<![CDATA[Industry Insider - A Tennis Now Blog]]> (2024)

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About the Pure Aero VS:

Babolat’s three racquet families are the Pure Aero, Pure Drive, and Pure Strike. The frames are incredibly popular, and each is created for a different game style. The Strikes are all about control and precision, the Drives offer explosive power, and the Aeros are focused on spin. The updated Pure Aero VS takes a step in a new direction giving players incredible spin, a little more precision, and increased flexibility.

Babolat ups the control factor with the new Pure Aero VS Tennis Racquet. The Aero series represents Babolat's most spin friendly racquet family. As is the case with the regular Pure Aero, the Aero VS features the AEROMODULAR3 frame design which incorporates the head guard and grommets into the frame design for minimal drag. The CARBON PLY STABILIZER features a new generation of carbon fibers for unmatched stability and control, and CORTEX PURE FEEL dampens vibration without a loss of feel for the ball.

The Aero VS maintains the tapered beam of the Pure Aero, but in a slimmer 21-23-22 cross section. The VS also features a medium-dense, 16x20 string pattern on a 98 square inch head to give the racquet more precision than the Pure Aero. Babolat utilized FSI Spin technology and the Woofer grommet system which features enlarged, oblong grommets at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions for more spin and string interaction. They provide a more flexible and control oriented frame than the regular Pure Aero. If you found the regular Pure Aero a little too powerful, the Aero VS was designed for you.

Defining Features of the Pure Aero VS:

-Thinner beam

-Smaller head

-16x20 string pattern

-slightly higher 10.8 oz unstrung weight

-More feel than previous models

Previously, Maule served as National Sales Manager, USA, for Babolat. Prior to his time at Babolat, he worked as a Territory Manager for Prince.

"We are thrilled to welcome Mickey to Wilson. He is incredibly passionate about tennis and highly experienced and talented in the areas of business and channel development, product lifecycle management, and in strategic and assortment planning," said Bertrand Blanc, Global Commercial Director of Wilson Racquet Sports. “Importantly, his vision for the Americas aligns with our key business drivers. He is committed to building strong relationships with the specialty channel, and to leading a selective distribution strategy that will differentiate Wilson in the marketplace.”

“As a tennis player, former coach and industry advocate, I am excited to join the Wilson team. In many ways, I feel like I am coming home,” said Maule. “My very first racket was a Wilson one, and I have tremendous respect for this brand. I am joining a strong global team and Americas organization that is passionate about and focused on winning with consumers and the market. I am energized by the opportunities we have to accelerate the growth of Wilson in the USA, Canada and Latin America.”

Maule was an ATP ranked professional tennis player in 1990-1993 and won the ITF Men’s 40 and over doubles World Championship in 2012. He previously worked with Wilson as an Advisory Staff Member. Maule also led Northern Illinois University’s tennis team as head coach and served as assistant head coach at Northwestern University.

The first word that comes to mind when people think of Sony is probably television. For 2015 that word is poised to change to tennis. Sony is diving head first into the world of connected tennis with their all new Smart Tennis Sensor. Debuting to the market later than Babolat’s Play models and the Zepp Tennis Sensor, Sony’s new connected device boast some impressive specs and features that make it a very worthy option for players interested in analyzing their game in greater detail. Having reviewed the previous connected tennis models to hit the market, I was excited to hit the court with the Sony and see how it measures up in this growing segment of training tools.

Connectivity & Usability
The Smart Tennis Sensor uses Bluetooth to pair with your compatible Android or iOS device. It connected to my phone very quickly every time and the app’s home screen does a good job displaying whether the sensor is connected or not. There is both a power indicator light and a Bluetooth light to indicate on the sensor itself that it is powered on and connected. The first time you open the app after downloading it, you will create a profile and must login to Sony’s network with either an existing ID or by creating a new one. During play you can choose from displaying data live on your phone or have it store your swings in an offline memory mode. In memory mode the sensor can store up to 12,000 swings before the data will need to be downloaded to the app.

The sensor is charged using the included cradle and USB cable for charging either through your computer or a mobile device charger. The mounting system is where the Sony has a leg up on its closest competitors. You simply remove the trap door from your compatible Yonex, Wilson, Prince or Head frame and snap in the included adapter ring. The sensor then mounts to the adapter and locks into place with a solid “click.” Mounting is extremely solid and it is highly unlikely the sensor will be jarred loose. The low profile design of the sensor also keeps it from being obtrusive. I grip fairly low on the handle and noticed it contacting the palm of my hand a couple times but never in a bothersome way.

Another benefit of the slim design and mounting system is the much lower overall weight that players are adding to the butt end of their racquet. The sensor and mount only add roughly 8 grams and while that may impact the balance point a bit, it is not nearly as noticeable as other options on the market. I found the weight a pretty easy trade off for being able to move the sensor around to different racquets rather than being locked into one specific model.

Quadro Twist from YTEX has our attention.

In addition to being named the official string of the Orange Bowl, the Racquet Stringing Institute rated it No. 1 in spin production and No. 2 overall. Needless to say, I was excited to hit the court with Quadro Twist. Here are my thoughts on its performance:

Comfort/Feel: I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the feel and comfort of this string. While I would categorize the response on contact as “firm,” it was also very comfortable for polyester. The string flexes nicely, and I felt more connected to the ball than with other polyesters on the market. This increased feel also paid dividends at the net. I was able to execute touch volleys and drop shots very effectively thanks to the response from the string. It was also good at minimizing harshness on off-center shots, which is something that can be a weak point for polyester strings.

Power: I found the power level to be around average for polyester, or maybe slightly higher. It provides solid pop while still being low-powered enough to allow for full cuts at the ball. I did notice some hot spots around the string bed (i.e. certain areas had a tendency to shoot the ball long while others offered a more consistent power level). Tension adjustments could possibly mitigate the inconsistencies I experienced. Overall, I found it easy to step in with confidence, knowing Quadro Twist had the control I needed to keep the ball in the court.

Spin: If you like spin, then you need not look further than Quadro Twist. This string is an absolute spin machine. The squared and twisted profile yields tremendous grip and offers incredible action on the ball. Topspin ground strokes were launching off the court and forcing my opponents into compromising positions. The extra grip is also evident on slices. My slice backhand stayed extremely low and skidded away from my opponents. Kick serves were heavy and high bouncing, allowing me to transition quickly to offense during service games. Quadro Twist makes spin a powerful weapon to dictate play with on every shot.

Durability: Tension maintenance was about average for polyester string. After a drop in tension within the first couple hours of play, it leveled off and only lost a pound or two after each session. While tension maintenance was good, durability was the weak point in my time with Quadro Twist. After 1.5 hours, the strings were noticeably notched. At the 5-hour mark, I broke one of the center main strings on an approach shot. The “snap back” necessary to generate Quadro Twist’s impressive spin also means it burns through itself quickly as the main strings move against the crosses.

YTEX Quadro Twist is a string capable of prodigious spin with above average feel and comfort for polyester. Its extremely high spin potential allows players to push opponents around the court and dictate play with variety. While players may need to restring more often due to the increased spin production, the ability to hit such heavy shots makes it an attractive entry into the world of strings.

Coaches and stringers receive wholesale pricing on all sets and reels! Contact ivor@ytexstrings.com or visit www.ytexstrings.com.

Sony’s Smart Tennis Sensor starts with an eight-gram unit that’s 31mm in diameter and has an IP65 waterproof/dustproof rating. The unit easily and discretely connects to the butt of compatible racquets and is small enough to have minimal impact on the performance of the racquet it’s connected to. Using a combination of sensing technologies, vibration analysis, wave and motion detection, the unit can detect multiple shot types. One key difference is its ability to detect volleys, something its competitors have struggled with in my testing sessions.

The Smart Tennis Sensor will provide real time analysis of shot count, swing speed, ball impact location, ball speed and ball spin. Once paired via Bluetooth with compatible Android or iOS devices, performance data will be reviewed via the companion app. Another innovation is its ability to record video of rallies while simultaneously displaying shot metrics. This presents an opportunity to make a visual connection between the data of your strokes and the mechanics of the stroke. The app will also have social sharing tools, turning hitting sessions into sharable experiences. Memory Mode allows for 12,000 shots on internal storage. This allows players to change between compatible racquets as they develop or switch to a spare frame without losing their history. As with the products already on the market, the Smart Tennis Sensor will continue to refine and add features as time goes on.

The Smart Tennis Sensor capitalizes on Sony's experience with analysis technology to provide tennis enthusiasts with another opportunity to use data to improve their skills. Its combination of versatile analysis, simultaneous video capture and minimally invasive build make it a very attractive product in the connected tennis market. Look for it to be available through Wilson.com first with compatible racquet models from Prince and possibly other brands down the line in 2015.

US Open: Djokovic, Federer Top Two Seeds

According to Bloomberg News, Itau Unibanco Holding SA simply known as Itau will take over as lead sponsor from 2015-2019. The combined ATP/WTA tournament will now be called the "Miami Open presented by Itau".

The bank hopes that by being connected with the event it will attract more interest from Miami's growing Brazlian population.

"Our customers love tennis,” Andrea Pinotti Cordeiro, the bank’s institutional marketing director, said in an interview. “We have a very important office for private banking operations in Miami, we serve mostly Latin American and Brazilian customers here."

“It is a deal that is among the strongest that you’ll find for either a presenter or title sponsor," Tournament director Adam Barrett said.

Started in 1985 in Butch Buchholz, the Miami event continues to bill itself as a "Fifth Slam" or the "Winter Wimbledon". The tournament was sold to IMG in 2000.

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams won this year's men's and women's events earlier in the year.

(Photo Credit: AP)

The USTA Foundation and JP Morgan Chase’s #ReturnTheServe program recognizes the top ten National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) programs across the country. The ZGA is the only NJTL program in the city of Houston selected to compete for this award. ZGA supporters can vote daily on Twitter beginning Saturday, Aug. 16, help the ZGA win this prize and continue supporting local youth

Participants must have a valid Twitter account to vote. You can vote directly on the program’s website by clicking the “support” button for Houston at USTAFoundation.com/ReturnTheServe or tweet #returntheserve + #Houston on Twitter. You can vote once every 24 hours until Sept. 3. The city program with the most tweets of support by September 3 wins.

“With only a small investment of time -- a short click on your cell phone, tablet or computer -- you can invest in the life of a child,” said Linda Elliott, Executive Vice President of ZGA. Elliott encourages Houstonians to participate in this friendly city rivalry not only to show pride in their city, but to help its youth. “By doing so, you provide the ZGA kids with leadership classes, fitness classes, academic support and life skill programs,” she adds. “ZGA pays forward unlimited future opportunities for the youth of our community!”

Follow @ZinaGarrison on Twitter to track the Academy’s progress.

With the release of its new iDapt technology, Dunlop is changing the way consumers buy racquets. This revolutionary line of racquets is all about product customization, which caters to today’s consumer trend of individualization. Just as people can now buy customized colors in their shoes and cell phone cases and even personalize photos on their credit cards, the iDapt racquet is all about customizing the specs to fit your individual game.

One of the first things you’ll notice when you see the iDapt on the wall at your local retailer is that the racquet is separated into three pieces. This innovative idea caters to the ability to interchange the three major components that make a difference in a player’s racquet.

"Tennis has become so performance oriented, and every player is different. With iDapt, players finally have a say in not only how their racquet performs and feels, but even how it looks," said Hunter Hines, Director of Marketing and Product Development. “iDapt technology gives players hundreds of choices to have a frame made to best fit the way they play. It’s all about giving players the ability to truly choose what best fits them.”

First, there are four different head sizes: the 98, 100 (with 16x19 string pattern), 100S (with 14x18 string pattern), and the 105. Each head size comes in three different color schemes, so players can choose a look that suits their game and personality, which has never been available before.

After selecting a head size and color, players then select one of three Shock Sleeves – Firm, Medium or Soft – which determine the amount of feedback, frame response and dampened feel. The Firm sleeve offers the most response with a stiff feel, while the Soft sleeve is geared toward comfort.

The third and final component to building your customized racquet is in the handle, which comes in either a standard 27-inch length or the “plus” version of 27.5 inches. Each grip also comes in five different sizes, from 4 0/8 to 4 5/8. With all options taken into account, there are 432 different racquets available from this new line.

While some players might see a racquet in three pieces and think that it may not be a solid piece of equipment, rest assured that iDapt creators have tested the frame in every condition with the strongest of impacts for the past four years, and the final product is certainly one that will feel just as solid – if not more so – as any other racquet on the market.

The iDapt retails for $199 and can be assembled in less than 60 seconds. To build your frame, visit DunlopiDapt.com.

Power/Spin/Control

To put it simply, I am certain I had more spin with this string compared to my normal hybrid of a multifilament and polyester string. I could actually see the ball diving down into the court on my groundstrokes and spin serves alike. Of course, as the spin increased, so did my consistency, as I found I could hit heavy balls with greater net clearance.

The power of the strings was comparable to any poly/multi hybrid that I have used. I had no problems hitting with pace. The big improvement really stemmed from the spin though, as I was able to hit with maximum power and still have the confidence I needed to keep the ball in play.

I was surprised that even after many hours on the court, I did not have to straighten out my strings. This is visual proof of the “snapback” Glide utilizes to create the spin. Also, if you are like me and do not enjoy having to adjust your strings in between every point, this is an added bonus.

Durability

I was very surprised by the durability of the Gamma Glide with Live Wire XP. I expected this particular quality to be the worst part of the string, with Gamma promoting the increased slide of the multifilament over the polymer. I was expecting quick notches to form on the Live Wire. However, this was not the case. It took many hours for the Live Wire to show wear, and they did not notch as expected.

After demoing the string, I researched the Live Wire XP and found it utilized monofilaments as an outer wrap to reduce the notching. This appears to create a perfect pair between the two strings, and left me impressed by the durability of the hybrid.

Feel/Comfort

The Gamma Glide with Live Wire XP had a reasonably soft feel as expected, and I was extremely comfortable playing with it. I often find that power and spin come at the expense of getting great feel on groundstokes, volleys and serves, but that really wasn’t the case with the Glide/Live Wire combination. I strung the racquet tight to my preference (plus, Gamma recommends stringing the Glide 5-10 percent higher than your main strings), so the setup had a crisp feel to it. That said, it was nowhere near the stiffness of a full poly setup.

Overall

The Gamma Glide with Live Wire XP lived up to its expectations. I saw an increase in spin, which brought tangible benefits to my game. The power and comfort were right in line with most similar hybrids, but what really surprised me was the durability. It stood the test of time without sacrificing feel. The strings wore down slowly and did not notch as I thought they would. I came away extremely impressed by the Gamma Glide with Live Wire XP.

Jacob Ledger has been playing tennis for about 10 years and is certified by the PTR as an instructor for 10 & Under as well as adults.

Former world No. 1s John McEnroe and Kim Clijsters, former British No. 1 Tim Henman and last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki will headline the lineup which features two teams, coached by King and John playing a Mylan World TeamTennis match. The one-night event will be staged during the final session of the IMG-owned Statoil Masters Tennis tournament.

"More than 20 years ago when we started Smash Hits we envisioned an event with a global presence," King said. "Now with the support of Mylan and the continued commitment from Elton and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, we are able to expand our reach and bring this wonderful evening of tennis to a new audience."

Elton John, Founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation adds, “Everyone knows I love tennis, and Mylan WTT Smash Hits is always such a great day. I thank our sponsors, Mylan, Billie, and all our friends in the tennis world who are supporting us. We believe that together we can all help create an AIDS-free future, and proceeds from the London event will help us get closer to realising that goal, by giving access to life saving treatment to more people living with HIV in Africa.”

Since 1993, Mylan WTT Smash Hits has raised more than $12 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and various local AIDS charities throughout the United States. This is the first time in the event’s 22-year history that it will be staged outside the U.S.

Tennis action is set for 6 p.m. and Team Elton has the edge in the overall series 11-10 after defeating Team Billie Jean in Orlando, Fla., in 2013.

Tickets are available from £18.50 through www.WTTSmashHits.com, www.statoilmasterstennis.com or through the Royal Albert Hall Box Office on +44 (0) 20 7070 4404.

Sponsorship and Group VIP packages are also available by contacting Natalee Jarrett at njarrett@wtt.com or 212-586-3444 x.111.

For more information on the Elton John AIDS Foundation and how you can help create an AIDS-free future, go to ejaf.org/London.

According to Jennifer Estabrook, Executive Vice President of Business Operations for Fila, “We believe that Sam will inspire the next generation of American tennis players through his involvement in Fila’s junior mentor program. The Junior Tennis Champions Center is the pinnacle of our junior tennis marketing initiative, and it’s only natural that our first mentorship event was held at JTCC.”

“I am excited to have the opportunity to give back to the tennis community through Fila’s junior player mentor program,” said Querrey. “The Junior Tennis Champions Center is an excellent training and learning environment, and it was great to share my enthusiasm for the game with young players in their program.”

“We were honored to welcome Sam and the Fila junior mentor program to JTCC,” said JTCC Chief Executive Officer, Ray Benton. “He is a positive role model for our young players, and the Fila junior mentorship program is a valuable way for junior players to learn from one of today’s best players.”

Querrey, 26, turned pro in 2006 and has been ranked in the Top 50 on the ATP World Tour for five of the past six years. In January 2011, he achieved a career-high world ranking of number 17. He is currently the second-ranked American on the ATP World Tour and has won seven Singles titles, including three titles in Los Angeles. Sam is a member of the United States Davis Cup team and won the lone U.S. singles rubber during the 2013 World Group Quarterfinal vs. Serbia. He represented the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Querrey’s serve is one of the fastest on the ATP World Tour and has been recorded up to 148 mph.

In addition to hosting the Fila junior mentorship program, JTCC and Fila also have a multi-year agreement to promote Fila’s performance tennis apparel, footwear and accessories. Fila outfits JTCC Coaches and has developed a custom JTCC – Fila® co-branded jacket for players and coaches to wear at junior tournaments around the world. Last year Fila opened a concept shop at JTCC that features the brand’s latest tennis apparel, footwear and accessories.

>>WATCH A VIDEO TO SEE HOW THE BALL MAGNET WORKS

During drills or hitting sessions, most balls that hit the net are captured and stay below the net, allowing for uninterrupted drills and lessons. More time can be spent resting or reviewing technique, drills, etc., and less time is spent on ball pick-up.It's like having your very own invisible ball boy.Don't spend any more wasted time on court and get the Ball Magnet today!

The advantages of having the Ball Magnet are well worth the investment:

1. Spend More Time Playing
* LESS DISRUPTION for lessons, drills and play
* Improve match-play experience
* More TIME playing and less time picking up balls
* Nearly INVISIBLE and unnoticeable while playing
* IDEAL for using a ball machine

2. Safety - Avoid Ankle Injuries
* SAVE pickup effort & Keep balls off adjoining courts
* Fewer LOST BALLS and lower replacement cost

3. Easy 2-Sided Installation
* Sets up in a few minutes

To order the Ball Magnet, contact info@ihstennis.com or visit www.ihstennis.com. Order your Ball Magnet today and get free shipping with coupon code: TNOW2014.

Become a fan of the Ball Magnet on Facebook.

The Tennis Industry Hall of Fame honors industry leaders who have made a significant impact on the tennis industry from 1960 to present in one of four categories: inventors, founders, innovators, and contributors.

As the founder and CEO of PHIT America, a non-profit education and advocacy organization designed to combat the nation’s inactivity and obesity crisis, Baughjoins tennis legends Billie Jean King and Nick Bollettieri to receive this prestigious honor. He will be recognized during the TIA Forum and Show on Aug. 24. Plaques of Tennis Industry Hall of Fame inductees are on permanent display at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R. I.

A resident of Jupiter, Fla., Baugh’s career in tennis began nearly four decades ago when he became an area sales representative for Converse. Since then, he has progressed to be one of the most recognized leaders in the industry.

Tennis fans throughout the city came out to meet with the stars, get autographs and photos with the players and Citi Open Tournament mascots Boo & Bam.

The Bryan brothers—who are the winningest doubles team in the history of tennis and current world No. 1—have won the Washington title three consecutive years (2005-2007) and are the only doubles team in history to have won every major title during their careers.

Raonic currently ranks No. 7 in the ATP World Tour and reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinals at Roland Garros and first Grand Slam semi-final appearance at Wimbledon, this year.

Hewitt was the youngest male ever to be ranked No. 1 in the world in singles, at the age of 20. His most notable career achievements include winning the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon men's singles titles, the 2000 US Open men's doubles title, and back-to-back Tennis Masters Cup (now called the ATP World Tour Finals) titles in 2001 and 2002.

Photo credits: Susan Hornyak

As the newest company in the string market, YTEX offers exceptional quality in every product. The proof of concept is simple: as of February of 2012 it has the second-best rated string ever tested by RSI - the Quadro Twist string. And there is a reason why YTEX is so excited about those second place honors. That's because the only string that is rated higher is natural gut. Based on the price point differential, you can now market the No. 2 string in the world to your clients at a very affordable price for clubs etc., and you'll receive more revenue/profitability by providing a new and fresh line of strings.

YTEX provides a full range of strings, including synthetics and other strings all rated in the top 20 ever tested by RSI. Those numbers say a lot about the company's first year, as it is committed to quality first and foremost, as well as in-depth research and development. Their product speaks for itself.

The Quadro Twist soft poly was awarded Official String for the 2013 Junior Orange Bowl, where 1,400 of the world's top juniors each received a set in their goody bag to play test.

YTEX offers a variety of cutting-edge profile strings such as the Pro Tour series, Pentagonal Twisted, Triple Twister Silver, Quadro Twist, and Octo-Twist to name a few, but the talk of the town is the new SQUARE-X. They also offer a complete range of strings depending on the player’s level. The Quadro Twist is rated No. 1 for spin and No. 2 ever tested by the RSI playtest team.

YTEX is featured at some of the largest online U.S. retailers, including Tennis Express, Tennis Warehouse, etc.

Clubs, coaches and stringers qualify for wholesale prices. Contact ivor@ytexstrings.com or visit www.ytexstrings.com.Become a fan of YTEX on Facebook.

Jeremiah Paladino, a former banking executive, has acquired the geographic rights to TGA Premier Youth Tennis in southern Oregon, which will cover the Medford and Eugene areas.

TGA’s innovative school-based activation model and tennis enrichment curriculum was developed in partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to introduce the sport in schools and support the USTA’s “10-and-Under Tennis” initiative before transitioning them to USTA programs, tennis facilities and USPTA Professionals nationwide.

Prior to acquiring the new TGA business, Paladino was a lifelong tennis player and banking executive who worked 10 years for Wells Fargo and three years for KeyBank.

TGA Premier Youth Tennis of Southern Oregon is expected to engage thousands of participants by introducing the sport to children at elementary and middle schools, child care centers and community based organizations via a multi-level instruction curriculum that includes physical fitness, health and nutrition, education and character building.

“Bringing TGA tennis enrichment programs to the Medford and Eugene area schools and communities is a wonderful opportunity to teach youth values they can apply to the rest of their lives,” Paladino said. “Once the kids realize they are enjoying what they are learning, they will be hooked for years and filling up community tennis courts and playing in USTA events.”

Video: Federer's New Racquet Set to Hit Stores in October

For starters, Petra Kvitova joined the Multiple Grand Slam Singles Title Club and the Multiple Wimbledon Singles Title Club by winning the title. She won her first title at the All England Club in 2011, as well. Her 12th WTA singles title was one of the most dominant in the history of the tournament. Although she was two points from losing in the third round to Venus Williams, Kvitova did not lose any other sets and held three of her opponents to three games or less in a match. She also had three sets where she didn’t lose a game, including in the final. She has moved into the top five on the WTA tour rankings.

More Wimbledon: Petra Kvitova Edges Venus Williams in Epic Serving Battle

Roger Federer’s performance was equally impressive as he was 18-1 in sets en route to the final. The final match was of epic proportions, with momentum shifts and intense back-and-forth play throughout the five-set match before Federer was finally defeated, 7-6 (9), 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 4-6. This marked his 25th Grand Slam Final, which is a record. He also set records for semi-finals, quarter-finals and numerous others. Roger was using the new Pro Staff RF97 Autograph, which he helped design with Wilson over the last year and that will be available to consumers in October.

More Wimbledon: With Rasheed at the Helm, Dimitrov Has Major Titles in Sight

Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic, Simona HalepandLucie Safarovahad incredible runs at Wimbledon as well, all reaching the semifinals. This means that three of the four players on both the men and women’s draw were using Wilson rackets. Of note, since switching to his Spin Effect Pro Staff at the beginning of the year, Dimitrov has won three ATP Singles Titles on three different surfaces and has now gotten to the quarters and semi-finals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon respectively. While pro tennis players are notorious about never changing their rackets, Dimitrov and Federer are proving with wins…that technology matters!

Earlier in the tournament, and after three years of development and dozens of prototypes, Federer and Wilson officially announced the new Wilson Pro Staff line of rackets, which they collaborated in developing. The Wilson Pro Staff line will feature rackets suited for a variety of attack-style players: from avid players to youth striving to improve their game. The Wilson Pro Staff rackets provide more power without compromising the classic feel long associated with the Pro Staff line.

Specifically targeted at girls aged 5-8 years old, Miss-Hits is a unique and exciting way to attract more young girls into tennis, and focuses on having fun whilst also enabling girls to discover skills they never knew they had. It acts as a feeder programme into LTA Mini Tennis sponsored by Highland Spring.

With the help of six characters who champion the programme, Miss-Hits aims to lay the foundations for future female tennis stars and encourage young girls to lead healthy and energetic lives.

British Fed Cup Captain Judy Murray, who designed the program, said: “We’re really proud to have brought this program together to offer young girls something completely different. If girls are going to get involved in tennis and stay in tennis, we need them to have really positive first experiences of the sport and Miss-Hits does just that. It’s girly and friendly, and at the same time it’s cool and trendy. I think it will appeal to a lot of girls out there who love playing active games and learning new skills and I can’t wait to get started.”

Miss-Hits will be rolled out in autumn 2014, initially in London, Bristol, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Edinburgh. The program will then expand to other cities in 2015.

LTA Head of Participation Rob Dearing added: “There are many more boys playing tennis than girls and we know we have to address this at a number of stages. The first is at entry level where we need to encourage more young girls to try the sport. To be successful at this stage tennis must complement the things they do in their everyday life. Miss-Hits is a great way to make the sport more attractive to young girls and will address the things we know put them off the sport too early, such as too much individual competition or there not being enough girls of their own age playing the sport. We are working closely with Judy to develop the right workforce to deliver Miss-Hits and are looking forward to engaging more young girls in tennis through this exciting new program.”

The four-year agreement will see the network broadcast one match each night of the Mylan WTT season starting on July 7th on ESPN 3. The WTT finals will be broadcast on ESPN 2.

“The team play with the game’s stars in Mylan WTT adds an exciting and different type of event for our industry-leading tennis lineup on ESPN3,” Jason Bernstein, ESPN senior director, programming and acquisitions said.

“We are excited to expand the reach of Mylan World Team Tennis with great broadcast partners at ESPN2 and ESPN3,” Mylan WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss said. “Access is a cornerstone of our league and this partnership gives us a broader platform to showcase the best in professional team tennis competition and to introduce more fans to our brand.”

The Mylan WTT Conference Championships will air on ESPN3 on Thursday, July 24. The conference champions advance to the Mylan WTT Finals on Sunday, July 27, on the home court of the Western Division champions. Play starts at 5:00pm ET on ESPN3 with ESPN2 joining the coverage at 6:00pm ET as World Team Tennis teams battle for the King Trophy, named after league co-founder Billie Jean King.

Lipsey’s franchise, located in the San Jose and lower San Francisco peninsula area, is the sixth tennis franchise in the state of California and the 25th franchise developed nationwide in just over 24-months.

TGA’s innovative school-based activation model and tennis enrichment curriculum was developed in partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The program introduces the sport in schools and supports the USTA’s “10-and-Under Tennis” initiative before transitioning them to USTA programs, tennis facilities and USPTA Professionals nationwide.

“TGA offers a unique business model which enables my passion to also be my career. I am very excited to have this opportunity to bring the sport of tennis to schools and impact local youth through the character development themes that TGA emphasizes,” Lipsey said.

Lipsey spent 25 years as an executive in the semiconductor industry overseeing global supply chains, and most recently worked as a supply chain consultant. In 2007 he semi-retired and for the last five years has been working with underserved youth in the Silicon Valley as well as Liberia in West Africa.

Lipsey, who played competitive tennis in high school and still plays in USTA adult leagues, recognized a great post-retirement career opportunity with TGA that involved his passion of tennis and working with youth.

“TGA offers the unique advantage of taking the opportunity to learn tennis directly to schools,” he said. “Once students progress through the five-level after-school curriculum there are well-articulated pathways to further their development and love of the sport.”

TGA Premier Youth Tennis of Silicon Valley is expected to engage thousands of participants by introducing the sport of tennis to children at elementary and middle schools, child care centers and community based organizations through a multi-level instruction curriculum that enriches young people’s lives through physical fitness, health and nutrition, education and character building.

Connectivity & Usability

The Zepp device is incredibly easy to connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth after you set up your profile. Whereas I often had difficulty connecting my Pure Drive Play to my phone, the Zepp paired up instantly every time. I also enjoyed the fact that there was an audio cue announcing when it was connected or disconnected (this feature can be turned off). If your phone is connected during play, your data gets uploaded automatically or the device can store up to 200,000 swings offline until the next time you sync it.

The Zepp also comes with a charging cradle that connects to a computer via USB, but the actual data review is all app based (the Babolat has a computer based interface in addition to the app). Powering on and off is easy and it provides a flashing indicator when the battery gets low. Attaching the sensor to the handle of the racquet is easy, as the silicone mount slips on quickly provided you properly line up the sensor inside the mount. Initially, I was a bit concerned about how its placement on top of my overgrip could create obstruction, but I was pleasantly surprised at how little I noticed the mount on my handle during play.

The primary sticking point for players will be the fact that Zepp lists the sensor and mount at a combined weight of 18 grams. That is a significant amount of weight to be adding to the handle of any racquet, impacting the static weight and the balance of your frame. Players who typically use lighter, head heavy frames would probably have a more noticeable adjustment with the Zepp sensor attached. While the connectivity features may not be as rich as the Babolat Play (currently there is no computer based option or social network features), the Zepp does provide a very user friendly setup while also allowing you to play with your racquet of your choice.

Data Collection and Review

The Zepp Tennis Sensor utilizes dual accelerometers and a 3-axis gyroscope to analyze your swing path and racquet speed. This gives it the ability to provide data on what stroke is hit, the sub type of each stroke (flat, slice, topspin) and the power level of each shot. There were some noticeable accuracy issues with the sensor determining what kind of stroke I was hitting. I had several sessions where I did not do any serving yet it gave me a reading that included a significant level of serves and smashes. The sensor appeared to have trouble recognizing that high forehands were not serves or smashes.

It was more accurate with the sub types of each stroke as the breakdown of flat, topspin and slice shots was right where I expected it to be. When looking at topspin, the Zepp does have a more limited view than a product like the Pure Drive Play, as it does not (currently) give you a measure of how much spin is present. It simply presents a surface view of your overall shot selection. This feature would provide a good baseline for what shots a player is favoring and could provide a way to focus training sessions on developing shots in which they feel less confident.

The power level is graphed out either as a combined visual of all stroke types or individual shot type. The chart also shows your maximum power level for each stroke as well as your average. This offers solid potential to track your match fitness and how your power level fluctuates over the course of longer periods of play.

Another important feature that was just recently added is the impact locator. This tool allows you to breakdown each stroke type and see where on the string bed you are making contact. Much like its competitors, the Zepp appears to estimate the location by detecting the frequencies given off by the string bed on contact and applying an algorithm. I found it to be pretty accurate based on what I know about my typical contact point. The impact locator is a great way to identify footwork, spacing and timing issues with your strokes, and its recent inclusion in the app increases the overall functionality of the Zepp.

Perhaps the biggest addition to the Zepp is the new 3D Serve Analysis tool. This feature logs each serve you hit as a three dimensional model. You can then view a video playback of any serve you hit and see the full swing from take back to follow through. Within the app, you can view each serve’s racket speed, estimated ball speed, spin level, backswing and impact time. The feature also allows you to compare any two serves as well as overlay a pro’s serve with yours for comparison. The Zepp is the first device on the market to provide a complete model of a swing, making the Serve Analysis tool the most valuable aspect of the Zepp. While it shouldn’t be viewed as a way to learn or fix the serve without proper coaching, it could be a tremendous asset to a player trying to identify areas for improvement.

Final Verdict

The Zepp Tennis Sensor provides a major challenge to its current and potential competition in cost vs. benefit terms. Is it capable of the in-depth detail and evolutionary comparison tools that its competitors have? Not currently. However, it does offer a great overview of a player’s game and can easily be used to chart the development of certain strokes as well as be an effective tool for measuring a player’s match fitness via the power level graphs. Easy to use capability, a significantly lower cost of entry than the Pure Drive Play and the fact that it is compatible with any racquet you choose make it well worth consideration by someone in the market for a connected device to analyze their game.

Zepp will continue to refine the way the system records data as well as add new features and capabilities. The recent inclusion of the Impact Locator and 3D Serve Analysis tools are an indicator of Zepp’s commitment to refining the product. If the thought of having to completely switch racquets and wade into a mountain of data just to analyze your game doesn’t appeal to you, then the Zepp is a worthy candidate. It offers a strong balance of user friendly, simple tools at an affordable price. Join the tennis tech revolution and grab your Zepp Tennis Sensor today!

The WTA tournament hosted each summer in New Haven, Conn., will remain where it stands after the event secured a new sponsor and state funding.

According to the New Haven Register, the event found a new title sponsor in United Technologies. State officials and event organizers announced the transition during a press conference on Tuesday. The former New Haven Open will now be known as the Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies.

“Though we love New Haven, love being here and love the mayor, the state deserves a share of the recognition as well,” Governor Dannel P. Malloy said. “There’s a great tournament being played here with a great Connecticut company coming in to really play the lead role. It’s an important event for the state.”

The tournament, which had once been a combined men's and women's event, went without a title sponsor for over four years.

Last October, the state agreed to purchase the tournament's sanction from the USTA to fend off a bid from organizers in Winston-Salem, N.C., who currently host an ATP 250 event there.

Defending champion and recent French Open finalist Simona Halep is committed to play this year, along with former winner Caroline Wozniacki.

The Connecticut Open will be held from August 15-23.

The new facility is slated to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2016.

“New Balance believes the high school tennis player will be a tennis player for life, and we are proud to recognize the commitment these athletes have to the game,” said Bruce Schilling, General Manager of Tennis for New Balance. “We are also excited to build relationships with the high school state athletic associations through this new and exciting event and work with them to develop ongoing programs and services for individual players and coaches.”

New Balance developed the event with the goal of supporting and recognizing all high school tennis players and coaches and the dedication they bring to the game. New Balance sought the USTA’s support for this event because of the strong alignment of both organizations’ goals to promote and develop the sport of tennis, as well as the USTA’s extensive experience managing tennis events.

Boys’ and girls’ singles events will unfold in a 64-player compass draw format, giving players the opportunity to play many matches, and giving spectators the chance to witness exciting, level-based competition. Winners of the New Balance High School Tennis Championship will be awarded wildcard spots in an International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior event held in the U.S. prior to the 2014 US Open Junior Championships.

To foster participation among high school players and the event, New Balance is collaborating with the High School State Associations to conduct outreach and work with athletic directors, coaches, and players to acknowledge the importance of the high school game. Other event supporters include Harvard, SJX, and Home Team Sports.

Throughout the United States, more than 355,000 boys and girls participate in high school tennis. At the collegiate level, approximately 20,000 varsity positions are available for top athletes, with intramural and club-level programs providing an additional 40,000 participants the opportunity to maintain their social and competitive connection to the sport throughout college.

For more information on signing up, click here.

“National Health Through Fitness Day” will be held Wednesday, March 5, on Capitol Hill. What are the main objectives or goals for the event?

The main objective of the day for PHIT America is to lobby Congress to “get America moving” by passing the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act and extending the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). The PHIT Act would allow Americans to set aside pre-tax dollars for physical activity expenses – an investment that has been shown to pay dividends in health care savings.

You founded PHIT America in January 2013 to combat the nation’s inactivity and obesity crisis. How do you plan to discuss this with Congressional leaders on March 5?

PHIT America was founded as a year round movement for a fit and healthy America. We communicate this through an extensive social media and marketing campaign to advocate for the PHIT Act and educate America about the importance of being active. On National Health Through Fitness Day, we join with our athlete and industry partners to meet with Congressional leaders and share the benefits of physical activity - both for individuals and for the country. There are not many issues Republicans and Democrats agree on, but the PHIT Act has bi-partisan support. Both parties agree this is good for America.

As former CEO of Wilson Sporting Goods, you know the impact legislation has on consumers. If passed, the PHIT Act will allow Americans to use pre-tax medical accounts for physical activity expenses. What is your message to sports industry organizations to get them more involved?

The passing of the PHIT Act would be an obvious win for the sports and fitness industry. Not only would it lead to more customers and increased sales, it would welcome new athletes to the sport communities we know and love. As an industry, we have catered to observers for too long by selling celebrity jerseys and limited edition shoes. Now is the time to protect ourselves by creating and targeting participants – something the PHIT Act will accomplish.

However, the PHIT Act will be a bigger win for Americans. We will have more active, fit and healthy Americans. Our kids will be more active and healthy. We can help prevent and reduce healthcare costs by having more healthy Americans. The PHIT Act is a win win opportunity…for everyone.

Why do you think the PHIT Act enjoys the coveted support of both parties?

Currently, the PHIT Act has 31 co-sponsors; 17 Democrats and 14 Republicans. It has accomplished this rare bi-partisan support because everyone agrees that it is time to address the 192 million Americans who are not active to healthy standards. We are the most obese country in the world and the percentage of Americans who are completely inactive grows every year. The World Health Organization estimates that every $1 the U.S. invests in physical activity saves $3.20 in medical costs. This is a strong enough ROI for even Congress to agree.

The D.C. event is expecting 15-20 celebrity athletes like Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker and two-time Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch. What impact does their presence have in helping influence legislation?

The presence of these athletes is invaluable. They serve as living examples of how regular activity can lead directly to success and how important it is to lower the barrier of entry for sports and physical activity. Additionally, they represent their sponsors to tell Congress about the financial benefits of a strong sports and fitness industry. Another great thing about having the athletes on Capitol Hill is, to put it simply, the power of their celebrity. Lawmakers deal with lobbyists and interest groups day in and day out, but it’s something different when Jennie Finch walks in with her Olympic gold medal and tells them that they need to pass the PHIT Act.

Besides National Health Through Fitness Day, how does PHIT America keep the inactivity and sedentary crisis in America top-of-mind with Congressional leaders?

As a year round campaign, PHIT America has a number of initiatives to make sure that health through fitness is relevant on Capitol Hill every day of the year. We are currently running a letter writing campaign www.PhitAmerica.org/Advocate that allows anyone to quickly and easily email their representatives in support of the PHIT Act and the PEP program. It only takes two minutes to log on and show your support in a very meaningful way. Once you’re done, send the link to your friends and contacts!

Prince is one of the world’s oldest and most respected tennis and squash brands and will relocate from corporate offices in New Jersey. Chief Executive Officer Mike Ballardie said Prince has been an iconic brand in the tennis industry more than 40 years and feels Atlanta is a natural location for Prince Tennis’ headquarters.

“As we continue our growth as a global company, we see Atlanta and its vast resources as a perfect fit for our management, sales and marketing teams,” Ballardie said. “Atlanta has a thriving tennis community with more men, women and children playing tennis than any other U.S. city, making it a great home base for Prince. As a global brand we are involved at all levels of the sport from juniors to supporting key professionals in tennis and squash tournaments all over the world. Leveraging our assets with Atlanta’s location, talented workforce and the travel options offered by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will be a tremendous benefit to the company.”

“I am thrilled that Prince Global Sports has chosen Atlanta for their corporate headquarters and pleased to welcome them to Buckhead,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “Atlanta is a natural home for Prince given the city’s love of tennis and our position as a leading distribution and logistics hub.”

Dan Corso, senior vice president of sports at the Metro Atlanta Chamber and executive director of the Atlanta Sports Council, sees tremendous potential in Prince’s move to the region.

“We are pleased to welcome Prince Global Sports, one of the best-known brands in tennis, to Atlanta,” Corso said. “Sports is a large economic driver for our region, both through company operations and hosting ongoing events like the BB&T Atlanta Open, and it serves as a tremendous quality of life attribute for our five million-plus residents and visitors.”

Atlanta boasts the largest city tennis league in the world with more than 80,000 members of the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA), which was established in 1934. The sport’s profile in Atlanta gained tremendous global exposure during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Ballardie said the company is relocating its product research, development and player servicing activities to the IMG Academy in Florida, alongside the recently opened Prince Innovation Center.

Prince, which is owned by Waitt Company of Omaha, Neb., has several of the world’s top players promoting the Prince brand. In tennis they include David Ferrer, John Isner, doubles team Bob & Mike Bryan, Daniela Hantuchova and reigning Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli. In the sport of squash Prince boasts both the world number one players – Ramy Ashour and Nicol David. Ballardie anticipates several of their top tennis players will be in town for the BB&T Atlanta Open this July, which draws tremendous crowds to the Atlantic Station. He noted the company looks to host special events in conjunction with this summer’s tournament.


Martin will begin working at the Hall of Fame as CEO-designate on April 1, 2014, with Stenning remaining as CEO through September 5, 2014. Stenning will then transition to working on special projects for the Hall of Fame, namely, the completion of significant expansion and renovation projects to the facility.



"We are very pleased to welcome Todd Martin as the next chief executive officer of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. When we began our search for the next CEO, Todd was one of the people we went to for suggestions on candidates. Through discussions with him it became apparent that he, in fact, should be on the short list. Not only was Todd a great player-one of the very best in the world, but he is also a tremendous leader and he has been widely respected in his role as president of the ATP Players Council and as a member of the USTA Board of Directors. He will be an asset to the organization, and we look forward to working with him on the continued growth of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum," said ITHF Chairman of the Board Christopher E. Clouser. "I would also like to acknowledge that Mark Stenning has been the heart and soul of the Hall of Fame for 35 years, during which time he has elevated the organization to outstanding levels within the tennis industry and the local community. We are indebted to him for his leadership and service, and we appreciate that he will be working with Todd to ensure a successful transition."


Of his new appointment, Martin commented, "I'm tremendously excited to join the International Tennis Hall of Fame, to lead the organization's staff, and to execute its mission. It is an honor to be charged with preserving the rich history of our sport and to celebrate the people who have created its greatest moments. I look forward to working with the International Tennis Hall of Fame Board of Directors and staff, and many tennis industry partners."

Martin will be assuming the helm during a dynamic time period for the organization. The Hall of Fame is in the midst of a $15.7 million capital campaign. In spring 2014, the organization is scheduled to break ground on a major construction project which will result in the addition of three more indoor/outdoor hard courts and a significant new building for locker rooms, fitness facilities, and office and retail space. Also on the impending schedule is a complete renovation of the museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which will feature major technological updates and complete re-interpretation of the galleries.


"I'm particularly pleased to come on board at such an exciting time," stated Martin. "The impending capital projects will represent a significant upgrade to the property and the offerings the Hall of Fame can make to its patrons and the tennis community overall. A particular goal of mine will be to enhance the Hall of Fame's impact and presence on the international tennis community, and the new museum and facilities will be beneficial in reaching that goal. This is a perfect time to begin here, and I can't wait for April 1."


Since retiring from the ATP World Tour in 2004, Martin has remained highly engaged in the tennis industry. He began serving a second term as a Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors in January 2013, having previously served on the board from October 2011 through December 2012. He is currently the board liaison to the Youth Tennis Council. Previously, Martin was the board liaison to the Pro Tennis Council and was a member of the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Team Events Committee.


In 2012, he launched Todd Martin Tennis, which focuses on junior tennis development. Also in recent years, Martin has done some coaching and spent time working with Novak Djokovic and Mardy Fish.


In 1994, Martin founded the Todd Martin Development Fund (TMDF), which provides tennis, education, and leadership programs for at-risk youth of mid-Michigan. TMDF currently operates as both a National Junior Tennis League and a USTA First Serve chapter.


A successful and popular ATP World Tour player, Martin achieved a career-best ranking of world No. 4. He was a finalist at the 1999 US Open and the 1994 Australian Open. He was a mainstay on the U.S. Davis Cup team, playing every year from 1994 to 2002, and helping the U.S. capture the title in 1995. Martin won eight singles titles and four doubles titles.


Martin served as president of ATP Players Council for eight of the 14 years he played professionally. He was honored with the ATP World Tour Sportsmanship Award in 1993 and 1994.


In addition to his role as CEO, Martin will serve as Tournament Director of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, the only ATP World Tour event in the Northeast and the only pro grass court tournament in the Americas. He will assume that position for the 2015 tournament. He will also have oversight of the annual Hall of Fame enshrinement festivities, and other major events including the Legends Ball, an annual gala hosted in New York City during the US Open, and a year-round calendar of public and private events in Newport.


Martin's duties will also include oversight of the Hall of Fame Tennis Clubs, which include 13 grass courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a robust, year-round program of adult and junior tennis. Martin will oversee the museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which is the world's most comprehensive museum dedicated to the history of the sport and its great champions and leaders, and the only sports hall of fame in the country that is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.


As the International Tennis Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization, Martin will be tasked will oversight of significant fundraising programs and management of a $7 million annual budget. In addition, Martin will be responsible for management the Hall of Fame's buildings and grounds, a 7-acre site built in 1880 which has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
Martin will report to a 69-person Board of Directors, comprised of tennis industry leaders, corporate executives, and philanthropists. He will manage a staff of 35 full-time employees.


Martin grew up in Lansing, Mich., where he was the state high school champion. He attended Northwestern University, playing varsity tennis for two seasons (1988-90). In his sophom*ore season, he led the Wildcats to a Big Ten championship and earned All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year honors, finishing the year ranked No. 2 in the nation.

“Elevating the quality and standards of teaching tennis to our youth will have lasting impact on our sport for years to come,” said USTA Player Development General Manager Patrick McEnroe. “’Coach Youth Tennis’ provides tennis teachers of all levels with the tools necessary to teach the sport to children.”

The USTA worked in collaboration with the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), in developing the curriculum, which serves as a pathway to Tennis Professional Certification through the PTR and USPTA certification programs. Beginning in 2014, all individuals who want to become a certified teaching professional will need to complete the “Coach Youth Tennis” curriculum.

All involved associations will utilize their partnership to effectively raise the level of coaching in the U.S., and enhance the teaching process to create an early positive experience for kids.

“This partnership is part of the USTA’s continuing effort to bring more children into the sport,” said Kurt Kamperman, USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis. “These educational resources will impact tennis teachers and coaches throughout the country, with information on how to best deliver the sport to kids, as well as on maximizing their business.”

The educational curriculum establishes a set of standards for tennis teachers and coaches, ensuring that children will be taught the proper essentials of the game. The combined resources and industry support serves as a tremendous opportunity for tennis in the U.S.

The program consists of two stages of course work, which will include six interactive and engaging online courses and knowledge checks. The curriculum covers several important topics, including appropriate methods on how to communicate, understanding characteristics of children, tennis activities suited for young children, effective ways to transition children through ability progressions, and group management. In addition, the program includes a face-to-face workshop that will provide proper fundamentals and skill development progressions for coaches of young players.

“In providing 10 and under education for the last three years, PTR has been supportive of 10 and Under Tennis from its very beginning,” said Dan Santorum, CEO of PTR. “We are excited about the collaborative effort the USTA organized to expand 10 and under education for tennis teachers, and PTR looks forward to supporting the USTA’s efforts to enhance 10 and Under education that can lead to PTR certification.”

“Our stated mission as an association is to elevate the standards of tennis teaching professionals and coaches,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “It is not too much to ask professionals who wish to become certified to take seven hours of education prior to certification that addresses our most important initiative, which is to grow our base of players starting with kids 6 to 10 years old.”

For more information on Coach Youth Tennis, please visit coachyouthtennis.com.

When Prince and the USPTA were affiliated during the 1980s through the early '90s, both companies rose to the top of their respective sections in the tennis industry. As Prince repositions itself in the marketplace – including re-entering the tennis ball market – the affiliation with USPTA will help create consumer demand for their product.

“Working with skilled, motivated and performance focused tennis-teaching professionals is a critical factor in driving sales in this industry and Prince recognizes the significant value that an association with the USPTA brings to that equation,” said Prince Global Sports, CEO Mike Ballardie. “A key part of our 2014 brand strategy is a focus on ensuring that all players are ‘fitted’ for the optimum equipment for their game. This partnership with the USPTA is a valued piece of that puzzle.”

As the official racquet and ball supplier for the USPTA, Prince equipment and signage will be used at USPTA World Conferences, division conventions and events, and at all certification testing. The enhanced equipment package provided by Prince for USPTA Professionals will be contingent on the number of hours USPTA Professionals spend on the court teaching. In addition to providing racquets and accessories to USPTA-certified Professionals, Prince will also make contributions to the USPTA’s Retirement Gold+ plan to those USPTA members who qualify, such as club pro shop owners and/or those who have direct fiscal responsibility for their respective pro shop.

“Prince is the first major USPTA endorsee to contribute to the Retirement Gold+ plan because the company knows the influence and credibility that USPTA-certified Professionals have in the industry,” said USPTA CEO John Embree, who is familiar with the brand and its staff from serving as President of Prince Sports, The Americas from 2008-2010. “Having worked closely with Mike Ballardie in the past, I know the commitment the company and its staff have to the tennis-teaching profession and the grassroots efforts to grow our sport.”

#ShowUsUrSole runs now through Dec. 31, 2013. Customers will have the opportunity at checkout to contribute to those in need when purchasing full price items online. Each shopper that donates to the Soles4Souls charity will receive a discount in accordance with the amount donated. 100% of each shopper’s donation goes straight to the Soles4Souls charity.

“Everyone wants to do something to help others during the holidays, but get caught up in the business of the holiday season, and then, all of a sudden, it’s Dec. 31 and we all missed our chance,” said Jon Epstein, President, FILA USA. “This program makes it fun, fast and easy to shop FILA and support people who need it most.”

“In addition to the discounts we will offer, we are excited to run a contest across our social platforms to promote awareness of the great work Soles4Souls does every day,"said Jennifer O. Estabrook, Executive Vice-President, FILA USA."People will be asked to either send in a creative image of their favorite FILA® SOLES, or a picture of their SOULS, i.e. a photo of them doing volunteer work in their communities, with their schools or on their own volition. The winner with the best submission will receive a $1,000 gift card to Fila.com.”

Meltzer’s franchise, located in Union County, joins 21 other existing tennis franchises in 10 different states awarded by TGA in just over 18-months of franchising. This new model, which introduces the sport of tennis to youth in schools through supporting the USTA’s “10 and Under Tennis” initiative, is already serving students and families in more than 1,000 schools throughout the United States.

A graduate of New York University with an MBA in finance, Meltzer is an accomplished investment operations executive with experience in financial services, financial management and is highly skilled in collaborating with organizations to achieve business and financial objectives. He was looking for a more balanced work life and career that could incorporate sports and youth when he discovered TGA.

TGA, which is one of the nation’s most successful and fastest growing youth sports companies, developed and implements a new and innovative school-based activation model and tennis curriculum in partnership with the USTA. The curriculum is designed to enrich young people’s lives through physical fitness, health and nutrition, education and character building.

TGA Premier Youth Tennis of Union County is expected to involve thousands of youth annually by introducing the sport of tennis to children at elementary and middle schools, child care centers and community based organizations through a multi-level instruction program. TGA will then transition the students to local tennis facilities and USTA youth programs.

In early 2013, HEAD launched its Graphene™ Speed and Instinct lines of tennis racquets that feature the revolutionary Graphene™ technology. This innovative technology offers tangible advantages to tennis players of all levels.

Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of new products in search of the top 100 technology innovations of the year. These products are considered breakthroughs that represent a significant leap in their individual categories. The winners of each category are awarded inclusion in the December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the Best of What’s New awards debuted in 1988. The HEAD Graphene™ Speed Pro is among the 100 new products and technologies awarded in 2013.

The HEAD Graphene™ Speed Pro is constructed with Graphene™, the world’s strongest and lightest material, which enables a redistribution of weight from the racquet shaft to the grip and head. The optimized redistribution of weight in the racquet allows players to generate more kinetic energy when they hit the ball. This means players of every level can generate more power with less effort, thanks to the integration of Graphene™ in the HEAD Graphene™ Speed Pro.

Without any doubt, the future belongs to this extraordinary material – and it is not surprising that the HEAD development engineers are busily working on integrating the HEAD Graphene™ technology into additional racquet models including its latest innovation, the Graphene™ Radical series.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and it seems that the folks at Tennis Express, one of the largest specialty tennis retailers in the world, have proven the old adage with a recent store move.

The company, which has been around since 2000, has relocated to a much larger facility to accommodate the burgeoning Texas tennis market, as well as provide a greater range of products to all tennis enthusiasts.

Though the company specializes in the gear and garments of our favorite sport, their offerings include a wide range of products, including training equipment, running apparel and shoes, watches, sunglasses – even nutritional items. And then, of course, there’s the tennis stuff – racquets from almost every brand imaginable line the 30-foot high walls, dozens of shoe styles are displayed at the back, and a brand new indoor tennis court provides a place for demoing all your gear before you buy. Plus, an enormous clearance center promises guests will not run out of places to explore. Specialists in shoes, racquets, and string are on hand to create a personalized buying experience. And, the 22,000 square foot warehouse offers another sizable update, ensuring Tennis Express has everything in stock for their ever-growing customer base.

Tennis Now is always happy to hear that tennis is growing as a sport, and any time a store has giant-sized posters of the Maestro on its front, we think it’s a good thing. The new store is located at 10770 Westheimer in Houston, Texas. Call 713.781.4848, or check out the Tennis Express blog for more information.

The third edition of the TIA State of the Industry report compiles data from 2012 that the TIA collects through its more than 70 annual surveys and research studies. The State of the Industry report takes a top-level view of a variety of trends and segments in the industry to tell a comprehensive "story of the tennis industry," says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer.

The report presents important TIA data, trends and analysis so that tennis businesses of all types can benefit by seeing where this industry has been, where it is now, and where it's going. Important for the industry is the 10% growth in the number of "frequent" tennis players, those who play at least 21 times a year, to 5.31 million in 2012. Frequent players account for more than 70% of all expenditures in tennis, including buying equipment, paying for lessons and court time, and playing league tennis and more.

Other highlights from this year's report include:

The 16-page State of the Industry report also details the growth in youth tennis participation; tells the reasons why people played more or less tennis in 2012; presents dealer, teaching pro, and court builder expectations; and much more.

The report is organized in four sections:

"TGA really appealed to me because in order for tennis to be a viable competitor in U.S. sports, it needs to be in the schools with other sports," Martin explains. "The comprehensive curriculum, developed with the USTA, is also very exciting and proven to be effective. The innovative TGA model stands to help 10 and Under Tennis establish itself as the best pathway for children to get through the early stages of tennis development."

TGA's school based model aligns perfectly with the TIA's mission to grow the game and offer opportunities for tennis providers to expand their businesses and profitability. By making tennis accessible to kids right at their schools, TGA gives customers an easy solution to get their child involved in the sport. Jeff and Dale Moulton recognized this when they purchased a TGA Youth Tennis Franchise in Indianapolis, IN to add to their facility Off the Wall Sports.

"We are very optimistic about adding TGA to our facility and working with the youth of Hamilton and Boone County," said Jeff Moulton. "The TGA franchise fits perfectly with our business model, allowing us to branch out in our community through the schools. It also enables us to get involved with kids by helping to enhance their lives through sports. It keeps them active and fit, and they learn life skills."

For more information on how investing in a TGA Franchise can help grow your business, please email Steve Tanner at steve@playtga.com or visit www.franchisetga.com. For additional program information, please visit

Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy powered by Vistrator is the new app that allows you to watch multiple tutorials on Nadal's shots as demonstrated by the man himself. The software also allows one to upload their own videos and then compare their technique to Nadal's.

An example of this can be found in this demonstration video of Jaime Murray hitting a serve at Wimbledon and it being compared side-by-side to Nadal's own serve. The video analysis tool allows one to pinpoint specific differences in the way you hit a shot versus the way Nadal does with the goal of making you a better player.

“We are shocked and saddened by this loss,” said Tom Daglis, USPTA President. “He will be sorely missed in the industry as the single largest contributor to the USPTA in its entire history. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Renee, his children, and the rest of his family. They are all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Heckler retired from his position as chief executive officer of the USPTA in December 2012, after 30 years in the position. When Heckler was tapped as USPTA CEO in 1982, the organization had approximately 2,400 members and an annual budget of $700,000. He grew the association to the world’s oldest and largest organization of its kind, serving more than 15,000 members in 66 countries, and operating on an annual budget of $6.5 million.

Heckler, who began playing tennis at age 3, started his tennis-teaching career in 1970, the same year he joined USPTA. He was elected president of the USPTA Texas Division in 1974 and served as national president of the organization from 1980 to 1982. With Heckler’s guidance, USPTA became one of the first tennis organizations to embrace technology, first through the computerization of the business itself as early as 1982, and then later through its use of the Internet and email-based communications and education.

USPTA introduced its first website in 1995. The USPTA honored Heckler in 2000 by naming him a grand inductee in the Association’s Hall of Fame. He also received the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Tennis Educational Merit Award in 2002 and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.

In 2008 he received the highest honor awarded by the United States Professional Tennis Association, the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award. He attended Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, on a tennis scholarship and played on the international circuit, including Wimbledon in 1959 and 1961, and the U.S. Open in 1960.

UPDATE:
Visitiation and Vigil Service
Friday, February 8, 6-8pm
Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home
6700 Ferris St.
Bellaire, TX 77401

Funeral Service
Saturday, February 9 at Noon
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
6800 Buffalo Speedway
Houston, TX 77025

As part of the five-year agreement, Emirates becomes an Official Platinum Partner of the ATP World Tour, as well as the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, through 2017. Benefiting from global promotional rights together with an on-site presence at tournaments throughout the season, the partnership will enable Emirates to engage with viewers across a number of different mainstream and digital platforms.

South African Airways had previously been the Tour's official airline, an agreement that began in 2006 and renewed in 2008.

“We’re delighted to welcome Emirates as the Official Airline of the ATP World Tour. It’s fantastic news for men's professional tennis that a brand of Emirates' global stature has pledged their support to the ATP World Tour for the next five years,” said Brad Drewett, ATP Executive Chairman and President. “This long-term commitment from Emirates is a testament to the world-class entertainment that is enjoyed by millions of fans across the world on the ATP World Tour."

"This tie up with the ATP World Tour and Rankings is a perfect addition to our existing portfolio of global sports sponsorships. It will allow us to share in the sporting passions of our customers and bring them closer to the players," said Sir Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman of Emirates Airline and Group. "We see it as a natural extension of our current presence at high profile tennis events including sponsorship of several ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events, the Emirates Airline US Open Series and being an official partner of the US Open. Through our global network and carefully selected sports sponsorships, Emirates successfully unites and engages fans and we look forward to working with the ATP to maximise on the consumer experiential and digital media opportunities this sponsorship presents to us."

With a heavy focus on activation around the ATP Rankings, Emirates will also become the presenting sponsor of the ATP World Tour No. 1 trophy ceremonies and the ATP Newcomer of the Year award, presented annually at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

In addition to global marketing activation, Emirates will be integrated into programming on ATPWorldTour.com and ATP World Tour Uncovered presented by Rio, the Tour’s weekly magazine-style television show broadcast in more than 150 countries worldwide.

Under the terms of the exclusive multi-year agreement, IMG will represent Djokovic in developing a brand building strategy through marketing, endorsem*nts, appearances and licensing along with select global business initiatives.

Djokovic ended his relationship with CAA, citing a lack of success in finding endorsem*nt and sponsorship deals off-court.

"I'm very happy with how my career has been advancing these past few years," Novak said via a press release. "Working with IMG will continue to build off of that momentum.IMG's expansive global footprint will offer me a truly unique set of resources to explore business opportunities that simply do not exist anywhere else in the industry."

Fernando Soler, Head of IMG's Global Tennis division, commented, "We are very pleased to have a great champion such as Novak, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, choose IMG to work with during this momentous time in his career."

Many other top tennis players are represented by IMG, including Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova. In shocking news this year, Tony Godsick, agent of Roger Federer, severed his ties with IMG, taking the Swiss legend with him.

GAMMA RZR 95: Developed for the all court player, the RZR 95 offers tremendous potential for spin on ground strokes and serves. High maneuverability and touch at the net, as well as pop from the baseline prove why this racquet is an excellent choice for all court players.

GAMMA RZR 105: The RZR 105 is an excellent racquet for a wide variety of players, offering exceptional feel without sacrificing control. This is a great all around racquet, with easy access to spin and pace for players of every level.

GAMMA RZR 100 Junior 25: The RZR 100 Junior 25 is a 25” version of the popular RZR 100 adult frame. The frame is constructed of MCARBON, our exclusive carbon fiber matrix that increases strength throughout the RZR frame resulting in maximum power transfer on all shots. This racquet is ideal for the kids competing in 10 & Under tournament play.

More info: GAMMA Sports

(Photo Credit: Courtesy of GAMMA)

GAMMA Moto: Moto is a new heptagonal shaped string developed for the high performance player. This seven-sided construction allows for greater ball bite so a player can generate massive amounts of spin on ground strokes and serves. The co-poly material is very responsive and provides greater feedback and excellent tension maintenance.

GAMMA iO:iO offers exceptional power, access to spin and pinpoint control. It’s unique co-poly material takes ball pocketing to a higher level, which is excellent for generating max spin. Ideal for players seeking penetrating and punishing ground strokes from anywhere on the court.

GAMMA Poly-Z:
Poly-Z is an excellent polyester string that provides a firm responsive string bed for greater control and spin, while maintaining tension and providing greater durability. It is ideal for players with full, fast swing speeds.

GAMMA RZR Rx:
RZR Rx is a co-extruded monofilament constructed with a proprietary Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) material that is engineered to stretch more upon impact for enhanced control and comfort.

The unique oval shape provides for a more aerodynamic string bed, which generates greater racquet head speed and reduces the contact pressure at the string intersections. This allows the strings to glide more freely over one another and maximize spin potential.

The strings will be available February 1, 2013. More info at gammasports.com.

(Photo Credit: images courtesy of GAMMA)

Read up:More info here, via USTA Midwest.

Bone up:Read Colette's blog posthere.

Here's the section on communications:

(Photo Credit: Image by TIA)

(via Footwear Business Update)

More:Info on the Court Cards (available in various denominations) here.

(Photo Credit: Delray Beach ITC)