Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers will be contested this weekend, an under the radar major coaching change, and another sign of the end of civility in tennis.
USA Faces Off Against Ukraine in Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers
The showdown between USA and Ukraine in Asheville, North Carolina, arguably contains the best tennis match-ups in this weekend’s qualifying round. The poignancy barely needs stressing as the Russian invasion of war-torn Ukraine continues. Full Story: ITF
The Future of Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, Has Arrived
The 18-year-old Spaniard recently aced two significant American tournaments, reaching the semifinals at Indian Wells and winning the Miami Open. Full Story: The New York Times
Serena Williams hints she will make return to tennis at Wimbledon
In Instagram story with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers last week, Serena suggested she will compete at Wimbledon this summer. Full Story: The Guardian
Patrick Mouratoglou to start working with former No.1 Simona Halep
Mouratoglou, who has famously coached Serena Williams for a decade, said he is ready to start a new chapter in his life. “In the last 8 months, I realized how much I missed coaching,” Mouratoglou wrote on social media. “It is the passion of my life, and I still feel like I have so much to give.” Full Story: WTA Tennis
Boris Becker found guilty of four charges under Insolvency Act
The three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker was found guilty of four charges and acquitted of a further 20 counts relating to his 2017 bankruptcy. Becker, was accused of hiding millions of pounds worth of assets, including two Wimbledon trophies, to avoid paying his debts. Full Story: The Guardian
Junior tennis match ends with player slapping opponent at net, causing brawl at tournament
A junior tennis tournament in Ghana was the scene of a wild brawl on Monday after one player slapped another at the net. The incident occurred during the first round of an ITF junior tournament. Full Story: CBS Sports
ITF Seniors Tour Rebranded as World Tennis Masters Tour
Starting in August, the ITF Seniors Tour will be re-named the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour. The move is anticipated to help promotion of this tour by attracting players to the younger age groups who may not be ready to identify as Seniors. Full Story: ITF
Battle brews between tennis, pickleball communities over set of Ocean Beach courts
Pickleball players in San Diego are pushing to convert 12 park tennis courts over to dedicated pickleball use. The site is close to Barnes Tennis Center. Full Story: Fox 5 San Diego
Where are 21,000 used tennis balls on Maui ending up?
Maui Tennis Ball Recycling, LLC was created in the summer of 2018 to collect the used balls that have a significant quantity of non-decomposable, methane-producing rubber waste. The recycling program has saved more than 2,700 pounds of balls from going into Maui’s limited landfill space. Full Story: MauiNow
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location (GMT) |
| 4/10-17 | Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters | ATP 1000 | Monte Carlo (GMT + 1) |
| 4/15-16 | The Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifiers | ITF | Various |
(There are no WTA events on the calendar this week.)
