A surprising hidden cost of pickleball. The WTA sets a 10-year goal for prize money parity. Tennis analysts weigh in on potential Saudi Investment.
Pickleball Injuries May Cost Americans Nearly $400 Million This Year: Earlier this month, UnitedHealth Group Inc. warned that healthcare utilization rates were up due to a higher-than-expected pace of hip replacements, knee surgeries, and other orthopedic procedures. On Monday, UBS Group AG analysts led by Andrew Mok offered a surprising theory about one factor that could be driving a higher pace of injuries: pickleball. Full Story: Bloomberg Editorial Note: It’s anecdotal, but a relative of one of my co-workers is an ER radiologist who claims to see a pickleball injury every single day.
Women’s Tennis Promises Equal Prize Money As Men’s Tennis By 2033: The Women’s Tennis Association has said it’s starting a move toward equal pay and hopes to even out purses for major men’s and women’s tennis events by 2033. Full Story: Forbes
Kathy Rinaldi to Step Down as U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Captain: The USTA has announced that Kathy Rinaldi will step down as U.S. Billie Jean King Cup captain following the 2023 Finals. Rinaldi will remain in her position as USTA Player Development’s Head of Women’s Tennis. The search for the next captain will begin immediately. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
Caroline Wozniacki Is Returning To Tennis: The former Grand Slam Champion announced her return the way all big WTA stories are announced these days… with an essay in Vogue. Full Story: Vogue
McEnroe says tennis should not pursue Saudi investment: John McEnroe said tennis should not seek Saudi investment and called golf’s PGA Tour hypocritical after it reached an agreement with the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Full Story: Reuters
Billie Jean King Supports Talks With Saudi Arabia on Women’s Tennis Events: “I’m a huge believer in engagement — I don’t think you change unless you engage,” Billie Jean King said Friday at an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the WTA, the women’s professional tour. “I would probably go there and talk to them.” After King’s comments, Steve Simon, the chief executive of the WTA Tour, said women’s tennis was seriously evaluating partnerships with Saudi Arabia. Full Story: The New York Times
Clijsters wants ATP, WTA to merge: Kim Clijsters made remarks that echo a sentiment long held by the great Billie Jean King, who pioneered the circuit half a century ago. Full Story: Reuters
Six Exercises to Get the Quad Strength of a Tennis Star: Dale Evans, the director of tennis for the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, says that strong quads are central to changing direction, which players do on almost every point. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal
Before Wimbledon, There’s Practice on Grass at an English Garden Party: The Boodles, which draws elite players on their way to the All England Club, is unlike nearly anything else on the tennis calendar — a Gatsby-like few days on an estate outside London. Full Story: The New York Times
Intense psychological drama Fifteen-Love: The world of elite sport is made for drama. It’s moneyed and photogenic, buzzing with jeopardy, and endlessly sorts people into winners and losers. But Fifteen-Love, the new six-part series, has a very specific dramatic angle: the wild blindspot in the law over safeguarding minors. Full Story: The Guardian
New mural of Richmond great Arthur Ashe painted with tennis balls: There’s a new inspiration for future tennis players at Battery Park. Like a proud father, artist Jake Van Yahres is showing off his latest mural, a tribute to Richmond’s tennis great, Arthur Ashe. The mural was painted using tennis balls. Full Story: NBC 12
Monday Mood via Instagram Reel
Also, You Can Apparently Play Baseball using Tennis Racquets
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 7/3-16 | Wimbledon | Grand Slam | London |
