It is another lively week for tennis news full of leadership topics, year-end retrospectives, and a tennis professional signing on with OnlyFans.
Jessica Pegula featured in Forbes’ ’30 Under 30′: Jessica Pegula has been included in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” for 2024. The magazine annually singles out go-getters and innovators spanning 20 industries, showcasing who will lead the way in the next generation of talent. The 29-year-old American was highlighted as one of the up-and-coming luminaries in the sporting field. Full Story: WTA
UTR Founder Darryl Cummings Dies: Darryl Cummings passed away unexpectedly at the age of 59 on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Cummings was a beloved coach, mentor, and one of the founders of the UTR system. Full Story: BRB News
Bookends of Tennis Drama in 2023: It is ironic that the season began and ended with exciting conclusions at the men’s and women’s team competitions. The Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup have been under siege in recent years as many of the game’s top players shunned the historically heart-thumping, pride-producing finals because of scheduling conflicts. Full Story: The New York Times
100 Years Since the First Wightman Cup Was Held: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman was among the most influential figures in tennis, as well as one of the most beloved. “Mrs. Wightie” is celebrated for her lifelong work promoting women’s tennis, embodied in the Ladies International Tennis Challenge, better known as the Wightman Cup. Full Story: ITA
New ‘premier tour’ could benefit tennis, but questions remain: The reported ” premier tour ” that is being explored by tennis’ Grand Slam tournaments “sounds logical,” but is “extremely difficult to imagine,” according to Steve Tignor of TENNIS. The positives would be a sport that is “simpler to follow for fans; less of a grind and a risk for players. Full Story: Sports Business Journal
Alex Dolgopolov is still fighting Russians in Ukraine: Former professional tennis player Alex Dolgopolov gives a vivid account of his wartime experiences. Full Story: The Daily Mail
Handing Out 2023’s End of Year Tennis Awards: Jon Wertheim’s take on the top men in 2023. Full Story: Sports Illustrated Editorial Note: The column with the women’s awards was published last week.
New USTA National Advocacy Handbook Available Now: The updated and expanded USTA National Advocacy Handbook has just been released by the USTA and is available to download for free. The 91-page handbook includes new sections, resources, and case studies. Full Document: USTA
Lew Sherr Talks Leadership and Innovation: USTA CEO Lew Sherr talks about how innovation is a key pillar of leadership, what must be done in order to create more leaders, and what challenges the tennis industry faces moving into 2024. Full Video: YouTube
USPTA Welcomes Brian Dillman as New Chief Executive Officer: The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Inc. has announced the appointment of Brian Dillman as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Dillman will replace John Embree, who is retiring after being at the helm of the association for 11 years. Full Story: USPTA Editorial Note: I knew Brian in his junior playing days in USTA Texas.
OnlyFans has a new content creator: Nick Kyrgios: London-based OnlyFans is a subscription site where people can pay creators for photos and videos. It includes sexually explicit content, something Kyrgios will not be posting. “Nick is a disruptor, so it’s great to see him joining our platform, finding new ways to share his content and express himself,” OnlyFans CEO Keily Blair said in a press release. Full Story: AP News
A $42 Prince Branded Candle: I don’t know who needs this, but this product is billed as “THE SCENT OF TENNIS: This long burning scented candle features notes of freshly-uncanned tennis balls, Prince cotton sweatbands, Vacation sunscreen, and courtside cucumber sandwiches. A nostalgic, fresh, and crisp scent to brighten up your home.” Sponsored Link: Amazon Editorial Note: This has to be a joke, right?
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 12/11-17 | Open BLS de Limoges | WTA 125 | France |
