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PTR and USPTA Unite to Support USTA’s Vision for Tennis Expansion

June 18, 2024 by Admin

The PTR and USPTA announced they are endorsing the USTA’s visionary goal of increasing tennis participation to 35 million players, enhancing coaching talent and expanding the number of facilities nationwide.

The joint statement says….

Over the past six months, our unwavering dedication to this shared mission has been expressed through both independent efforts and collaborative initiatives.

We fully support the USTA’s ambitious plan to enrich the tennis experience and encourage lifelong participation among players. By mobilizing our extensive network of teaching professionals, we aim to energize and broaden this vision.

First and foremost, we wholeheartedly back the USTA’s target of cultivating a tennis-playing community of 35 million individuals, representing about 10% of the U.S. population. To achieve this, we pledge to engage our professionals in creating and scaling programs tailored to both new and returning players, ensuring accessibility and relevance at every stage of their tennis journey. From competitive to casual play, for all ages and interests, our coaches will strive to deliver comprehensive and captivating experiences on the court.

We are also committed to improving the availability and quality of coaching at all levels. By aligning with the USTA’s objective of raising coaching standards and expanding the pool of SafePlay™-approved coaches to over 80,000 nationwide, we aim to provide players with the guidance and instruction necessary to excel. Through our collective efforts, we seek to increase the presence of teaching professionals in various environments, including parks, public facilities and schools, while also fostering career opportunities within the coaching profession.

Moreover, we stand united with the USTA in their effort to maximize court availability, a crucial element in supporting growing participation rates. By partnering with local entities and leveraging existing infrastructure, we aspire to facilitate access to more than 250,000 courts nationwide, ensuring equitable play opportunities, particularly in underserved communities. Our professionals will play a key role in optimizing facility operations and promoting active tennis engagement at the grassroots level.

Additionally, we remain dedicated to supporting and nurturing the next generation of tennis stars. Through our joint efforts with the USTA, we will continue to develop talent, showcase premier events and provide a clear pathway for aspiring athletes to achieve excellence in the sport. By empowering emerging competitors and elevating the coaching profession, we aim to inspire millions to embrace the transformative power of tennis.

In collaboration with the USTA, the PTR and USPTA are poised to realize this shared vision and usher in a new era of tennis excellence and inclusivity.

In the spirit of partnership and amplifying our impact, PTR and USPTA are excited to announce joint initiatives across the United States in the upcoming months and beyond. From hosting a women’s coaching workshop during the Cincinnati Open to coordinating joint board meetings and expanding educational opportunities, our partnership seeks to elevate the tennis community and foster a culture of inclusivity.

About Professional Tennis Registry (PTR):

PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with a presence in 127 countries. It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization. PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game. Learn more at www.ptrtennis.org

About the USPTA: Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the global leader in tennis-teacher certification and professional development. With more than 14,000 members worldwide and 17 divisions nationwide, the Association’s mission is to raise the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and to promote a greater awareness of the sport. Learn more at USPTA.com.

USTA Serves Offering $395K In College Scholarships To 58 High School Students: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

June 26, 2013 by Justin Cohen

By Justin Cohen @JustinCohen44

USTA Serves grants 58 high school students with $395k in scholarships

USTA Serves, the National Charitable Foundation of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), announced that it will grant 58 high school students a variety of college scholarships totaling $395,000. An objective of USTA Serves is to encourage children to pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens. Each year, USTA Serves awards scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in USTA and other organized youth tennis programs, have demonstrated high academic achievement and require financial assistance for college matriculation. “For many years, USTA Serves has proudly awarded students throughout the country for their outstanding achievements on and off the tennis court,” said Dan Faber, USTA Serves Executive Director. “I am excited that we can play a role toward their continuous excellence in academics, as well as their drive to succeed within this great sport. We look to them as the next great leaders, scholars and champions, and for that, USTA Serves congratulates them on their future endeavors.” The following scholarships will be awarded: Marian Wood Baird Scholarship Award ($15,000), Dwight F. Davis Memorial Scholarship (Students each receive $10,000 award), Dwight Mosley Scholarship Award (Students each receive $10,000 award), Rosalind Walter Scholarship Award (Students each receive $10,000 award), Eve Kraft Education & College Scholarship (Students each receive $2,500 award), USTA Serves College Education Scholarship (Students each receive $8,000 award) and USTA Serves College Textbook Scholarship (Students each receive $1,000).

Lanson renewed as official champagne for Wimbledon

Lanson Champagne announced late last week that they will be the official champagne for Wimbledon for another five years. This year sees the 25-year anniversary of the partnership, and to Lanson has launched a series of Wimbledon-themed neoprene jackets to celebrate, along with an exclusive champagne cocktail, Lanson Fraise, created for visitors to this year’s event. Paul Beavis, MD of Lanson International UK said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be continuing our longstanding – and very happy – relationship with the team at the All England Lawn Tennis Club and everyone involved with Wimbledon. “This is undoubtedly the world’s finest tennis event. It is very exciting to be able to continue to be a part of the Wimbledon story and we have ambitious plans to build on its success in the years to come,” added Beavis. Mick Desmond, Commercial Director at The AELTC said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with Lanson for another five years. We have shared a strong and close working relationship for 25 years.”

The Tennis Show in New York City will not be held in 2013; will return in 2014

The Tennis Show, which debuted in New York City last year just before the US Open, and tied into the 2012 USTA Tennis Teacher’s Conference (TTC), will not be held in 2013. However, the Tennis Show will return to New York in 2014. The TTC, also on hiatus for 2013, will resume in 2014 with expanded plans to provide the best possible learning experience for tennis teachers and coaches. The Tennis Show, coordinated by the Tennis Industry Association and supported by the U.S. Tennis Association and the tennis industry, was timed to offer the hundreds of Teachers Conference attendees, along with all segments of the industry, a look at upcoming products and services from dozens of tennis companies, organizations and manufacturers. For tennis teachers, coaches and the industry in general, plans are in the works for the industry-supported 2014 Tennis Show to be even bigger and broader event. In addition to the return of the Tennis Show, the TIA Tennis Forum and Tennis Industry Hall of Fame will also return to New York in 2014.

Nadal’s first round loss at Wimbledon sets tournament Twitter record

According to Wimbledon, more people tweeted on Monday about Rafael Nadal’s first round loss to Belgian Steve Darcis – 7,000 tweets per minute – than last year’s men’s final.

Sirius XM to broadcast all of Wimbledon

In developing news from SW19 at Wimbledon, Sirius XM just announced that they will offer up to 13 hours of live Wimbledon coverage daily from 4 a.m. EST through the end of each day’s last match. Matches scheduled to be broadcast on the radio will be from Centre Court as well as several of the side courts. The broadcasts will offer subscribers live coverage through the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Singles Finals on Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7. Listeners can tune in on Sirius Channel 158 and XM Channel 202 and on Channel 963 on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

Former WTA player Jamea Jackson named USTA National Coach

The United States Tennis Association recently announced that former WTA Tour player Jamea Jackson has been hired as a USTA National Coach for Women’s Tennis. Jackson will be based out of the USTA’s Training Center in Boca Raton, Fla. and will start on Monday, July 1. The 26-year-old reached a career-high WTA Ranking of No. 45 before retiring due to injuries just before turning 23. She most recently spent the last four years as the women’s assistant tennis coach at Oklahoma State University, and was a USTA Collegiate Team coach.

Bollettieri, Braden, Wilkinson to be inducted into USPTA Hall of Fame on September 27 in Orlando

Nick Bollettieri, Vic Braden and Steve Wilkinson will be inducted into the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Hall of Fame on September 27 during the USPTA’s national awards luncheon at the World Conference at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla. The three legendary coaches will join only 13 others who have already been inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame. “I cannot think of three other tennis-teaching giants who deserve this recognition more than Nick, Vic and Steve,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “In their own individual ways they have contributed mightily to our mission of elevating the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches across the country and around the world. This will be a special occasion for all.”

USTA Maryland hosting ‘Aces and Bases Night’ at Bowie Baysox baseball game on July 14

USTA Maryland is hosting an “Aces and Bases Night” at the Bowie Baysox vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball game in Bowie, Md., on Sunday, July 14 with the first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. EST. Tickets that usually run from $15-$17 will cost just $10 for USTA Members. Please call Chris Rogers at (301) 464-4813 if you are interested in purchasing tickets. The pre-game tennis fun festivities start at 4 p.m. including a mini-tennis court that adults and children can rally on. Tennis fans planning to attend the game can enter a raffle with a chance to win a driveway tennis kit. Also, the first 500 10 and under kids in attendance will receive free prizes.

Freedoms now accepting applicants for Hamlin Family Foundation Billie Jean King Character Award

The Philadelphia Freedoms are currently accepting applications from youth athletes for the Billie Jean King Character Award. This award provides scholarships to ten selected youths, ages 10-18, who are seeking to become a competitive athlete in any sport, to participate in tournaments or on their school team, and who have displayed outstanding character. The top male and female scholarship recipients will receive a $1,000 scholarship and the second place male and female recipients will each receive a $500 scholarship. The awards will be presented to the recipients by WTT co-founder and Philadelphia Freedoms owner Billie Jean King at a Freedoms home match in July at Villanova University. The objective of the Hamlin Family Foundation-Character Initiative and CITRS is to honor the actions of those who have displayed good character, integrity and fortitude in their lives, and prepare recipients to become mentors and character ambassadors. CITRS is the cornerstone of the Hamlin Family Foundation’s philosophy for character education. Applications are due by Friday, June 28 by 6 p.m. EST and must be submitted along with two (2) letters of recommendation, a short essay regarding the applicant’s demonstration of character, and a CITRS Character Mini-Assessment. For the award application, visit http://www.philadelphiafreedoms.com/teams/freedoms/pictures/2013_BJK_Award_OnlineApp.pdf

Philadelphia Freedoms offering special ticket deals for upcoming matches in July

The Philadelphia Freedoms announced that if you buy a full price box seat for the July 10 match against Andy Roddick and the Springfield Lasers, you will receive a FREE ticket to the Freedoms match on July 17 featuring Top 20 player Sloane Stephens. Other attractions during the July 10 match include an appearance by tennis legend Billie Jean King, debut of the new Freedoms mascot and free junior Wilson tennis racquets for all children in attendance. The Freedoms also announced another special ticket price night set for the July 23 home match against the Boston Freedoms. Tickets for that match are on sale for just $25 for adults and $15 for kids. To order your tickets, please call (866) WTT-TIXS.

TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY now available as an audio book

TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY, the historical novel that narrates the incredible story of two tennis players, Dick Williams and Karl Behr, and how they survived the sinking of the Titanic disaster in 1912 only to play each other in the quarterfinals of the modern-day U.S. Open tennis championships — with the winner going on to stage a major upset victory in the final — is now available for sale as an audio book. Written by Lindsay Gibbs and narrated by Julie Eickhoff, TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY tells a narrative tale of Williams and Behr and their incredible stories of survival from the Titanic disaster. The two tennis standouts amazingly survived the sinking and met each other on the rescue ship Carpathia. Two years later, the two became U.S. Davis Cup teammates and again faced each other in the quarterfinals in the biggest tennis tournament in the country, the U.S. Nationals — the modern-day U.S. Open. The winner went on to become the unexpected singles champion of the tournament, winning their first major singles championship with a final-round upset over the world’s best player Maurice McLoughlin – the Roger Federer of this era in tennis. The audio version is available on Amazon.com for $17.46 and also on Audible.com and iTunes.

Tennis Channel Signs Jim Courier As Analyst For Wimbledon Coverage: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

June 19, 2013 by Justin Cohen

By Justin Cohen @JustinCohen44

Jim Courier joins Tennis Channel as Wimbledon analyst; Also joins network for BNP Paribas Open

Los Angeles-based Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, has extended the contract of Jim Courier to include analyst’s duties at Wimbledon and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. The multiyear agreement expands upon Courier’s role as full-time lead men’s US Open analyst, begun in 2012, and comes in time for Tennis Channel’s sixth year of coverage in London via the nightly Wimbledon Primetime, set for June 24-July 7. Courier, a tennis Hall of Famer who currently captains the U.S. Davis Cup squad, will offer his insight as part of a Wimbledon Primetime team that includes fellow Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova (@Martina), sportscast veteran Bill Macatee (@BMacatee) and on-point fan-favorite Mary Carillo. Former players Lindsay Davenport (@LDavenport76) and Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob) also will return in 2013, joined this year by former player Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs) and frequent Tennis Channel contributor Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) of Sports Illustrated. Macatee, Navratilova and Gimelstob have been part of Tennis Channel’s on-air team at every Grand Slam telecast in network history. “I’ve enjoyed working with Tennis Channel at the US Open the past few years and am pleased to get the opportunity to join them for other important events,” said Courier. “Wimbledon holds a very special place in the landscape of our sport and I look forward to being there to cover it alongside the entire Tennis Channel team.”

Tennis Channel’s Wimbledon coverage begins on Monday, June 24

Tennis Channel’s 2013 Wimbledon coverage starts with the first day of play on Monday, June 24, and continues nightly through the final weekend. Wimbledon Primetime typically runs from 5 p.m. ET each afternoon until 8:30 p.m. This first edition will be followed immediately by a second, entirely new three-and-a-half-hour show from 8:30 p.m.-midnight. Exceptions to this schedule come on the weekends. On the middle Sunday, June 30, an annual day without any matches, Wimbledon Primetime will focus on the best of week one, and air one edition from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. ET. The following weekend, Saturday, July 6, and Sunday, July 7, also will feature single editions from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. ET each night, as the tournament concludes and champions are crowned. Tennis Channel will run encore editions of Wimbledon Primetime throughout the late night and early morning until 7 a.m. ET, on the eve of the following day’s play. Nightly encores usually will begin at 12 a.m., with 11 a.m. starts on altered-schedule evenings. The network plans close to 90 hours of first-run Wimbledon Primetime coverage during the two-week tournament, with late-night encores pushing the overall number of hours to more than 180.

USTA sues filmmaker of ‘Venus and Serena’

According to an article written by Richard Sandomir in The New York Times ‘Straight Sets Blog’, the United States Tennis Association accused the makers of a new documentary about Venus and Serena Williams of copyright infringement for using more than 20 minutes of video from the 2011 United States Open and previous ones without signing an agreement. In a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in White Plains, the USTA also said that Maiken Baird and Michelle Major, the makers of “Venus and Serena,” used four times more video than would have been permitted in an agreement. The association also said the filmmakers used video that was “not in the best interest of the sport”: Serena Williams’s 2009 vitriolic tirade against a line judge. Davidson Goldin, a spokesman for the filmmakers, said that talks collapsed over an agreement to use archival footage when the USTA refused to let them use the 2009 clip. They used it anyway, saying it fell under the fair-use exception to a copyright owner’s right to control his or her intellectual property. In 2011, Baird and Major first asked the USTA about obtaining permission to use archival video of the Williams sisters from previous United States Opens and to shoot video from the 2011 event, according to the lawsuit. They obtained access to the 2011 tournament, but, after they did not sign an agreement, the USTA believed that the documentary project had been abandoned. “Having failed to reach an agreement or otherwise pay for the footage they used,” the tennis association said, Baird and Major “simply misappropriated” the footage “for their commercial advantage without regard to the USTA’s rights.” Baird and Major disputed the accusations. “In trying to censor this film about the Williams sisters,” they said, “the USTA is simply making up an agreement that never existed — we shot footage at the U.S. Open with the USTA’s permission and of course never agreed to pay them for our own work.” They said that the association was engaged in a “shameful effort to interfere” with the film.

Mylan World TeamTennis sets TV and Live Streaming schedule

More than 200 hours of action from Mylan World TeamTennis presented by GEICO, including over 70 hours of live coverage, will air on a combination of national and regional television networks and online this July. The Mylan WTT preview show, matches and highlight recap telecasts are expected to reach close to 200 million households worldwide, including the U.S., India, Africa, Russia, New Zealand, Europe, Southeast Asia and the United Kingdom. Altitude, Comcast Sports Net, Madison Square Garden Network (MSG), Mediacom, Tennis Channel, and Time Warner Cable Sports will air five Mylan WTT matches this summer, starting with Venus Williams leading the defending champion Washington Kastles at home on July 9 against the Boston Lobsters. The Kastles have a 32-match win streak heading into the 2013 season, the second longest in major professional U.S. team sports. Former ATP World Tour player and Princeton University standout Leif Shiras will be the host for all televised Mylan WTT matches, along with former doubles great Rennae Stubbs, who will provide color commentary. Harry Cicma will report from the sideline.

USPTA, Emirates Airline US Open Series collaborate

The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and the USTA have joined forces to make the Emirates Airline US Open Series available to the USPTA and its members. The partnership is modeled after other successful agreements already in place in Stanford, New Haven and Cincinnati. The goal is to develop partnerships in the other Emirates Airline US Open Series cities and use the Series to promote tennis and the USPTA. “The Emirates Airline US Open Series is a great platform for tennis fans, old and new, to enjoy our sport,” said J. Wayne Richmond, General Manager, Emirates Airline US Open Series. “The teaching pros are so vital to the success of tennis throughout the country and we are delighted to work the USPTA on several fronts to grow our sport.” The Emirates Airline US Open Series is in its 10th year and links nine events during the five-week period leading into the US Open. The Series has boasted a television audience of more than 30 million in past years and an overall attendance of more than 750,000 in 2012. This year, the Series will air more than 200 hours of live tennis and more than 350 hours total. “The USPTA has an obligation to support professional tournaments in the U.S. We owe it to those tournament directors to create interest in their events with the consumers that we touch by encouraging them to attend Emirates Airline US Open tournaments in those respective markets,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “In return, our members receive a tangible benefit by being able to go to the tournaments early in the week as a guest of the tournament.”

Andy Murray donates entire Queen’s Club winner’s pay check to London’s Royal Marsden Hospital

After winning the AEGON Championships at London’s Queen’s Club this past weekend for the third time in five years, World No. 2 Andy Murray donated his entire winner’s pay check of £73,000 to London’s Royal Marsden Hospital in honor of his close friend, British Davis Cup doubles player Ross Hutchins, who is currently battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Tonic by Martina Hingis named Official Clothing Partner of Southern California Open

Tonic by Martina Hingis has been named the official clothing partner of the Southern California Open. Hingis, who is set to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame this July in Newport, collaborated with Tonic to create her own signature tennis clothing collection. “We are extremely proud to have Tonic by Martina Hingis as the official clothing partner of the Southern California Open,” said Tournament Director Alastair Garland. “We are happy to be associated with a partner whose clothing has been inspired by such a great champion.” “Tonic is delighted with the opportunity to sponsor this top tennis event. Martina loved to play at the La Costa Resort and Spa when she was on tour, so we’re excited to be involved in this tournament as our first major sponsorship,” said Leopoldo Gutierrez, CEO Tonic Active Wear. “As a long-time supporter of women’s tennis, the Southern California Open highlights the importance of furthering the development of women in sport, which is an important aspect of Tonic’s involvement in tennis.”

Roddick, Courier to play exhibition match in Cashiers, North Carolina

Recently-retired American tennis star Andy Roddick, a former World No. 1 and 2003 US Open Champion, will take on U.S. Davis Cup Captain Jim Courier in the United Community Bank Mountain Challenge on Saturday, July 27 at the Cedar Creek Racquet Club in Cashiers, North Carolina. The Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with McKee Properties will host the event with proceeds benefitting the new non-profit organization Mountain Youth Charities. A gala dinner will be held on Friday, July 26 hosted by Roddick and Courier. This will be held in Cashiers at Lonesome Valley s famed restaurant Canyon Kitchen.

Dick Norman retires from ATP World Tour following 22-year career

Following his first round doubles loss with fellow Belgian David Goffin at the Topshelf Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands, 42-year-old Dick Norman officially retired from the ATP World Tour. In April 2010, Norman reached a career-high World No. 10 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings and won four tour-level titles from seven finals. The highlight of his professional career came in 2009 when he teamed with Wesley Moodie and reached the finals of the French Open. That year, he also reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon including a win over World No. 1 Bob and Mike Bryan and the US Open quarterfinals. The 6’8” lefty finished his career with a 119-120 record while earning just over $2 million in tournament prize money.

USPTA Buying Show set for September 26 at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando

The United States Professional Tennis Association’s Tennis Buying Show will be held on Thursday, September 26 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla., during the World Conference. Booth space is still available for the largest national tennis-only buying show. The buying show is part of the larger World Conference, which begins on September 23 and annually attracts the who’s who of the tennis industry. Tennis-teaching professionals, industry leaders and representatives, media and manufacturer representatives are expected to attend. Manufacturers are encouraged to submit booth registrations early to guarantee their space since the buying show sells out each year. To obtain booth reservation forms, visit www.usptaworldconference.com and click on the buying show menu tab or call John Embree at 713-978-7782 ext. 117 or email him at john.embree@uspta.org. Exhibitors 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 and lighting, awards, educational materials, nutrition bars and vitamins, and more.

T2Tennis and Ultimate Tennis merge

T2Tennis and Ultimate Tennis recently announced that they have merged, creating the largest tennis flex league in the United States. With over 100,000 members and operations in seven states T2Tennis and Ultimate Tennis provide organized tennis league play to more players than any other organization except the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Bryan Brothers renew partnership with Prince: This week in tennis business with Justin Cohen

September 19, 2012 by Justin Cohen

By Justin Cohen

Bob and Mike Bryan Extend Partnership with Prince

Prince Global, a leading tennis equipment and footwear company, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Active Brands Company, announced recently it has renewed a partnership with record-breaking American doubles team and 2012 US Open Men’s Doubles Champions Mike and Bob Bryan. The Bryan Brothers will continue to use Prince’s EXO3 Rebel 95 racquet and Beast XP string to maximize their performance. In winning their fourth U.S. Open title, the Bryans have won 12 major doubles titles – equaling the all-time record set by John Newcombe and Tony Roche. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “Prince is committed to strengthening its long-term relationships within the global tennis community and to that end we are excited to have Mike and Bob Bryan continuing to use Prince products to support their game,” said Ken Merritt, Director of Player Development for Prince Global Sports. “They are the best doubles team of their generation and have been long-standing supporters of our brand.” The Bryan Brothers have been using Prince racquets since 2007, helping them win over 40 titles with the brand including the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

John Embree Named USPTA CEO and Executive Director

The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) announced late last week that its Board of Directors and Search Committee had hired tennis industry veteran John Embree as the new CEO and Executive Director. Embree will take the administrative reigns from Tim Heckler, who will retire at the end of the year, after 30 years in the position. Embree will begin transitioning into his role as of October 1 and will be relocating to the national office in Houston on November 1. The association conducted a search for the new CEO/Executive Director, and after interviewing several candidates in conjunction with the executive search firm, GSI Executive Search Inc., the USPTA Search Committee offered the position to Embree. The contract was ratified by the USPTA Executive Committee in late August. “I began my tennis odyssey during college as a teaching professional in Virginia. After more than three decades of working in the sport that I began playing at 6 years old, my career has come full circle, back to my foundation as a grassroots advocate. I am thrilled to have been chosen by the Executive Committee to help lead the USPTA in the years to come,” said Embree. “We are pleased to welcome John Embree into the USPTA family. His vast tennis industry expertise, contacts, and company management skills will serve the USPTA well,” said President Tom Daglis. Embree has held a wide variety of influential tennis industry roles for more than 30 years. They include serving as President of Prince Sports, The Americas; President of Balle de Match LLC; and Vice President/General Manager, Racquet Sports Division for Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Most recently, he launched a tennis consulting practice to assist endemic brands, associations and new corporate entities in maximizing their impact in the tennis marketplace. His client list included the USTA, Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Peter Burwash International, Off the Grid Technologies, and Donnay USA. Embree has served on many national USTA Committees, including the USTA Nominating Committee in 2005-2006 and currently as the Vice Chair of USTA Professional Circuits Committee. In addition, he recently served as Presidential appointee of the Board of Directors of USTA Middle States section, is a past member of TIA Board of Directors and Executive Committee, member of the Board of Directors of American College of Sports Medicine Foundation, and past President of the Chicago Tennis Patrons Foundation. One of his proudest achievements in tennis was the creation of the USTA Adult League Tennis program in 1980, when he served as the first USTA Adult League Tennis Administrator for two years. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA, and was inducted into the W&L Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Wagner, Taylor Named 2011-2012 Paralympic Team of the Year by United States Olympic Committee

The United States Quad Doubles Wheelchair Tennis Team of veterans David Wagner and Nick Taylor have been selected by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the 2011-2012 Paralympic Team of the Year following their third consecutive Quad Doubles gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. Wagner and Taylor are the first Quad tennis players, singles or doubles, to be recognized by the USOC for this prestigious honor, since the USOC first established the award for Paralympians in 2009. They are also the first tennis players to receive this honor since Jennifer Capriati won the USOC SportsWoman of the Year award in 2001. This week, Wagner and Taylor will be honored at the 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Assembly dinner alongside Olympians Allyson Felix (Track & Field), Michael Phelps (Swimming), the U.S. Women’s Eight Rowing Team, and Paralympians Raymond Martin (Track & Field), and Jessica Long (Swimming). “I am truly honored to be selected for this award,” said Taylor. “With all the exceptional teams that could have been chosen, it’s exciting to be recognized for our long time dedication and commitment to the sport. This is a great honor not just for David and me, but for American wheelchair tennis.” “I’m so honored to receive this award,” said Wagner. “We have worked so hard to be the best team we can be, and are pleased to represent the United States of America. I’m truly proud to win this award with Nick. It is great for the sport of wheelchair tennis to be recognized in this way by the USOC.” Last year, Wagner, originally from Portland, Ore., and Taylor, from Wichita, Kan., led the United States to the World Team Cup Championship, landing them their seventh World Team Cup title as doubles partners. That summer, they captured their seventh Grand Slam title at the 2011 US Open. Earlier this year, they finished third at the 2012 World Team Cup Championships.

Australian Open to Host Wild Card Playoff in Nanjing, China

The Australian Open will host a regional wild card playoff for entry into the 2013 tournament in Nanjing, China. The male and female winners of the playoff will gain entry to the main draw of the Australian Open, which lists itself as “The Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific.” The Asia/Pacific wildcards were previously decided by nomination. The playoff will not be open to Australian players. The Australian Open also holds a separate wild card tournament in Australia for national players.

Nadal Named “Person of the Year” by Spanish Vanity Fair

Despite having been missing in action from the ATP World Tour scene, Rafael Nadal collected a prestigious honor on Monday in Madrid. The former World No. 1 was presented the “Person of the Year” award by the Spanish edition of Vanity Fair at the Italian Consulate in Madrid. Vanity Fair announced that Nadal was selected for the award due to his all around accomplishments on the court as a professional tennis player, as well as his good works of the Rafa Nadal Foundation. The prize is presented to an individual deemed to exercise the “most influence” on society “in any of its spheres.” Last year’s recipient was Nobel literature laureate Mario Vargas Llosa. During a beautiful acceptance speech, the 7-time French Open champion thanked the magazine and its readers for the award, emphasizing how much their support meant in a challenging time.

Anderson asking for too much money from Tennis South Africa

According to a report from Matt Cronin on TENNIS.com, top-ranked South African player Kevin Anderson is demanding too much money to play Davis Cup says Tennis South Africa Chief Executive Ina Smith. Anderson recently declined playing for his country in Davis Cup against Canada and instead played in the World TeamTennis Finals in Charleston, S.C. Anderson has claimed that Tennis South Africa does not compensate him properly and would not take care of him financially if he became injured and could not play tour events. Smith hopes that Anderson will rejoin the team, but it depends on his demands.

Bhupathi Lashes Out at India’s Tennis Federation after Two-Year Ban

According to The Wall Street Journal of India, multiple Grand Slam Doubles champion Mahesh Bhupathi has lashed out at India’s Tennis Federation, accusing them of “dirty politics” after the federation banned him and doubles partner Rohan Bopanna for two-years. The ban effectively restricts the duo from participating in two editions of the Davis Cup. At a press conference in Mumbai, Bhupathi launched a blistering attack on the “dictatorial” policies of the All India Tennis Federation, singling out its president, Anil Khanna. The 38-year-old’s remarks come days after the federation, the main governing body for tennis in India, did not field the duo for a Davis Cup relegation play-off match against New Zealand on Saturday. Soon after, the sporting federation announced that Bhupathi and Bopanna were ineligible to participate in upcoming editions of the international tournament until June 2014. The World No. 15 in doubles is currently challenging the decision, arguing that the sporting federation is not competent to do so. India’s Tennis Federation has recently accused Bhupathi and Bopanna of violating disciplinary norms ahead of the London Olympics.

Lacoste Partners with OrthoLite

OrthoLite®, the leader of open cell foam insoles, has partnered with fashion icon LACOSTE to enhance their upcoming Sport Active Collection for men’s and women’s footwear available in spring 2013. The new LACOSTE Sport Active Collection evokes everything that’s cool, carefree and even more comfortable about the upcoming spring season, with its fresh preppy styles, retro pastels and bold and 90s inspired shapes. The entire collection will now feature high-performance OrthoLite insoles to ensure comfort in every stylish step. “With almost 80 years of sporting heritage, the brand shares OrthoLite’s vision to offer quality, comfort and high performance footwear products. By including OrthoLite in the collection, LACOSTE will now offer its customers the best in customized technology and comfort, while still being cool and fashionable.” With the inclusion of OrthoLite, the LACOSTE Sport Active Collection will now offer the benefits of breathability, moisture control, anti-microbial properties and long-term cushioning. “We are very excited to announce this partnership with LACOSTE,” said Pamela Gelsomini, OrthoLite President. “With almost 80 years of sporting heritage, the brand shares OrthoLite’s vision to offer quality, comfort and high performance footwear products. By including OrthoLite in the collection, LACOSTE will now offer its customers the best in customized technology and comfort, while still being cool and fashionable.” LACOSTE is a premium lifestyle brand combining sporting elegance with understated French style. Both in daily life and on the sports field, LACOSTE bases its success on the essential values of authenticity, optimism and joie de vivre. LACOSTE currently sponsors many tennis players including John Isner, Richard Gasquet, Milos Raonic and the recently retired former World No. 1 Andy Roddick.

US Open reaches Millions of Fans Worldwide

This year’s US Open was broadcast in 180 countries around the world, to go along with television coverage on CBS Sports, ESPN and Tennis Channel in the United States. The tournament’s official website, USOpen.org, had more than 325 million page views and was accessed by more than 11.7 million visitors throughout the world. It is the fourth consecutive year that the official tournament website for the US Open topped 10 million in unique visitors. Also, more than 2.8 million hours of free live streaming was viewed by fans domestically. The free streaming was available across computers, mobile devices and tablets.

Battle in the Bay Classic set for October 12-14

The 2012 Battle in the Bay Classic, a Division I collegiate tennis tournament hosted by the University of San Francisco Men’s Tennis Team at the California Tennis Club, is set to take place from October 12-14. The event was formed in 2009 by the University of San Francisco men’s tennis head coach Peter Bartlett, assistant coach Pablo Pires de Almeida, and the California Tennis Club Director of Tennis, Steve Jackson. This invitational tournament will feature some of the best college players from the west coast, including some former top Northern California juniors. Players from Duke, USC, Stanford, Pepperdine, Cal, Boise State, USF and other top division-1 tennis programs will be facing off in a tournament format to see who will hold the title as the best singles and doubles players to compete in the Bay Area this year. Main draw singles will be made up of 32 players and 16 teams for doubles. Battle in the Bay Classic is an Intercollegiate Tennis Association sanctioned event that will count for NCAA Division I singles and doubles rankings. It is an opportunity for all players to improve their rankings and a unique experience that will showcase the highest-level collegiate tennis at its very best. The schedule of events include a Sponsor/Player Pro-Am, cocktail reception, Kids Day, exhibition match with former ATP Professional Paul Goldstein and the best college tennis players from the west coast competing. Admission is free and open to the public.

USTA Northern California Section Offering $30 Memberships for Adults through September 30

Through September 30, adults in the Northern California area can join the USTA for just $30 and receive a free US Open hat with their purchase. Using the code NCINTR12, you can take advantage of this wonderful offer. Membership with the USTA enables you to register for leagues and tournaments, take advantage of special discounted tickets to top tennis tournaments including the US Open, receive other special benefits that are only offered to members and so much more.

USTA Addresses USPTA Takeover Rumors

April 10, 2012 by WTM

WorldTennisMagazine.com has obtained a letter sent from USTA President Jon Vegosen and USTA Executive Director Gordon Smith to the National Board of Directors of the USPTA regarding erroneous rumors that the USTA was looking to take over the country’s largest tennis-teaching organization. The letter can be seen here (USTA Response to USPTA April 2012) or below.

Dear USPTA Board of Directors:

The United States Tennis Association believes it is important that it weigh in on the many unsubstantiated rumors being circulated through the mail and on the internet about the USTA and the USTA’s intentions relative to the USPTA. While any organization can have internal disputes, the USPTA’s seem to have taken on a life of its own and, unfortunately, is being played out in public. It is particularly disconcerting that the USTA has been dragged into this fray. Over the past year, a great deal of misinformation and false accusations have been spread via, among other channels, anonymous letters, e-mails and websites/social media. During this time, the USTA chose to take the high road by not responding. Given, however, the recent escalation of these rumors, we can no longer remain silent and feel it is imperative that we set the record straight. Therefore, for the record:

The USTA has no intention of “taking over the USPTA” or any other tennis teaching organization. The USTA has not had any discussions with Tom Daglis or anyone else at the USPTA relative to this subject. If the USTA wanted to get into the business of certification and offering memberships to teaching professionals, it could do so without “taking over” any organization. The USTA has always believed that working cooperatively with independent teaching organizations to carry out its mission is preferable to starting its own tennis teaching organization.

Would the USTA like to see better coaching education in this country? Yes. The USTA is particularly interested in ensuring that both high performance players and 10 and under players have the best coaching available at all levels. That is why the USTA is working with both the USPTA and the PTR to improve coaching education in these areas. The USTA has been very up front regarding its goals and objectives and has worked with both organizations with total transparency.

The USTA appreciates the significant number of USPTA Board and Executive Committee members who work collaboratively with the USTA and the tennis industry. Unfortunately, there remains a faction within USPTA that views many of the USTA’s grow the game efforts as direct threats to the USPTA. This faction and some of their allies have been very aggressive in promulgating a negative misinformation campaign. For more than a decade, these individuals, in lieu of any real facts, have been quick to cast the USTA as “big brother” whenever it is convenient in order to advance their point of view. It is disappointing that instead of honest dialogue they believe these harmful, worn out conspiracy theories will carry the day.

Finally, the USTA urges the USPTA Board, as well as the USPTA Executive Committee, to take a very hard look at what has transpired over the past year. The airing of USPTA internal disputes via anonymous letters, e-mails and websites that have misrepresented the facts and spread patently false rumors has been a huge distraction and has significantly damaged the USPTA’s reputation. This approach speaks volumes about those who choose to handle their disputes in this manner. The USTA hopes that the USPTA Board and Executive Committee will take the steps required to put the USPTA’s house in order soon. It is important to TENNIS and the USTA for the USPTA to be a significant contributor in our collective efforts to grow the game.

Sincerely,

Jon Vegosen, Chairman of the Board and President
Gordon Smith, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer

FORMER U.S. NO. 1 CLIFF RICHEY LAUNCHES NEW BOOK ACING DEPRESSION IN HOUSTON

April 6, 2010 by WTM

HOUSTON, Texas, April 6, 2010 – Cliff Richey, who 40 years ago was the No. 1-ranked American tennis player, the hero of the championship-winning U.S. Davis Cup team and the winner of the first-ever professional Grand Prix points title, in a new book discusses the most difficult opponent of his life, depression.

In his newly-released book Acing Depression: A Tennis Champions Toughest Match, Richey calls depression among adult males as the silent tragedy in our culture today and details his life-long battle with the disease that afflicts approximately 121 million people around the world.

Richey, along with his Hall of Fame tennis-playing sister Nancy Richey, launched the book Tuesday during a luncheon sponsored by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and attended by officials from Mental Health America (MHA) in his former hometown, Houston, Texas, at the Houston Racquet Club. The famed tennis facility was also the site of the first ever womens professional tennis tournament in 1970 where Nancy Richey, along with eight other women tennis players lead by Billie Jean King, famously turned professional for one dollar and started the modern day Womens Tennis Association (WTA) Tour.

Co-written with his oldest daughter Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, ACING DEPRESSION ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com), is a first-hand account of the life and tennis career of Richey, providing readers with his real-life drama – on and off the tennis court. Richeys depression is a constant theme, from his genetics and family history, to the tensions of his professional tennis career and family life, to his eventual diagnosis and steps to recover from his condition.

Jimmy Connors, the five-time U.S. Open champion and a friend of Richeys penned the Foreword for ACING DEPRESSION.

Writes Connors, What made Cliff Richey what he was on the tennis court has certainly carried over into this book. His story has taken a subject, depressionwhich has affected him personallyand put it out there for everyone to see. Depression has been a subject that no one really talks about. Few people even admit to having such a condition. But Cliff is not afraid to be bold and reveal what he has gone through and what it takes to get a handle on this diseaseJust as Cliff played tennis, he is studying how depression works; what its weaknesses are; and what strategies you can use against it. His hope is that people who read his story can learnlearn about the disease and learn that people who suffer can have a better quality of life. Things can get better. There is hope.

Richey was known as the original Bad Boy of tennis, before there was John McEnroe and Ilie Nastase. His 26-year career was highlighted by a 1970 season where he led the United States to the Davis Cup title, finished as the first-ever Grand Prix world points champion and won one of the most exciting matches in American tennis history that clinched the year-end No. 1 American ranking. He won both of his singles matches in the 5-0 U.S. victory over West Germany in the 1970 Davis Cup final, while he beat out rivals Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith to win the first-ever Grand Prix world points title the precursor to the modern day ATP rankings. At the 1970 Pacific Coast Championships at the Berkeley Tennis Club in Berkeley, Calif., he earned the No. 1 U.S. ranking when he beat Smith in a fifth-set tie-breaker, where both players had simultaneous match point in a sudden-death nine-point tie-breaker at 4-4. He also reached the semifinals of both the 1970 French
and U.S. Opens, losing a famous match to Zeljko Franulovic of Yugoslavia in the French semifinals, despite holding match points and leading by two-sets-to-one and 5-1 in the fourth set. He and his sister Nancy, a former French and Australian singles champion, are regarded by some as the best brother-sister duo in tennis history.

During his career, Richey was know for tantrums and boorish behavior simply, however, it served as a mask for his internal struggle with clinical depression. During his darkest days, Richey would place black trash bags over the windows of his house, stay in bed all day and cry. With the same determination that earned him the nick-name The Bull, Richey fought against his depression that was not diagnosed until just before his 50th birthday during a routine visit to the skin doctor. Since his happenstance diagnosis, Richey has steadily been taking anti-depressant drugs that have greatly improved his quality of life and moved him to become an advocate for mental health, speaking at numerous events and gatherings across the country.

I have been given so many second chances in my life, Richey says in the book. The beautiful thing is that in recovery, almost everything in your life becomes a second chance. Hope is the foundation of our great country of America. Hope is such a driver of the normal human condition. The sum total of my awful disease was loss of hope. Thats the truly awesome thing about recovery: once you come back, your whole life after that feels like a second chance.

Through 10 years of recovery, with the aid of antidepressant medication, he began to feel well for the first time in his life. The fight is not over, he says, but he encourages those suffering from depression to never give up. Acing Depression: A Tennis Champions Toughest Match gives a personal face to an epidemic disease that afflicts one of 20 Americans. Penned with passion and candor, this memoir is a deeply human story of nightmare and redemption.

The book has also received acclaim and endorsements in the mental health community.

Said Jackie Shannon, the Past President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Real men do get depressioneven champion athletes. Cliffs story is an inspiration to all those who are battling mental illnesses and a wake-up call to the public. Said Lynn Lasky Clark, President and CEO of Mental Health America of Texas, This straight forward, honest and intensely personal account of Cliff Richey’s experiences with tennis and depression is truly inspirational. Cliff Richey approaches his recovery from depression with great passion and determination. He provides hope and understanding through this powerful memoir.” Said Lynn Rutland, the Executive Director of MHMR (Mental Health, Mental Retardation), “The Richeys inspired a whole generation of kids to believe in themselves and strive for excellence. Cliff’s story gives people hope when life has dealt them darkness. The battle for the mind is one that Cliff will never lose through lack of effort as he offers
insight into his own struggles and victories. His story will continue to make a difference for those suffering with depression.”

Hilaire Richey Kallendorf is Richeys oldest daughter and an Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies at Texas A&M University. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University. She is the author of two books, Exorcism and Its Texts: Subjectivity in Early Modern Literature of England and Spain (University of Toronto Press, 2003) and Conscience on Stage: The Comedia as Casuistry in Early Modern Spain (University of Toronto Press, 2007). She has also published over a dozen articles on such topics as self-exorcism, piety and pornography, ghosts, Taíno religious ceremonies, and Christian humanism in the Renaissance.

Acing Depression is published by New Chapter Press also the publisher of The Roger Federer Story, Quest for Perfection by Rene Stauffer, The Bud Collins History of Tennis by Bud Collins, The Education of a Tennis Player by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli, The Lennon Prophecy by Joe Niezgoda, Bone Appetit, Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog by Susan Anson, The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle by Stewart Wolpin, Peoples Choice Cancun Travel Survey Guidebook by Eric Rabinowitz and Weekend Warriors: The Men of Professional Lacrosse by Jack McDermott, among others. Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press is an independent publisher of books and part of the Independent Publishers Group. More information can be found at www.NewChapterMedia.com.