Circle your calendars for Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers this weekend. The ITF quietly returns to competition in China. Celebrating 50 years of the WTA tour.
2023 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers: What’s at Stake. The 18 nations contesting the Qualifiers from 14-15 April on a home-and-away basis are battling for a place at the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals. The nine winning teams will secure a place at the Finals, which will take place from 7-12 November 2023, alongside 2022 world champions Switzerland, 2022 runners-up Australia and one wild card. Full Story: Billie Jean King Cup
International Tennis Federation Resumes Play in China Despite No Resolution on Peng Shuai. The ITF, which conducts tournaments below the elite level in its World Tennis Tour, lists its first tournament in China on June 5-11 at Luzhou. The ITF’s last full season in China was 2019, prior to COVID-19. “The ITF anticipates a resumption of tournament activity within China for each of the ITF Tours later this year,” the ITF said in a statement. Full Story: NBC Bay Area
Italian Open to award women equal prize money by 2025. The Italian Open plans to award women the same amount of prize money as men starting in 2025. When Iga Swiatek won last year’s tournament on the red clay of the Foro Italico, she earned less than half of what Novak Djokovic took home for his title. Full Story: ESPN
International Tennis Hall of Fame launches ‘Transcending Tennis: 50 Years of the WTA’. A new digital exhibit celebrates the WTA’s historic 50th anniversary season in 2023. For the next six months, the ITHF will highlight the significant accomplishments, milestones, and lasting impact of 50 years of women’s professional tennis. Full Story: What’s Up NewP
Once the Prince of Tennis and a Prison Inmate, Boris Becker Starts Again. Becker, who is featured in a new documentary, is beginning a third act after serving eight months in prison. “I’m sort of in late summer, fall of my life,” he said. Full Story: The New York Times
Tom Perrotta prize for tennis journalism. Entries are now open for the 2023 Tom Perrotta Prize for Tennis Journalism. This annual award recognizes excellence in tennis journalism and is now open to writers aged 35 or under. The award is in memory of Tom Perrotta whose exemplary contributions to tennis journalism were curtailed by his untimely death at the age of 45. Full Story: WTA
Park courts meant for tennis. Tennis anyone? That’s the idea behind a new ordinance change in Pauls Valley meant to encourage bicyclists, skateboarders and others to stay off a set of some repaved local tennis courts. All five members of the Pauls Valley City Council didn’t take much convincing to give their blessing to an amendment to a city policy prohibiting the use of courts in Wacker Park unless there’s a racquet involved. Full Story: Paul’s Valley (OK) Daily Democrat
New Tennis VR Game. AnotheReality says seasoned tennis players will be able to use real tennis techniques in-game, refining slices, lobs and topspin shots across the different modes. Full Story: UpLoadVR
Embarrassing for Everyone Involved. The latest Pickleball event, the inaugural Pickleball Slam featured tennis legends John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Michael Chang competing for a $1 million purse. Reactions from the tennis world weren’t exactly positive. Full Story: Tennis Up to Date Editorial Note: My review of the exhibition will run Thursday 4/13.
NCAA National Championships at the USTA National Campus. For the first time ever, the Division I, II and III NCAA Tennis Championships will be played at a single site. Matches will be conducted May 11-27. Full Story: USTA National Campus
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 4/15-16 | Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers | ITF | Various |
| 4/9-16 | Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters | ATP 1000 | Monaco |
