Unplugged Archives

A Tale of Two Tournaments

On October 2, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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During the US Open this year, I received numerous daily emails from the USTA reminding me to tune into the broadcast of the tournament. Other messaging that hit my inbox promoted purchase of tickets for the event. There were also frequent reminders to engage with the “virtual grounds” of Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The messaging repeatedly hawked US Open merchandise. Following the conclusion of the tournament, I received notifications from the USTA inviting me to participate in an auction of the art that was displayed on the tournament grounds this year. It was a lot of direct email marketing.

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One Simple Trick for Managing Your Balls

On October 1, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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Tennis tournaments are played with an “official” ball and there is a 1 in 4 chance that neighboring courts receive identical balls.

Packing It In: The Tennis Tournament Road Trip

On September 26, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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There is a fine line between optimization and bat-shit crazy. I am not sure where in the spectrum my wardrobe management habits for tennis tournaments exactly falls. You be the judge.

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Tournament Matches in Progress

On September 25, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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Players and spectators at tennis tournaments usually want to watch the matches going on at the event. It’s generally why they are there, after all. Sometimes that interest is purely self serving. Scouting an upcoming

Observations from the USTA Tournament Trail

On September 24, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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I returned to the tournament trail last weekend so it is the perfect time to revisit the state of USTA Senior Tennis from a player perspective. This article touches on player participation, tournament policies, and the USTA tournament engagement platform.

2021 US Open Television Ratings

On September 19, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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Television ratings are a leading indicator for the future financial prospects of professional sports. While tournaments also earn money from from sponsorship and ticket sales, television broadcast ratings arguably have the strongest influence on the future revenue across all other categories. Television ratings drive future broadcast contracts which directly translates into media exposure of the sport. That, in turn, is how the majority of fans experience tennis. The number of people who watch an event is factored in when corporations make sponsorship decisions.

A Tennis Rankings Anomaly: Raducanu Sets a Record

On September 18, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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Emma Raducanu’s professional tennis ranking has risen meteorically this year. That should not be much of a surprise as breakout performances at Wimbledon and the US Open earned her two fairly significant chunks of WTA rankings points. Additionally, her US Open performance was both a rankings point record and anomaly. Raducanu is guaranteed to lose ranking points at the 2022 US Open, even if she successfully defends her title. The situation is unprecedented.

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Skin in the Game: Emma Raducanu

On September 17, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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Late in the 2021 US Open Women’s Finals, Emma Raducanu skidded for a ball in the deep corner of the court. She was so low to the court that her knee dragged the court leaving a skid mark of the skin that was formerly on her knee on the surface. The match had to be paused while the wound was bandaged.

A Banner Day for Promoting Tennis

On September 12, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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The September challenge for the USTA “Tennis Champions” program was to hang a large banner that promotes tennis play. I hung my banner on a fence that borders a highly trafficked running and biking trail. It is highly visible to active people in the area who are currently outside the tennis ecosystem.

Opportunity Lost: Match Charting and Team Tennis

On September 11, 2021 By Teresa Merklin

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I have never seen anyone actively charting matches during high school or collegiate team tennis. It astonishes me that match charting isn’t a compulsory duty of players who are on the roster but not in the lineup on match day. It is an opportunity loss on an epic scale.

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