resistance to Movement and Control. Overall, Ytex Square-X rated above average. No playtester reported premature fray- ing or peeling, none reported buzzing and Ytex Square-X four reported notching. Only one playtester broke the sample during the playtest period, after nine hours of play. In the Lab We tested the 16L-gauge Square-X Black. Conclusion The coil measured 40 feet, 8 inches. The If this reminds you of an “untwisted” diameter measured 1.24 mm prior to version of the Ytex Quadro Twist we stringing and 1.22 mm after stringing. playtested for the February 2012 issue of We recorded a string-bed stiffness of 77 Tennis Industry magazine, you are in the RDC units immediately after stringing right ballpark. One difference is that our at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 playtesters rated Square-X to have even racquet (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant- more Spin Potential than Quadro Twist. pull machine. If you think that Ytex Square-X Black After 24 hours (no playing), string- might be for you, fill out the coupon on the bed stiffness measured 73 RDC units, next page to get a free set.—Greg Raven representing a 5 percent tension loss. Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Playtester Comments Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC “I like this string. It has a little bit of texture units immediately after stringing and 71 to it that my normal string doesn't. That RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut Original had a stiff- Playtester Ratings: tex Square-X is a square profile ness of 217 and a tension loss of 11.67 Ease of Stringing monofilament string containing pounds, while Ytex Square-X Black 16L (compared to other strings) co-polymer, carbon and poly- has a stiffness of 214 and a tension loss Much easier: 1 Y Somewhat easier: 3 of 12.46 pounds. Square-X Black 16L olefin that is finished using a Thermo About as easy: 17 Foil Cooling Process. Ytex claims that added 16.1 grams to the weight of our Not quite as easy: 4 where the mains and crosses contact, unstrung frame. Not nearly as easy: 0 the two flat surfaces increase durability, The string was tested for five weeks by Overall Playability eliminate notching and allow the string 27 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings (compared to the string played most often) from 3.5 to 6.0. These are blind tests, with Much better: 1 to return to the “neutral” position after Somewhat better: 5 impact with the ball. playtesters receiving unmarked strings in About as playable: 6 Ytex tells us that because Square-X unmarked packages. The average number Not quite as playable: 13 measures 1.20 mm across the flat sides, of hours playtested was 29.8. Not nearly as playable: 1 it plays like a much thinner string, Ytex supplied us with a tension chart Overall Durability for specific head sizes and mains counts, (compared to other strings of similar gauge) increasing power and control. Much better: 5 Ytex Square-X is designed for play- with a general recommendation to set the Somewhat better: 8 ers who love poly and co-poly but are reference tension 5 percent to 10 percent About as durable: 13 looking for a softer string that is easy lower than for a typical nylon string. We Not quite as durable: 1 on the arm. passed these recommendations along to Not nearly as durable: 0 our playtest team. Rating Averages Square-X is available in 16L (1.25 From 1 to 5 (best) mm) in black or white. It is priced from Ytex Square-X has rounded corners, so Playability: 3.2 $5.50 for 40-foot sets (retail $8.50), installing it was not a problem. We saw Durability: 4.0 and $64 for reels of 660-foot (retail some burning, although only one play- Power: 3.1 $99). For more information or to order, tester reported this. Control: 3.6 No playtester broke the sample during Comfort: 3.1 contact Ytex at 843-816-1440, or visit Touch/Feel: 3.0 ytexstrings.com. Be sure to read the stringing. Three reported problems with Spin Potential: 3.7 (20th overall) conclusion for more information about coil memory, one reported problems tying Holding Tension: 3.3

getting a free set to try for yourself. knots and one reported other problems. Resistance to Movement: 3.7 YTEX COURTESY

38 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_StringPlaytest_FINAL.indd 36 7/22/16 12:22 PM was a big plus. Would like to see other pounds CP (Babolat Origin 17) (Strings normally used by testers are in color than black.” 4.5 male all-court player parentheses. For the rest of the tester using Prince Warrior 100L strung at 52 “Overall, for a poly it was average. comments, visit www.tennisindustry- pounds LO (Prince Warrior Poly) Played well, and easy on the arm. Wish mag.com.) it had more pop. I should have strung it “Liked the ease of stringing for the kind 5 percent to 10 percent less.” 5.0 male FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM of string. It held tension well. Would use it all-court player using Head Prestige Ytex will send a free set of Square-X to when it hits the market.” 4.0 male all-court Graphene strung at 60 pounds LO (Head the first 500USRSA members who player using Wilson Burn 100S strung at Sonic Pro 16) cut out (or copy) this coupon and 55 pounds CP (Wilson Revolve 17) send it to: “Average string; not something I would USRSA, Attn: Ytex String Offer, 310 “Felt good for a poly. Seemed to bite quite buy.” 5.0 male all-court player using Head Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, well with good serve performance.” 5.0 all- Prestige strung at 50/46 pounds LO (Tec- court player using Prince Warrior strung at nifibre NRG2 16) Suite 400, Birmingham, AL 35203 55 pounds CP (Prince Premier Power 17) or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the “Good overall string. Not enough power info below to: “Does what a poly does with added spin for my game, though.” 3.5 male baseliner [email protected]. and durability. Comfort and touch are with heavy spin using Wilson BLX Blade 98 Offer expires Sept. 15, 2016. Offer only second to spin and durability.” 5.0 male strung at 55 pounds LO (Gamma Profes- available to USRSA members in the U.S. serve-and-volley player using Wilson Pro sional 17) Name: ______Staff RF strung at 48 pounds LO (Gamma USRSA Member number: ______Live Wire Pro 17) “Started out OK and then began to fade Phone: ______really fast (at about the 20 hour mark).” Email: ______“Good string for people who want spin 4.0 male all-court player using Prince If you print your email clearly, we will and control.” 4.5 male all-court player Warrior 107 Textreme strung at 50 pounds notify you when your sample will be sent. using Babolat Pure Aero strung at 50 CP (Prince Tour XP 17) •

www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com Sept/Oct 2016 TennisIndustry 39

09_TI_StringPlaytest_FINAL.indd 37 7/22/16 12:22 PM Your Serve

Empower the Player The success of a large league shows that the smallest details can make a big difference. By Ed McGrogan

he most intimate league I’ve ever been a part of is also the biggest T league I’ve ever been a part of. Those two qualities would seem to be mutually exclusive, but not at the Four Seasons Racquet Club in Wilton, Conn., where a 15-year-old, 50-player league proves that organization and consider- ation lead to widespread appreciation. “It was totally designed from a players’ perspective,” says commissioner Arnie Hoegler, who had experienced the common pitfalls of tennis leagues first hand: lopsided matches, inflexible scheduling and general confusion. Hoegler wanted players to look forward to each week as an ever-changing challenge, so he ditched the traditional ladder system—which often leads to repeat matches—in favor of his quality- points system. Each player is assigned a point value based on their position in the standings; if that player loses, their opponent earns that amount of points. Another key to a great league is its The good vibes can help the club in Active management of the flexibility. This is a Tuesday-night other ways, including generating new league makes everything league, but courts are set aside for memberships. Unlock the potential of work. It is the key. make-up matches on Wednesdays. your league by putting the players first. “We realized that players were going “Above all, Arnie’s active manage- But losers of the league’s best-of-three- to miss matches,” says Hoegler. “It ment of the league makes everything set matches can also earn points—half meant that more players could commit, work,” says league member Marin of the total for winning at least seven because they know they’d get them in.” Strmecki. “It is the key.” • games, and three-quarters of the total Hoegler is extremely hands-on, for winning a set. accommodating schedule requests Ed McGrogan is a “The ranking system ensures that down to the morning of the match. senior editor for TENNIS I’ll get to play a large number of people Revisions are frequent, but players are magazine, TENNIS.com with a variety of styles,” says Zach alerted to them instantly over email. and Tennis Industry, and Horne, a league member for five years. Players also go online to enter their has been earning quality “The league provides a great opportu- scores and connect with each other. It’s points in Hoegler's nity to grow all sides of my game.” a system that all league members Tuesday-night league since 2012. According to Hoegler, 80 to 85 per- appreciate, no matter their skill level. cent of players will have at least a .500 “Not to mention a great post-match record. It’s a competitive balance that atmosphere with cold beer available,” We welcome your opinions. Please email

the NFL and NHL would be proud of. adds player Jeremy Rabinowitz. comments to [email protected] PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK

40 TennisIndustry Sept/Oct 2016 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com

09_TI_YourServe.indd 40 7/22/16 12:25 PM DECOTURF, THE OFFICIAL SURFACE CHOICE OF THE US OPEN

Photo Credit: Ned Dishman/USTA

California Sports Surfaces, is the world’s largest manufacturer of acrylic sports surfacing systems and surface preparation products.

150 Dascomb Road Andover, MA 01810 USA 978.623.9980 |www.californiasportssurfaces.com www.decoturf.com