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Geography Lessons from USTA Texas

On By Teresa Merklin

Yesterday we discussed that USTA National league regulations enable the local sections to create residency rules to encourage and foster local league play. We wound up on a rule from the Texas Section regulations that I believe was created under that general umbrella. It should come as no surprise to anyone who regularly follows this site, that I have some questions about this rule. Today we are going to focus on the definition and determination of a city center.

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USTA League Residency Requirements

On By Teresa Merklin

From Warren Kimball’s Raising the Game USTA history book, it is apparent that USTA League tennis blossomed despite an absence of attention from the USTA National office. As I examine the rules and regulations of league play, I am doing so with the understanding that the popularity of leagues preceded the national structure and regulation. I think that is critical to understanding the relationships.

Tennis Books: String Theory

On By Teresa Merklin

Books about tennis do not sell very well. It is kind of a surprising fact when you think about it. Tennis is generally thought of as a smart person sport. Smart people read books. Yet somehow tennis players, who are incredibly passionate about playing the sport, don’t read books about it.

Donald Dell Fires Shots Across the USTA Bow

On By Teresa Merklin

Last week on Sport’s Illustrated podcast “Beyond the Baseline,” host Jon Wertheim interviewed Donald Dell. Dell is a former professional player, broadcaster, and agent. He is also a former US Davis Cup Captain and represented Michael Jordan. Dell made a bold statement that caught my attention given my current exploration on growing the game. The context was in attracting young athletes to the sport of tennis.

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Community Tennis Associations

On By Teresa Merklin

As I wrote about yesterday in “Mowing the Grassroots of the USTA House”, I have been thinking a lot about the relationship between the USTA national office, the individual USTA sections, the local USTA Community Tennis Associations (CTAs), and the local league players. Today I want to focus very specifically on the CTAs. I suspect that a lot of players are only vaguely aware of CTAs and the purpose they serve in the USTA ecosystem.

Mowing the Grassroots of the USTA House

On By Teresa Merklin

The USTA is in the midst of a restructuring effort that has been accelerated due to financial strains brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic. Currently the USTA is re-imagining the structure of the organization to get closer to players at the local level. The restructuring of the USTA was previously covered in “Job Cuts at the USTA.”