New ownership for the Billie Jean King Cup, US Open Prize money increased, and a new rule to be tested at the US Open. Lots of pop culture this week and an absurd tennis-themed fragrance to hit the market.
Billie Jean King Cup has a new part-owner: Billie Jean King: The ITF and TWG Global, a holding company led by Los Angeles Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter, signed a partnership agreement Thursday for a joint venture to market and promote the women’s tennis competition that used to be called the Fed Cup and was renamed to honor King in 2020. The new entity will be called Billie Jean King Cup Limited, with the ITF holding 51% and TWG Global 49%, and it will seek new sponsorships and broadcast and commercial partnerships. Full Story: ESPN
2023 US Open Player Compensation Reaches $65 Million: Players eliminated from Main Draw Singles in the Round of 128 will receive $81,500. Main Draw Singles Champions will receive $3 million in prize money. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
The US Open is adding video review for double bounces: Video review — which is separate from the electronic line-calling used for ruling balls in or out at all matches — will be set up for five of the Open’s 17 competition courts: Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand, Court 5 and Court 17. Full Story: AP
Chris Evert to be honored by the USTA Foundation: Chris Evert will receive the Serving Up Dreams Award on the first day of this year’s U.S. Open for her efforts to help the USTA’s charitable arm. Full Story: San Diego Union-Tribune
Althea Gibson featured in Smithsonian Magazine’s “Women who shaped history” special report: When Althea Gibson stepped onto the patio of the iconic clubhouse at the West Side Tennis Club in 1950, a pair of tennis rackets clasped tightly to her chest, she had arrived at the venerated mecca of tennis in America. Here, at this exclusive, whites-only, members-only retreat in Forest Hills, Queens, the 23-year-old from Harlem was to become the first African American to compete in the U.S. National Championships, known today as the U.S. Open. Full Story: Smithsonian Magazine
Serena Williams Makes Hip-Hop Name Drop List: In honor of hip-hop turning 50, ESPN tapped the culture’s top voices to write about their favorite athlete name drops in hip-hop history. It came in “Black America Again” by Common feat. Stevie Wonder in 2016. Full Story: ESPN
Pickleball players are taking over tennis courts and one Colorado city wants to put a stop to it: A local city is passing an ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor to add temporary lines to a tennis court. Full Story: The Denver Post
Dirk Nowitzki on his passion for tennis: Ahead of his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Dirk Nowitzki talked about his admiration for Ons Jabeur, Carlos Alcaraz, and the game of tennis. Full Story: WTA
Elegant Tennis-Themed Wedding: If you are planning a wedding and want to use tennis as part of the theme, this is how to do it right. Full Story: Washingtonian
D.S. & Durga Introduces Tennis-themed Fragrance Ahead of U.S. Open: So much wrong here, starting with the name: “Crush Balls.” Tennis… doesn’t smell good. Full Story: Beauty Inc
Gauff Pegs Pegula:
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 8/13-20 | Western & Southern Open | ATP 1000 WTA 1000 | Cincinnati, OH |
| 8/14-19 | Golden Gate Open at Stanford | WTA 125 | Stanford, CA |
| 8/14-19 | Barranquilla Open 2023 | WTA 125 | Columbia |
