There was a lot of annoying news this week, starting with a Jimmy Arias critique that the way Iga Swiatek wears her hat is bad for tennis. Do you know what else is bad for tennis? The incessant loss of tennis court capacity to pickleball.
Tennis Is Profiting Off Sports Betting. Its Players Should, Too: Jon Wertheim writes that nearly every major aspect of the sport is, in some way, now tied to gambling. The players should get their own seat at the table. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
Billie Jean King editorial in Fortune: From tennis courts to corporate governance, here’s how far diversity, equity, and inclusion have come. Full Story: Fortune
US Open, Grey Goose Vodka Extend Landmark Partnership: Honey Deuce, anyone? Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
Roger Federer Is Having Fun in Retirement: The tennis star and Jonathan Anderson have teamed up with Uniqlo to create a sports-inspired fashion collection. Full Story: The New York Times
Jimmy Arias Critiques Iga Swiatek’s Hat: The former American tennis player turned commentator faces backlash after his bizarre criticism of world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who he believes has not been “great” for women’s tennis “because she wears her hat so low.” Full Story: Fox Sports
Cheyenne Tennis President Quits Over Trans Player In Wyoming Governor’s Cup: The president of the Cheyenne Tennis Association board resigned in protest over the organization’s decision to let a transgender player compete in the women’s open division of last weekend’s annual Wyoming Governor’s Cup tournament in Cheyenne. Full Story: The Daily Mail Editorial Note: Regardless of how people align on this controversial topic, there is value in understanding how this impacts the individuals involved. I looked up this tournament and it is a Level 6 and the player in question withdrew from the event, which was played out as a 3-player round robin.
What Can We Learn About Brand Positioning From The Sport Of Tennis? What Can We Learn About Brand Positioning From The Sport Of Tennis?. Full Story: Forbes
Beach tennis paddles its way into local hearts: “Beach Tennis is the fastest growing beach sport in the world, played in over 70 countries,” said Carolina Hannes, US national beach tennis champion and founder of Beach Tennis Santa Monica and Torrance. “It is a combination of beach volleyball, tennis, and badminton. Full Story: Santa Monica Daily Press
Judge rules against Mayne Island tennis club’s ‘self-serving’ attempt to exclude pickleballers: A group of tennis players on Mayne Island who raised the money years ago to build two tennis courts at a local community centre have lost a bid to keep pickleball players off the courts they built. Full Story: Vancouver Sun
Maui County Municipal Tennis Courts Vandalized… by Pickleball: Maui County officials said main county tennis courts in Wailuku at the War Memorial Stadium Complex were vandalized. Officials said someone painted the tennis courts to accommodate pickleball use on July 28, including pickleball lines and installing a bracket into a wood panel of the tennis fence for shade. Full Story: KHON2
Pickleball is so annoying. And it’s taking over tennis courts: There aren’t enough public tennis courts in many areas as it is. The ones that exist were designed for playing tennis — not pickleball. But if pickleball players can’t find a smaller court designed specifically for pickleball, they’ll just use a tennis court. (And it doesn’t go both ways: Since tennis needs a full court, tennis players can’t simply commandeer pickleball courts, which are way too small. Full Story: The Philadelphia Inquirer
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 8/7-13 | National Bank Open Presented by Rogers | ATP 1000 | Toronto |
| 8/7-13 | Omnium Banque Nationale présenté par Rogers | WTA 1000 | Montreal |
| 8/7-12 | Polish Open | WTA 125 | Kozerki |
