Jon Wertheim declares the WTA’s return to China as a complete capitulation. A community theater in Colorado takes on the war between pickleball and tennis in its annual follies. That story completely salvages an otherwise slow news week.
The WTA’s Return to China Is Nothing Short of a Capitulation. The courage the organization showed in taking a stand in the wake of the disturbing Peng Shuai situation was short-lived. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
French Open night session to start earlier. The night session at the French Open will be brought forward by half an hour this year. Last year, the scheduling drew criticism due to the lack of public transportation in the event of a late finish. Organizers were also criticized for scheduling mostly men’s matches in the flagship match of the day. Full Story: ESPN
IOC stance on Russians, Belarusians ‘confusing,’ Swiatek says. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition as neutrals is “confusing” because Ukraine is still under attack, tennis world number one Iga Swiatek said. Full Story: Reuters
New Tory Burch Sports Fellowship Announced. The ITF and the Tory Burch Foundation have today announced the first-ever Sports Fellowship for early-stage women entrepreneurs. The Tory Burch Foundation Sports Fellowship, empowered by ITF Advantage All (the global governing body’s gender equality strategy), will provide the opportunity for women entrepreneurs in sports to grow their businesses through workshops, coaching sessions, network-building and financial resources. Full Story: ITF
Haier boosts growth through the power of tennis. The global brand in major home appliances will sponsor of some of the world’s top tennis tournaments. The deal includes Roland Garros, the NITTO ATP Finals, two ATP Masters 1000s, and three ATP 500s. Full Story: PR Newswire
Daniil Medvedev lets loose on string habits. Medvedev gives an interview detailing his switch to Technifibre Razor Soft 17 strings in the off-season. He claims that they give him easier power without much of a drop-off in control. Full Story: Tennis
Tennis is booming in Colorado. The waiting room at the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center (RMTC) tennis bubble is standing room only. There’s a small couch, a recycling bin for used tennis balls and a bulletin board with the court schedule posted for the day. The five indoor courts are filled from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m, every day. Full Story: Boulder Beat
The War Between Pickleball and Tennis is the subject of 2023 Park City Follies The production previously made fun of the Vail and Park City Mountain lawsuit in 2014. It took pokes at Park City’s transportation issues in 2016 — and this year, the big topic is the war between pickleball and tennis. Full Story: Park Record Editorial Note: It was written by a pickleballer, so… it might be a little one-sided.
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 4/26-5/7 | Mutua Madrid Open | ATP 1000 WTA 1000 | Madrid, Spain |
