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Wilson Debuts Limited Edition Blade and Burn

Wilson recently debuted its 2017 Limited Edition (LE) Blade and Burn racquet lines. Inspired by player feedback that having confident and strong colors on a racquet is a simple and powerful way to express their individual style, the eye-catching frames feature bursts of electric lime green and vibrant orange.

World No. 7 Kei Nishikori and No. 10 David Goffin, both Wilson advisory staff members, will play with LE Burn and Blade racquets, respectively, on tour this summer.

While the LE Blade and Burn frames include the same design specs and technologies as the existing 2017 Blade and Burn performance models, the color accents of each frame are now featured as the primary color, with black accents at the 6 and 9 o’clock positions.

Two of the models — the Blade 98 (18x20) CV and Burn 100 CV — feature Countervail (CV) technology, which is a specialized carbon fiber layered into the frame.

The Blade 98L LE and Burn 100LS LE offer maneuverability and easy power for players seeking lighter frames to swing, according to Wilson. And the Burn 100LS LE features the brand’s Spin Effect technology.

Suggested retail prices are $219 for the Blade (18x20) CV LE; $199 for the Blade 98L LE and Burn 100 CV LE; and $179 for the Burn 100LS LE.

Visit wilson.com for more information and photographs.

USPTA Closes Houston Office, Moves Headquarters to Florida

After 25 years, the Houston office of the USPTA closed its doors on May 30, as the organization relocates its headquarters to Lake Nona, in Orlando, Fla. The USPTA’s new building wasn’t finished at press time, so staff has been operating out of temporary space.

When completed, the single-story, 10,000-square-foot building will be home to about 20 USPTA staff members. The space will feature an in-house multimedia studio that allows for TV production.

“The relocation to Lake Nona is game-changing for our association,” says USPTA CEO John Embree. “Today, we begin a brand new and incredibly exciting chapter in our rich 90-year history with the transition to our new home across the street from the Home of American Tennis.”

The new USPTA national office can be reached at 407-634-3050. The USPTA World Headquarters address is 11961 Performance Drive, Orlando, FL 32827.

Inaugural Women’s Coaching Conference in NYC in August

The Women’s Tennis Coaching Association (WTCA) will hold its inaugural WTCA Conference NYC on Aug. 26-27, at the New York Marriott East Side in Manhattan. The conference theme is “the art and science of coaching female players.”

Presented in association with the PTR, speakers will include Grand Slam champions, internationally known tennis experts, college coaches, medical advisers, industry leaders and business experts. Among those on the agenda to date are Dr. Mark Kovacs, Mary Pierce, Lindsay Davenport, Johan Kriek, Craig O’Shannessy, Brenda Schultz McCarthy, Emma Doyle, Mike Barrell, Sarah Stone and Ann Grossman Wunderlich.

The conference fee is $199, which will increase after July 17. To register, visit wtcatennis.org or call 561-501-1557. The hotel is at 525 Lexington Ave., between 48th and 49th streets.

Active Network to Continue As USTA Registration Provider

Active Network will continue as the exclusive tournament and league registration provider for the USTA. Since 2007, Active has managed and hosted the TennisLink software platform, which is the registration and match-results system for all sanctioned USTA Leagues, Junior Team Tennis and tournaments.

Active has delivered streamlined and intuitive software that has helped the USTA increase participation in its sanctioned tournaments and leagues by more than 130 percent, growing from 690,000 registrations in January 2007 to over 1.6 million annual registrations this past year.

Oracle, ITA Create Fall National Championships at Indian Wells

The Oracle Corp., in conjunction with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, is creating the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships at Indian Wells, Calif. The inaugural event will be held Nov. 2-5 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and other area resort locations.

The new Fall Championships will include 128 of the nation’s top collegiate singles players (64 men and 64 women) and 64 doubles teams (32 men’s and 32 women’s teams). The event replaces the ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships.

“While the top professionals get well-deserved attention, we also want fans to be able to experience the excitement of collegiate tennis in this incredible venue," says Oracle CEO Mark Hurd.

Gullikson Retires From USTA Player Development

USTA Lead National Coach Tom Gullikson retired in June from full-time coaching with USTA Player Development. Gullikson, a former U.S. Davis Cup captain, had led Player Development’s Team USA–Pro Men’s Division since it was created last year.

“Tennis has been a real labor of love for me,” Gullikson said. “I’ve never really considered it a job, either the playing or the coaching, because it’s something I’ve loved since I hit my very first ball at 5 years old with my brother Tim on the public courts of La Crosse, Wis.”

Gullikson began coaching with the USTA in 1988 as one of the first coaches in the USTA Player Development program. He would go on to coach Jim Courier, Todd Martin, MaliVai Washington and Jennifer Capriati, among other notable players.

As a player, he captured 16 career doubles titles, 10 with his twin brother, Tim. Gullikson also won the US Open mixed doubles title in 1984, with Manuela Maleeva, and peaked at No. 4 in the world in doubles.

Bill Rapp Joins California Sports Surfaces as Midwest Manager

The California Sports Surfaces division of ICP Construction has named Bill Rapp to the position of Midwest regional sales manager. CSS supplies surfacing brands DecoTurf, Plexicushion Prestige, Rebound Ace, Premier Sports Coatings, Premier Court and Plexitrac.

Rapp will serve current customers and proactively increase the CSS account base through the creation of strategic growth opportunities and new business initiatives. He has served as a club tennis director in the San Francisco Bay Area, NCAA athletic director, president of the USPTA Northern California division and director of the Professional Tennis Division of Sharks Sports & Entertainment in San Jose, whose properties included the SAP Open, among other events.

“Bill brings extensive marketing, sales, customer relations, strategic planning and promotional experience to his new position,” says John Graham, VP of the Sports Surfaces Group at ICP. He can be reached at brapp@icp-construction.com or 408-505-6914.

Manhattanville College Joins With USTA to Offer PTM Degree

Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., has formed a partnership with the USTA that will bring a Professional Tennis Management degree program to the college in the spring of 2018. Manhattanville becomes one of seven NCAA institutions to offer the PTM program, which will prepare graduates for positions in the industry, including as tennis teaching professionals, club managers, directors of tennis and other positions.

The PTM degree program will become part of Manhattanville’s Sports Studies curriculum. The program, some of which will be presented online, offers students on-court playing and coaching development, a bachelor’s degree in sports studies, paid internships, work-force credentials, a USTA certificate, tennis industry networking and job placement after the program is complete.

USTA Teams With Partnership For a Healthier America

The USTA has committed to a three-year partnership with Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) as part of its continuing efforts to get more children into tennis. The partnership will serve as a platform to promote the USTA’s youth tennis initiative.

The USTA announced its commitment in May at PHA’s sixth annual “Building a Healthier Future” Summit in Washington, D.C., where it promoted its initiatives and efforts to support healthy lifestyles for youth and families across the country. The event is an opportunity to discuss health issues that currently plague Americans — especially those relating to physical fitness — with the goal of developing solutions.

“The USTA is fully committed to expanding its efforts at getting youth to be active and have fun by emphasizing the importance of multi-sport play at early ages,” says Craig Morris, USTA general manager of Community Tennis.

“We believe tennis can be the model sport for our young people. This partnership with PHA is a way to showcase the USTA’s passion for enhancing young lives through our sport.”

UTR Becomes the Official Rating System for ITA

In a five-year agreement, the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) system will become the “official rating system” of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The ITA Summer Circuit will be branded as “powered by UTR,” with the ITA utilizing the Universal Tennis event platform “UTR Events” as the tournament management system for circuit events. The two organizations will work together in developing the ITA Summer Circuit as a model for level-based play.

“By partnering with Universal Tennis, we believe college tennis will continue to serve as a model for the benefits of level-based play,” says ITA Chief Executive Officer Timothy Russell.

POP Tennis Social Held At USTA National Tennis Center

A POP Tennis Social was part of the Innovations Tennis Challenge held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on April 29. The Innovations Tennis Challenge featured a One-On-One tennis doubles tournament along with a POP Tennis Social and casual Ping Pong play. The event, which offered free food and beverage as well as live music, was open to the public and attracted more than 250 people.

In related news, the POP Tennis Pro Series Tour schedule will include:

• New York Pro Open, July 29-30, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
• Venice Beach US Open, Oct. 7-8, Venice, Calif.

The Pro Series kicked off in May at the St. Augustine Beach Nationals in Florida.

For more information on the Pro Series, contact info@poptennis.com.

Frasure Reps Named LSI Exclusive Sales Rep

LSI Industries, a leader in sports lighting systems, has appointed Frasure Reps LLC as its exclusive sales representative for domestic and international sports lighting customers. Bruce Frasure will be transitioning from his longtime management position at LSI Industries to owner and president of Frasure Reps.

“I am excited by this opportunity to concentrate on the sports lighting market and to continue to work with many longtime customers, whether they be court builders, architects and engineers,” says Frasure of his new role.

LSI Industries is the manufacturer and supplier of the Courtsider XL and Aeropro HID lighting systems, as well as the CourtBlade LED lighting systems for tennis, pickleball, basketball and volleyball courts.

To learn more about LSI’s sports lighting products, visit frasurereps.com.

Tennis Resorts Online Names Top Resorts & Camps

Kiawah Island Golf Resort on Kiawah Island, S.C., remains the top resort in Tennis Resorts Online’s annual rankings of resorts and camps worldwide. Also repeating in a No. 1 spot is the Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks program at the Gstaad Palace in Switzerland, as the top camp.

Tennis Resorts Online’s Top 10 resorts and camps are listed here. For the full list of Top 100 resorts and camps, visit tennisresortsonline.com.

Resorts

1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, S.C.
2. Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Calif.
3. Four Seasons Resort Nevis, Nevis, West Indies
4. Wild Dunes Resort, S.C.
5. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Calif.
6. Resort at Longboat Key Club, Fla.
7. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hawaii
8. Boca Raton Resort & Club, Fla.
9. Kapalua Resort, Hawaii
10. Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Fla.

Camps

1. Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks at Gstaad Palace, Switzerland
2. John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
3. PBI Camps at Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt, Austria
4. Saddlebrook Tennis, Fla.
5. New England Tennis Holidays, Sugarbush, Vt.
6. Cliff Drysdale Tennis at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Fla.
7. Reed Anderson Tennis School, Calif.
8. IMG Academy Bollettieri Program, Fla.
9. Van Der Meer Tennis, Shipyard Plantation, S.C.
10. Wintergreen Tennis Academy, Va.

Officials Investigate Theft Of Prescription Drugs at UGA

In mid-May, as the NCAA Tennis Championships were about to start at the University of Georgia, campus police were investigating a case in which prescription drugs were alleged to have been stolen and/or mishandled by persons associated with the school’s tennis programs.

While no names were included in the initial incident report, two associate coaches, one with the men’s and one with the women’s team, were suspended. Officials say Georgia men’s head coach Manny Diaz reported the alleged crime.

USTA Offers School ‘Train the Trainer’ Workshop

In early May, about 90 staff, teaching pros and coaches from the 17 USTA sections gathered at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., for a School’s “Train the Trainer” workshop. Attendees not only worked on on-court skills for bringing the game to youth players at various grade levels, but National USTA staff also shared plans for the USTA Schools program and for the new “Net Generation” initiative to reach younger players.

Correction

E-Z Paving/Sealcoat LLC of Fulton, N.Y., which nominated the SUNY Cortland Tennis Court complex in Cortland, N.Y., for the 2016 ASBA awards, also was the sports surfacing company for the project, assisted by Oval Tennis of Mahopac, N.Y. The May issue incorrectly included Lower Bros., which was not involved in the project.

USRSA Announces New Master Racquet Technicians

Jorge Simono, Sawo Paulo, Brazil

Weidong Cai, China

Michigan Wins First Tennis On Campus Title

The University of Michigan pulled off a thrilling rally to win its first USTA Tennis On Campus national title, with a 24-20 victory over the University of California–Irvine. Down 19-18 heading into the final mixed-doubles match, Michigan’s Laura Ucros Tellez and Max Rothman clinched the title with a 6-1 win.

The USTA Tennis On Campus program features more than 35,000 college students competing nationwide in intramural and intercollegiate co-ed club tennis play.

Since its inception in 2000, Tennis On Campus has expanded significantly, and today is played on more than 700 college campuses across the country.

For more information on the program, visit TennisOnCampus.com.

Legacy Launches New Website

Legacy Building Solutions has launched a new website — legacybuildingsolutions.com — to make it easier to find updated information on completed fabric buildings, video building tours, case studies, white papers, webinars and details about fabric structure design, manufacturing and installation.

Visit the website, or email legacy@legacybuildingsolutions.com for more information.

People Watch

• Colette Lewis of Kalamazoo, Mich., has been named the USTA Midwest Section’s Fred Burns Award winner, recognizing a media member who has contributed the most toward promoting tennis on the local, district or Midwest section level. In January, Lewis was named Tennis Industry magazine’s Junior Tennis Champion of the Year.
• Serena Williams is featured in the “Tempur-Pedic Sleep is Power” campaign and is endorsing the mattress brand, which she has used for 10 years.
• Former USTA Executive Director Rick Ferman is the new executive director of tennis for the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in New York.
• Former USTA Florida President Rollie Shea passed away on May 10 at his home in Florida. Among his many accomplishments, Shea was a longtime editor of Friend at Court, the USTA handbook for rules and regulations, and he refereed at countless junior, national and professional tournaments. Memorial donations may be made to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund or the USTA Florida Section Foundation.
• The Denny Schackter Award will be presented to winning girls’ and boys’ high school tennis programs in the Greater Milwaukee area following the Milwaukee Tennis Classic tournament Sept. 21-24. Schackter, now a consultant in the tennis industry and founder of Tennis Priorities Co., has been a part of the MTC event, for collegiate men and women, since it began in 1975.
• D.A. Abrams, Connie Ebert, Jeff Harrison and Julian Krinsky will be inducted into the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held on Oct. 19 in Phoenixville, Pa.
• Paul Maya is the USTA’s new chief technology officer.
• Agnieszka Radwanska has become an ambassador for LOTOS Group, an oil company and refinery based in Gdansk, Poland. Radwanska will promote the LOTOS brand and take part in the company’s special events, including activities within the field of sports education.
• Former USTA Player Development executive Tom Jacobs was named Senior Associate Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the Atlantic-10 Conference. Jacobs served as the Managing Director, Administration and Business Affairs, for USTAPD from 2008 to 2016.
• American player Nikita Kryvonos has been banned from pro tennis for 10 years and fined $20,000 after being found guilty of breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program. The Tennis Integrity Unit determined that Kryvonos, age 30, colluded with third parties to fix a match in Champaign, Ill., in November 2015. Kryvonos achieved a career-high singles ranking of 389 in 2007.
• In a separate ruling, Greek tennis player Konstantinos Mikos, age 25, has been banned from pro tennis for life after being found guilty of four offenses under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.

ITHOF Selected As Affiliate Of Smithsonian Institution

The International Tennis Hall of Fame has become the first independent sports hall of fame to earn the designation Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The affiliation allows the ITHOF special access to the Smithsonian’s network of exhibitions, education initiatives, research expertise and resources for use in developing new exhibitions, programs and educational experiences.

“We are incredibly excited about our partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, as it will benefit our community, visitors and tennis fans immeasurably,” says ITHF Museum Director Doug Stark. “Collaborating with the Smithsonian and museums across the country affords us the opportunity to offer a more enriching experience.”

Affiliate organizations benefit from object and exhibit loans, discounted Smithsonian memberships, custom-developed education, performing arts, and public programs. Staff at the Smithsonian and the ITHOF are discussing potential collaborative projects.

By the numbers

Top-Selling Racquets at Specialty Stores

January-March 2017 vs. 2016

Units	2017	104,015
	2016	113,696
	% change vs. ’16	-9%
Dollars	2017	$16,190,000
	2016	$17,163,000
	% change vs. ’15	-6%
Price	2017	$155.65
	2016	$150.95
	% change vs. ’16	+3%

Top-Selling Racquets at Specialty Stores

By year-to-date dollars, Jan.-March 2017

Best Sellers

1. Babolat Pure Drive 2015 (MP)
2. Babolat Pure Aero (100) 2016 (MP)
3. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Auto 2017 (MP)
4. Wilson Blade 98 (16x19) CV (MP)
5. Babolat Pure Aero Team 2016 (MP)

Hot New Racquets (introduced in the past 12 months)

1. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Auto 2017 (MP)
2. Wilson Blade 98 (16x19) CV (MP)
3. Wilson Blade 104 2017 (MP)
4. Wilson Pro Staff 97LS 2017 (MP)
5. Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 2017

Top-Selling Tennis Shoes at Specialty Stores

By year-to-date dollars, Jan.-March 2017

1. Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour 2015
2. Nike Zoom Cage 2
3. Asics Gel Resolution 6
4. Asics Gel Solution Speed 3
5. Prince T22

Top-Selling Strings at Specialty Stores

By year-to-date units, Jan.-March 2017

1. Babolat RPM Blast
2. Wilson NXT
3. Wilson Sensation
4. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex
5. Luxilon Alu Power

(Source: TIA)

Rebo Wall Joins PTR, Enters U.S. Market

Rebo has joined the PTR as a corporate member, as it looks to break into the U.S. market. Rebo Walls are made for non-traditional spaces and come in an inflatable version for portability.

Designed by Adrian Hutchins in 2013, Rebo Wall is a free-standing, easy-to-install practice wall that has an adjustable angled face. The wall is available in a variety of fabrications. For example, the “Speed” Rebo inflates in minutes and comes in a range of colors and designs, including two Head-branded versions.

Visit rebowall.com for more information or contact info@rebowall.com.

Short Sets

• In a three-year deal, Har-Tru is now the official provider of teaching carts, ball mowers and ball baskets for the USPTA. Har-Tru will offer special rates for USPTA members when shopping on Har-Tru’s website for qualified products. In addition, members who are enrolled in the Retirement Gold+ program can earn contributions to their retirement accounts with a qualified Har-Tru purchase.
• Mouratoglou Tennis Academy will establish its first world-class tennis coaching facility outside of France in Kuwait’s Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah International Tennis Complex. The tennis program will be led by Patrick Mouratoglou, who has been Serena Williams’ coach since 2012.
• Asics America Corp. is now one of PHIT America’s partners in helping children become more active. The partnership, including PHIT America GO! Grants, will support new physical activity programs throughout schools in the United States. In addition, the partnership brings further support to help Congress pass the PHIT Act, which will change current federal tax law to allow for the deduction or use of pre-tax dollars to cover expenses related to sports, fitness and other physical activities.
• The Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation of Las Vegas recently passed a milestone: Its 100th high school student received a college scholarship. Sophie Henderson will be attending Georgetown University.
• The April 21 edition of The New York Times included a story on 10 renovated courts at Cuba’s National Tennis Center in Havana. Tennis Channel also documented the transformation as part of its efforts. The project was the brainchild of Jake Agna, director of the nonprofit Kids on the Ball, based in Vermont. Work on the courts was done by Hinding Tennis.
• Canadian insurance company Aviva has a tennis-focused insurance program through a partnership with Tennis Canada. The program is currently targeted to all Ontario tennis club members and fans, with the goal to be available to all tennis enthusiasts in 2018.
• Porsche has entered a multi-year partnership to become the title sponsor for the WTA Finals qualification campaign: the "Porsche Race to Singapore."

From the July 2017 issue
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