Tennis Beyond the Headlines: October 7, 2024

Tennis is the way to find your community. More developments in Jannik Sinner’s doping case, and two new tennis documentaries.

Looking to Meet Your Neighbors? Get on the Tennis Courts: A different way to understand your community — and yourself. Full Story: New York Times

Jannik Sinner Has Steroid Case Appealed by World Anti-Doping Agency: Jannik Sinner’s steroid was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. WADA said it is seeking a ban of one to two years for the U.S. Open champion but indicated that it does not plan to back date an eventual ban — which would mean that Sinner could keep his second Grand Slam title if he is found guilty. Full Story: Time

He’s the Real Tennis Champion of the World: Real Tennis has an estimated 10,000 players and maintains a professional circuit, including a real tennis “French Open,” although winning that nets just a few thousand dollars in prize money. Only 10 places in the U.S.—all east of the Mississippi—offer places to play. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal

Tennis star and style icon Lea Pericoli dies: Lea Pericoli, Italian tennis star of the 1950s and 60s, has died aged 89. Regarded as one of her country’s top players, she reached the last 16 of the French Open twice and the Wimbledon championships three times. Full Story: BBC

Jon Wertheim talks about his career path to ’60 Minutes’: Wertheim said taking a journalism class as a freshman in college changed him greatly. “Something clicked. (Journalism) seemed fun. It didn’t seem like school. Time went by really fast,” he said. He realized storytelling was his calling, leading him to get involved with the local newspaper. Full Story: Herald Times

Joel Drucker inducted into USTA NorCal Hall of Fame: A student of the game and inquisitive writer, Joel seeks out stories that show that tennis is much more than a game. Full Story: Tennis

USTA National Campus awarded NCAA Division I Tennis Championships in 2027-28: The USTA National Campus will host the 2027 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Tennis Singles and Doubles Championships and the 2028 NCAA DI Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships. The University of Central Florida (UCF) will serve as the host institution as the USTA National Campus will host the NCAA DI Tennis Championships for the fourth time. Full Story: USTA

“World Cup” of Tennis Events Further Align for 2025: The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will transition from a 12 to an eight-team event to mirror the existing Davis Cup Final 8 format – as part of a long-term strategy to bring the World Cup of Tennis events closer together. Full Story: ITF

Vijay Amritraj Documentary In Work: A feature documentary about Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj aims to bring the inspiring story of one of tennis’ most beloved figures to a global audience.The film will chronicle Amritraj’s remarkable journey from a sickly child in Chennai, India to his ascension as a tennis star and Hollywood figure. Full Story: Variety

Documentary film on Jelena Dokic’s harrowing autobiography soon to release in theaters: The trailer for “Unbreakable” features interviews from Dokic herself, as well as Lindsay Davenport and Pam Shriver, about the abuse she suffered from her father, Damir Dokic. Full Story: Tennis

Six Kings Slam Trailer Released: There are lots of nonsensical things about the “Six Kings Slam,” a tennis exhibition event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The hype video is epic, however. It’s longer and has more gravitas than most movie trailers and is doing exactly what Saudi Arabia wants its buffet of global tennis stars to do: overshadow long-held concerns about its human rights record as it continues to expand its place in the corridors of power. Full Story: The Athletic