A major leadership change is announced for the USTA. The Billie Jean King Cup should have been center stage this weekend, but television coverage in the US was terrible. Ash Barty’s sudden retirement hit Tennis Australia where it hurts – in the wallet.
Lew Sherr named USTA CEO and Executive Director
Lew Sherr, the current Chief Revenue Officer of the USTA, has been named USTA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. Sherr will begin in his new role on May 2. Full Story: USTA This site published a detailed breakdown of the announcement in “Lew Sherr named as new USTA CEO” yesterday.
The Billie Jean King Cup Was Hard to Watch
Broadcast coverage of the Billie Jean King Cup last weekend was hard to find in the US. You might think that USA facing off Ukraine would be a marquis matchup, but the Tennis Channel elected to prioritize ATP matches from Monte Carlo. The tennis channel also failed to provide a live stream of 75% of Jessica Pegula’s day 1 singles match on Tennis Channel Plus. On day 2, the majority of the first set of the pivotal doubles match was not broadcast due to audio issues. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that the Tennis Channel was trying to kill off the event. Original Content. There isn’t a news story on this, but there should be.
Ukraine tennis players juggle matches, war raging at home
With the Russia-Ukraine War now in its seventh week, Katarina Zavatska has come to grips with the “guilt” she first felt about about playing a game while her family lived in constant fear and danger. She believes it is her duty to keep playing tennis. Full Story: The Washington Post
Ash Barty’s Sudden Retirement Financially Hurt Tennis Australia
Ash Barty’s bombshell retirement has cost Tennis Australia millions of dollars. The national organization was in the middle of negotiations for a TV rights deal to leverage of Barty’s wild popularity. Full Story: Fox Sports
ITF Launches “I Pledge” Initiative for Gender Equality
In advance of National Women’s Day, the ITF created this campaign to showcase the sports commitment to gender equality . Full Story: ITFWorld
It wasn’t until I was 75 that my game really improved…
A great story on Senior tennis focusing on the impacts of 30+ and 90+ ITF divisions. Full Story: ITFWorld
Wichita Falls Advances Singles Player, Mixed Teams to the 5A Texas State Tourney
Wichita Falls Rider senior Axelle Jacquemin, won the Region I-5A girls singles championship and advanced to state for the second straight year. Hattie Berend and Steven Lee defeated Wichita Falls High teammates Trooper Denson and Jessie Stephan in the regional finals to also advance. Full Story: Wichita Falls Times and Record News Why this story? I work out regularly with Jacquemin and Berend and have been on court this spring with the other players who advanced. I am so happy to see all of these great kids do well. Jacquemin is the player in the demonstration video in “Rethinking No-Man’s Land.”
Nobull Court Trainer Debut Ready For Tennis
The footwear brand known for CrossFit and fitness training shoes has added the Court Trainer. The shoe is meant for any court surface, including tennis and basketball. Full Story: Forbes
The Perfect Tennis Lover’s Weekend In Palm Springs
A feature of the resort community of Indian Wells, affectionately referred to as ‘tennis paradise’ and for ample reason—palm tree-lined streets, cerulean blue skies etched with mountaintops and of course, lots of tennis on offer. A guide for planning the ultimate tennis weekend. Full Story: Forbes
Iga Swiatek Hits… Reverse Drop Shot Overhead? in BJK Cup
When you’re crushing to victory, the trick shots come out of the bag. I don’t really know what to call this one. Full Video: Reddit
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 4/18-24 | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix | WTA 500 | Stuttgart, Germany |
| 4/18-24 | TEB BNP Paribas Tennis Championship | WTA 250 | Istanbul, Turkey |
| 4/18-24 | Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell | ATP 500 | Barcelona, Spain |
| 4/18-24 | Serbia Open | ATP 250 | Belgrade, Serbia |
