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Tennis Beyond the Headlines: June 13, 2026 Sleep Is a Tennis Training Session The Match Begins Before the Warm-Up What Swearing Can Teach Us About Better Tennis ACES: The ATP No. 1 Club Arrived at the Worst Possible Time Principle 12: The Courage to Reverse a Call Iga Świątek’s Mini Resistance Loop Warm-Up for Tennis

United States Olympic Tennis Team

On By Teresa Merklin

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

On By Teresa Merklin

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

On By Teresa Merklin

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.

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2021 Tennis Participation PAC Report

On By Teresa Merklin

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

On By Teresa Merklin

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.

USTA Announces League Referral Program

On By Teresa Merklin

The USTA blasted out a message to its membership Friday advertising a new league player referral program. Since I have been harping on the data management of the USTA all weekend, I will observe that there are USTA members in my orbit who miss this notice because the organization does not have their current email address. The message announcing the new referral program carried a link where a person may update their email address. It is a mystery to me how a person who did not receive the email can make use of that opportunity, but at least the USTA is trying.