The Tennis Docket: December 13, 2021
USTA CEO Michael Dowse abruptly resigns, the ITF confirms that there are no World Tour events in China in 2022, and tennis great Darlene Hard passes away.
ATP Time Violations
Last Wednesday we reviewed a new rule associated with toilet breaks that the ATP tour is implementing in 2022. It is a clear and direct response to the media coverage and backlash surrounding the toilet habits of Stefanos Tsitispas. Buried at the end of the ATP announcement of the rule, was an innocuous little sentence that the penalty for extended bathroom breaks are Time Violations.
3 responsesSwingVision is Transformational
I finally got around to trying out SwingVision and was very impressed with the results. In fact, I immediately applied to be a brand ambassador for the product. I am absolutely kicking myself for not trying it out much sooner. As a strong proponent of video analysis, any technology that reduces the workload required for meaningful review is transformational.
The Tennis Docket: December 6, 2021
The WTA takes bold and decisive action on the Peng Shuai crisis propelling Steve Simon to sports leadership prominence. Meanwhile the ATP decided to “monitor the situation” which is only marginally better than the IOC’s “quiet diplomacy” of complicity.
Points Illustrated: An Example of Rankings Inequities
In “When a USTA Level 4 Tournament… Isn’t” three weeks ago, I repeatedly emphasized the phrase: “The draw format of a tournament should not materially alter the rankings point allocation for the players.” The reason for belaboring that foundational truth is that it is key to understanding the ongoing player frustration over the USTA tournament rankings points allocations. In the intervening time, I continue to wonder if the policy makers have fully accepted or internalized that feedback. Perhaps an example will help.
The Tennis Docket: Tennis Postcards from the Edge
Details on how I approached the November challenge in the USTA Tennis Champions Program. Criticism mounts over the IOC’s handling of the Peng Shuai disappearance.
The Gift of Tennis (Support Your Local Pro Shop)
The impact of the pandemic has raised the public consciousness on the importance of supporting small locally owned and operated businesses. The retail pro shop attached to clubs or tennis centers are firmly in that category. If you are considering giving someone the gift of tennis, the pro shop at your local tennis center is an obvious first start.
The 2021 Ultimate Stocking Stuffer List for Tennis Players
This year’s list has the most items ever carried on this annual traditional Black Friday Post. They are divided into categories for convenience.
2 responsesKing Richard
Happy Thanksgiving! In the United States the Thanksgiving tradition started with a colonial harvest feast that morphed into a tradition of family gatherings celebrated with a heart of gratitude. What could be more appropriate for this site today than a review of what is arguably the greatest tennis family movie ever made. It is the story of Richard Williams and his role in propelling his daughters Venus and Serena into two of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport. It’s… not a traditional family story.
The Tennis Docket: #WhereIsPengShuai
Concern continues to mount in the tennis world as it is becoming increasingly apparent that WTA Tennis Star Peng Shuai has not been seen in public since raising allegations of sexual assault against a top official in China’s Communist Party. The WTA has signaled a willingness to walk away from doing business in China.