How the tennis bracelet got its name, Carlos Alcaraz appears in Vogue, and an opportunity to go on a luxury tennis safari with the McEnroe brothers.
Behind the Scenes: The Transformation of the Westwood Center Court for the ATX Open. I have played matches on the center court at Westwood which is hosting a WTA 250 this week. These two photos provide a before and after view of the seating additions. The “before” picture is mine and the “after” picture is courtesy of Frank Kelley.
Tennis Bracelet, Anyone? Before Chris Evert referred to hers as a “tennis bracelet,” a single-strand diamond bracelet with a straight row of diamonds was simply called a “line bracelet.” Full Story: The New York Times
Alcaraz Appears in Vogue. Carlos Alcaraz continues to dip his toes into the world of fashion as the subject of a feature story this month in Vogue. In the wide-ranging article, Alcaraz touches on his love for chess, his fashion sense, and his admiration for Roger Federer. Full Story: ATP
USPTA Acquires Multi-Year Endorsement Deal with Dunlop as Official Ball. This press release doesn’t mention it, but the USPTA and Wilson ended a partnership agreement last October. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
USPTA, Tennis Warehouse Expand Partnership to Include Equipment. Tennis Warehouse is the new Official Equipment Supplier of the USPTA. This new equipment relationship is in addition to the already established footwear and apparel partnership. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
Novak Djokovic asks to enter U.S. The Transportation Security Administration has said the requirement for foreign air travelers to be fully vaccinated against the disease would be in place at least until mid-April. The tournament in Indian Wells, California, will be played March 6-19 and the Miami Open is scheduled for March 20-April 2. Full Story: ESPN
New Pickleball Rules in 2023. USA Pickleball has eliminated the spin serve. The organization also added a rule that players should not wear clothing that “closely matches the ball color.” Why? Because, they said, that “could be distracting during play.” Full Story: The Desert Sun Editorial Note: This is here kind of as a personal bookmark. I am considering a piece on what tennis can learn from the evolution of the rules of Pickleball.
Safari And Tennis With John And Patrick McEnroe In Tanzania. This December John and Patrick McEnroe are the featured attraction on a luxury tennis exhibition and safari in the Serengeti. Full Story: Forbes
Best Tennis Movies of All Time, Ranked. Hollywood has taken both comedic and dramatic approaches to tennis films, coming up with fictional takes and basing movies on true stories. Full Story: Moviweb Editorial Note: I was unfamiliar with two of these films. Then again I am not a big movie watcher.
Tweet of the Week. Jessica Pegula pulls back the curtain revealing one more aspect of life on the professional tour.
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 2/27-3/5 | ATX Open | WTA 250 | Austin, Texas |
| 2/27-3/5 | Abierto GNP Seguros | WTA 250 | Monterrey , Mexico |
| 2/27-3/4 | Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships | ATP 500 | Dubai, UAE |
| 2/27-3/4 | Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC | ATP 500 | Acapulco, Mexico |
| 2/27-3/5 | Movistar Chile Open | ATP 250 | Santiago, Chile |
