The Tennis Docket: August 9, 2021
As both pro circuits heads up to Canada, we consider the sustainability of the tennis ball, tennis camp water fights, and a sudden appearance of beach tennis.
The Tennis Docket: July 26, 2021
Tennis news this week largely centered on action from the Olympics and Novak Djokovic’s quest for the Golden Slam.
The Tennis Docket: July 19, 2021
I tried something a little different this week to expand the breadth of news that appears on this site. This post highlights the tennis news stories that were just outside of the mainstream media from the past week that I found to be interesting or compelling. Please drop me a comment and let me know what you think.
2 responsesI’m a Tennis Champion: Now Get Out and Play
I am excited to announce that I am a USTA Tennis Champion! Over the next six months I will be participating in USTA sponsored challenges to promote tennis in North Texas. In the true spirit of this blog, I will chronicle my experiences. I am anticipating that some of the challenges may result in raucous adventures. Hilarity may ensue.
1 responseUnited States Olympic Tennis Team
Last weekend, this site detailed the selection criteria for players from the United States to qualify to play in the Olympics. The information included the direct acceptance criteria imposed by the International Olympic Committee. The factors that the USTA uses to nominate additional players was also described. The first post speculated on the players who would be named to the women’s team and a follow up focused on the men. As expected, the roster for Team USA was announced last week. There were some big surprises primarily involving players who declined to participate in the Olympic Games this year.
Team USA: Men’s Olympic Tennis Speculation
Yesterday we examined how the USA Women’s Tennis Team is likely to shake out for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Today we are taking a look at the possible participants on the Men’s side. Selection of the rosters are expected to be announced by 5 July. Since the selection process is different from what is done in professional tennis tournaments, most tennis fans are not familiar how Olympic spots are determined in tennis.
Team USA: Women’s Olympic Tennis Speculation
The tennis players who will be selected to play in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics is expected to be announced by July 5. The protocols and procedures for Olympic qualification are significantly divergent from what is used in professional tennis tournaments. For one thing, the nationality of the players really matters. Additionally there are Olympic rules that are intended to create balanced international participation. For most tennis fans, the process is foreign and mysterious.
1 response2021 Tennis Participation PAC Report
The Physical Activity Council (PAC) issues an annual report tracking sports, fitness, and recreation participation in the United States. The USTA and the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) lean pretty heavily on the 2021 report as the source of good news on tennis participation. In fact it is the go-to “filler” content used in periodic emailed newsletters from both organizations.
Taylor Townsend Speaks Out
Last week women’s professional tennis player Taylor Townsend released an essay titled “You Ain’t Never Been No Little Girl, Taylor Townsend” on The Players’ Tribune. It is a powerful account of her personal journey in tennis. The essay also provides some insight into the machinations of the USTA Player Development Program when Townsend was a rising junior. It also reflects less than positively on the culture of the USTA encapsulated by the Player Development Program.