Industry News

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NEXT Generation Workshop Presented by USTA, USPTA

NEXT Generation: A Tennis Innovation Workshop will be held Oct. 11-15 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in Florida. The event is designed for tennis professionals and providers, industry leaders and representatives, manufacturers, as well as the media.

The workshop is a combination of the USTA’s Tennis Development Workshop and the USPTA’s World Conference, and will include some of the world’s leading experts in providing and promoting tennis.

The opening reception will be on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m. Attendees will spend most of the next day at the USTA National Campus, then the USPTA Buying Show will take place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Exhibitors will include tennis equipment, apparel and footwear companies, marketers and wholesalers of hard and soft goods, video analysis, web-based programs and software, teaching aids, court surfacing, lighting and more. There will also be a silent auction at the Buying Show to benefit the USPTA Foundation. An awards lunch will be on Friday, Oct. 13.

Registration for NEXT Generation is $339 until Sept. 8, then $389. Visit NextGeneration17.com for more.

USRSA World Conference to be Oct. 6-9 in Orlando

The schedule for the USRSA World Conference, to be held Oct. 6-9 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., will feature top leaders and presenters in the industry, including Mark Gonzales, John Gugel, Liam Nolen, Tom Parry, and Bob Patterson. The USRSA conference immediately precedes the NEXT Generation workshop (see above), also in Orlando. The conference will feature receptions and roundtable discussions.

At the event, two new certifications will be introduced and available to Master Racquet Technicians: Racquet Customization Specialist and Tournament Stringer Specialist.

Attendees will receive a gift bag filled with products from sponsors. Space for the USRSA World Conference is limited. To register, and to see the complete schedule, visit usrsa.com.

Seating Solutions Builds Temporary US Open Stadium

Seating Solutions of Commack, N.Y., has designed and constructed a temporary stadium that will be used in place of Louis Armstrong Stadium for the 2017 US Open. Located in what was formerly Parking Lot B, it will have 8,000 seats, including 2,000 reserved seats in the lower bowl.

“We’ve designed the temporary stadium to create the intimate setting and feel of the old Louis Armstrong Stadium,” says Scott Suprina, founder and lead designer of Seating Solutions. “Because we are also the manufacturer and patent holder, our seating systems are unique to each client’s event.”

The stadium will have an aluminum truss clear-framing substructure with under-stand lighting and modular packages for convenience of the spectators. The seating system has a built-in broadcast booth, media box and rooftop camera positions. For more information, visit SeatingSolutions.com.

The permanent Louis Armstrong Stadium, which will include a retractable roof, is expected to be completed in time for the 2018 US Open.

Sportswear Brand Stages Match Across U.S.-Mex. Border

Swedish sportswear brand Björn Borg organized a tennis match in July over the U.S.-Mexico border, with half the court in each country. The match, at the Tijuana River between San Diego and the city of Tijuana, was played between Mariano Argote of Mexico and Peter Clemente of the United States.

While players normally change ends after every other game, Argote and Clemente weren’t allowed to, having to remain on their designated side of the border.

“Sports has the power to unite people,” says Henrik Bunge, CEO of Björn Borg. “We hope to inspire people to reach out to their neighbors and do sports together, instead of building walls. As a sportswear brand, we believe in an open world.”

Wilson Introduces Ultra Racquet Line

Wilson has introduced the 2017 Ultra racquet line, which the company says delivers more power than the previous generation of the racquet “while maintaining its versatility from every corner of the court.” Pro players Gael Monfils, Feliciano Lopez, Borna Coric and Madison Keys are playing with the new Ultra.

The 2017 Ultra line consists of six models: the Ultra 100 Countervail (CV), Ultra 100L, Ultra 100UL, Ultra 105S CV, Ultra 110 and Ultra Tour. Each model has been developed to reflect differences in athlete age, size and ability. Varying head sizes, weights, technologies and string patterns allow players to select a model that is right for them based on their individual needs and style of play, says Wilson.

The Ultra 100L and Ultra 100UL ($199) are maneuverable, lightweight options ideal for juniors and smaller adults. The Ultra 100 CV and Ultra 105S CV ($219) feature Countervail, an integrated frame technology that minimizes vibration without sacrificing performance and feel. The Ultra 110 ($219) and Ultra Tour ($249) round out the line.

PTR Tech, Tennis Director Conferences in November

The PTR’s inaugural Tennis Technology Conference & Expo will be Nov. 13-14 on Hilton Head Island, followed by the PTR Directors of Tennis Conference Nov. 15-16.

The tech conference will include interactive sessions covering the latest developments integrating tennis products and software. Attendees will learn how to implement cutting-edge technology in their coaching and tennis businesses immediately and affordably. Products will be available to demo on court and in the classroom. Topics include Tracking Trends to Increase Profits, Capturing and Analyzing Video, Implementing Video Analysis, On Court Technology, and Software Integration.

The annual Directors of Tennis Conference covers topics relevant to directors of indoor, resort, country club, public and private facilities, all led by experts and consultants. Each day will close with roundtable discussions on best practices.

Discounted pricing is available for attending both conferences. For more information and to register, visit ptrtennis.org.

Correction

In the July “Guide to Ball Machines” chart, a price was incorrect for one of the Sports Tutor models. The manufacturer suggested retail price for Sports Tutor’s Wilson Portable should be $1,145. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Report: Amazon Considers Live-Streaming Tennis

Internet giant Amazon is considering live-streaming pro tennis, according to London’s Daily Mail. It was reported during Wimbledon that Amazon is looking at the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, whose contract with Sky Sports expires in 2018.

The newspaper said Amazon representatives were at Wimbledon making contacts ahead of a potential bid to stream all major tournaments below the Grand Slams on the Amazon Prime subscription platform. Amazon already has a deal with the National Football League to stream a package of 10 Thursday night games in 2017.

Total US Open Prize Money Tops Record $50 Million

Total prize money for the 2017 US Open will be a record $50.4 million, a 9 percent increase over last year’s prize purse.

The increase makes the US Open the first tennis tournament in history with total prize money topping $50 million. Both men’s and women’s singles champions will earn $3.7 million, the largest payout in tournament history.

The average increase per round for the singles competition is 7.5 percent above the 2016 US Open. Similar to the past two years, the first and second rounds of the tournament will see the largest percentage gains. A player who loses in the first round of singles will receive $50,000.

Both the men’s and women’s doubles champion teams will earn $675,000, the highest in US Open history, and overall doubles prize money has been increased by 8.6 percent.

The US Open Qualifying Tournament will offer more than $2.9 million in prize money, an unprecedented 49.2 percent increase over 2016. US Open players also will enjoy upgraded dining and workout facilities.

WTT Puts Microphones on Players During Matches

Mylan World TeamTennis teamed with ESPN to introduce on-player wireless microphones that capture on-court action. During the WTT season in July, players wore wireless microphones for the first time in professional tennis competition.

“We are constantly looking for groundbreaking ways to help fans get closer to the action and to help them fully appreciate the high level of athleticism and intensity when the best players in the world are on the court,” says WTT co-owner Mark Ein.

Players wore the concealed mic and lightweight wireless transmitter, which weighs less than 2 ounces and is only 1/3- inch thick. A remote-control device toggled the mic on and off during play. Two to three players and each coach were mic’d nightly throughout the match and on the bench.

Pro Women’s Event to be Held in Tyler, Texas

Professional women’s tennis is coming to Tyler, Texas. The newly developed Tyler Athletic & Swim Club, owned and managed by Cliff Drysdale Management,announced it will host the Annual Tyler Pro Challenge from Oct. 29-Nov. 5.

The tournament is an $80,000 USTA Pro Circuit event and will be one of three qualifying women’s tournaments in the USTA’s Australian Open Wild Card Challenge. The player who earns the most WTA ranking points at two of three tournaments (Macon, Ga.; Tyler, Tx. Waco, Tx.) will earn a main draw wild card into the 2018 Australian Open.

Tournament proceeds will benefit ACEing Autism, a national non-profit organization that connects children with autism through unique therapeutic tennis programs.

USTA Foundation Wins ESPN Humanitarian Award

In July, the USTA Foundation received the 2017 ESPN League Humanitarian Leadership Award at a ceremony in Los Angeles hosted by former professional boxer Laila Ali and Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN’s “Mike and Mike.” The event celebrated and honored leagues, teams, individuals and members of the sporting community that are using the power of sport to make a positive impact on society.

The League Humanitarian Leadership Award honors a professional sports league for driving social impact. The USTA Foundation, which is the national charitable organization of the USTA, will receive a $100,000 grant from ESPN that will be used to impact the more than 350 NJTL chapters across the country, allowing them to continue providing quality tennis and educational programming to more than 225,000 under-resourced youth.

Vulcan Offers New Grips and Overgrips

Vulcan will introduce a new line of tennis racquet grips and overgrips during the USPTA World Conference in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 11-15.

The company says the new grips and overgrips “give players a new level of comfort and control by leveraging the latest materials science and advances in grip technology — plus fun colors and designs that reflect a player’s style. “

Vulcan’s first offering includes two tour-level replacement grips and 10 overgrips. Vulcan overgrips feature several design firsts, including an exclusive Maze tread pattern and a patented edge design that lays flat and resists roll. Players can choose a grip with light-tack and light-cushion or a soft grip that is extra absorbent.

Suggested retail is $9.99 for a replacement grip and $7.99 for a three-pack of overgrips. Visit vulcangrips.com for more information, or call 800-826-6373.

Ashaway Updates Line of Badminton Strings

Ashaway’s updated line of badminton strings is now structured to provide a string for every style and frequency of play. The complete line includes two badminton string families: the ZyMax Fire family of competition strings, which are constructed with a proprietary Beta polymer and Ashaway’s patented ZyWeaVe core technology; and the newest introduction to the line, Ashaway’s Rally 21 Fire, also made with Beta polymer.

For more information, specifications and photographs of the string line, visit ashawayusa.com.

PTR Announces Master of Tennis Certifications

Robert Carlbo of Tampa, Fla., is the first coach to earn PTR Master of Tennis — Adult Development certification. He’s also the first coach to earn all three Master of Tennis certifications: Performance, Junior Development and Adult Development.

Earning PTR Master of Tennis — Performance certifications are:

Jim Harp, Cumming, Ga.
Isaac McBroom, Excelsior, Minn.
Matthew Tansil, Marlborough, Mass.

USTA PlayDev Partners with NormaTec Recovery Systems

The USTA’s Player Development program has partnered with NormaTec to bring the company’s high-tech recovery capabilities to the USTA National Campus at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla.

“Recovery is a big part of our athletes’ everyday training,” says Satoshi Ochi, USTA Player Development’s head strength and conditioning coach. “Convenience and functionality of the equipment are very important for us, and NormaTec has both.”

NormaTec says its Recovery Systems rejuvenate muscle tissue, increase circulation, help athletes rehab from pain and soreness, and ultimately speed up the recovery process. Twenty NormaTec Pulse Pro Systems are available for use, many of which will be in two USTA recovery rooms, while the rest will be made available to athletes traveling to tournaments.

USRSA Announces New MRTs, CSs & PRAs

Master Racquet Technicians

Kenneth Leong, Singapore

Bob Vezina, Australia

Jeffery Zhou, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Certified Stringers

Justin Garcia, Plano, Texas

Jim Hart, Apple Valley, Minn.

Alyssa Stelmach, Marshfield, Mo.

John Xu, Springfield, Mo.

Professional Racquet Advisor

David Pool, Phoenix

Short Sets

Belarus will host the United States on an indoor hard court at Chizkovka Arena in Minsk, Belarus, in the 2017 Fed Cup World Group Final, Nov. 11-12. The U.S. Fed Cup team made its last appearance in the final in 2010, when it lost to Italy, 3-1, in San Diego. The U.S. won the last of its record 17 Fed Cup titles in 2000. Belarus will be competing in its first Fed Cup Final.
For the fourth consecutive year, the USTA Foundation has partnered with longtime US Open sponsor Chase to award 10 National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapters with a $10,000 grant each. The grants will go toward furthering year-round tennis and education programming that engages kids in the A.C.E. (Academic Creative Engagement) curriculum.
The California Interscholastic Federation — Southern Section and Head Penn Racquet Sports have signed a four-year agreement that names Penn as the official tennis ball and Head as the official tennis supplier of CIF-SS. The partnership is effective through 2021.
Fila is the Official Apparel and Footwear Provider of the Western & Southern Open and will outfit more than 1,300 volunteers working the event, as well as linespersons, ball persons, chairpersons and emcees.
New York City will create a legal fellowship in James Blake’s name within the agency that investigates police misconduct. The agreement resolves Blake’s legal claim against the city from his highly publicized police brutality case in 2015.

People Watch

J. Wayne Richmond, previously the general manager of the US Open Series, has been promoted to the newly created position of managing director of major events. In addition to continuing to oversee the Series, his responsibilities now include overseeing U.S. Team Events and the USTA Pro Circuit. He will be based in Orlando.
Tennis Channel has appointed longtime sports and entertainment marketing executive Steve Disson to the newly created position of head of new business development — sponsorships. He will be based in Washington, D.C., and the network’s New York office.
Former International Tennis Federation Director of Development Dave Miley has joined Universal Tennis Rating as a consultant. In his new role, Miley will be responsible for international partnerships for UTR, and will consult on specific projects related to the growth of the rating system.
Peggy Edwards, the PTR’s director of communications and editor of TennisPro Magazine, received a 2017 Apex Award for Publishing Excellence in the Magazine Writing Category for the March/April 2016 issue.
USPTA Midwest Division will induct four members into its Hall of Fame on Aug. 17: Mark Bey, Chuck Kuhle, Bud Schroeder and Carol Anderson.