Jon Wertheim weighs in with ideas on how tennis can extend its brand beyond the matches. Nadal may miss the French Open this year. Djokovic will most likely play the US Open this year as Covid restrictions are lifted.
How Tennis Can Extend Its Brand Beyond Just the Matches: The ATP and WTA would need to get creative to capture attention outside their big tournaments in the same way the NFL does with its draft. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
Imagining a French Open without Rafael Nadal: A Rafa-less field at Roland Garros would present enormous opportunity—and attendant pressure—to a wide range of clay-court contenders. Full Story: Tennis
WTA to review sponsorship rules over tennis player’s deal with Russian oil company: Veronika Kudermetova will be banned from wearing the Tatneft logo in the UK but is able to continue sporting its name at other tour events. Tatneft is a Russian oil and gas giant whose chairman of the board, Rustam Minnikhanov, is the president of Tatarstan, a federal subject to Russia, and has been personally sanctioned by the US. Full Story: iNews (UK)
Wimbledon facing battle to keep line judges: The All England Club face a battle to keep human line judges at Wimbledon after it was announced on Friday that all ATP tournaments will have electronic line-calling by 2025. Full Story: The Telegraph (UK)
Novak Djokovic to play at U.S. Open after COVID-19 policy change: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will be able to compete at the U.S. Open this year after the United States government said on Monday it will end its COVID-19 vaccination requirements for international travelers on May 11. Full Story: ESPN
PTPA maintains goal is to give all players a voice in tennis: The Professional Tennis Players Association addressed claims it “generates division” in an open letter sent to ATP and WTA players Wednesday that was signed by the eight players who make up the organization’s executive committee. Full Story: ESPN
Serena Williams Wanted Another Baby. At the Met Gala, She Said She’s Pregnant: Serena Williams has resisted saying publicly that she has retired from tennis and the finality that would bring, but now she has another reason to stay away from competition in the near future. Amid the costume-themed glitz of the Met Gala on Monday night, Williams announced, both on the red carpet and on social media, that she was pregnant with her second child. Full Story: The New York Times
What do top tennis coaches and talent scouts look for in young players? What do professional talent spotters look for when they assess young players? Which traits matter and which don’t? Full Story: Tennis
Des Moines embraces pickleball fever, remarks all tennis courts: This is not a good news story. Full Story: Axios
Lansing youth leadership program gives under-privileged kids the opportunity to learn tennis: Lansing youth leadership program gives under-privileged kids the opportunity to learn tennis. Full Story: Fox 47 News
The psychology behind tennis and poker: More similar than you might think: Both tennis and poker requiring competitors to figure things out on their own, making mental strength even more important than in team sports. Full Story: Tennis Majors
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 5/9-20 | Internazionali BNL d’Italia | ATP 1000 WTA 1000 | Rome, Italy |
