It’s official: Serena Williams is a fashion icon and will soon have a trophy to prove it. Leander Paes topped the International Tennis Hall of Fame fan voting leg for the class of 2024.
2023 Tel Aviv Watergen Open Cancelled: The ATP has confirmed the cancellation of the 2023 Tel Aviv Watergen Open (scheduled 5-11 November) due to security concerns following the outbreak of war in the region. Full Story: ATP
Leander Paes topped the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Fan Vote: Leander Paes topped the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Fan Vote in his first year on the ballot. Serbia’s Ana Ivanović finished second in the vote, and Spain’s Carlos Moyá placed third. Fan Voting is one of two steps in the Hall of Fame’s election process. In addition to the Fan Vote, an Official Voting Group comprised of tennis journalists, historians, and Hall of Famers, vote on the Class of 2024 ballot. By winning the Fan Vote, Paes will receive an additional three percentage points added to his vote total. Ivanović will receive two additional percentage points and Moyá one additional point. Full Story: International Tennis Hall of Fame
Serena Williams becomes first athlete to receive CFDA’s Fashion Icon award: Serena Williams is officially a “fashion icon,” according to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She will be honored with the Fashion Icon award at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards —and making fashion history, too, as the first athlete to receive the prestigious distinction. Full Story: Tennis
Western & Southern Open is staying in Cincinnati: Beemok Capital, the owner of the Western & Southern Open, has decided to keep the tennis tournament in Mason, despite millions of tax incentives from the city of Charlotte, N.C., to move the tournament there. Full Story: WYSO
The lingering debate on tennis balls used at ATP and WTA tournaments is a ball of confusion: Stories about the tennis balls used by the pros tend to be yawners. They have a whiff of Coke vs. Pepsi about them. But lately, there’s been a growing outcry over the role balls may be playing in fatigue and injury. And that makes for a different, more compelling tale than whether a certain ball is better suited for baseline or attacking play, or for clay or hard courts. Full Story: Tennis
Judy Murray rallies against ‘elitist image’ of tennis during talk at Henley Literary Festival: Judy Murray rallied against “elitism” in tennis during a talk at Henley Literary Festival 2023. She highlighted the lack of female coaches and the ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-nots’ in tennis within her firs novel, The Wild Card. Full Story: The Independent Editorial Note: I reviewed The Wild Card on July 20, 2023.
Garbine Muguruza says she has “no intention” of returning to competitive tennis: (At least, not for now.) The newly turned 30-year-old recently revealed she’s been “trying to stay away from the courts” amid her indefinite break from tennis. Full Story: Tennis
Yvonee Lee Odom, grandmother to tennis superstar Coco Gauff, is herself a trailblazer: Tennis star Coco Gauff comes from a family of athletes and activists. We meet her grandmother, who desegregated public schools in Delray Beach, Florida. Full Story: NPR
John Isner shares stories from his career: Isner retired following last month’s US Open at age 38, after capturing 24 titles in both singles and doubles. Full Video: CBS
Federer A Gym Rat In Retirement? Sort Of…: “I have tried to go to the gym four times a week, which I can’t believe I’m actually doing,” Federer said. “At home, I put some machines in that I got literally the week after the Laver Cup in London. So it was like after my career, I finally had a gym. A little bit weird to have it once I was retired, so now I have to use it. So I do that well. I don’t play so much tennis anymore so I have to be a little bit more careful what I eat and stuff. I’d still like to play some exhibitions down the road. So I want to stay in shape.” Full Story: ATP
A tennis center owner in Santa Monica changed his entire business to capitalize on the pickleball surge: I wish I could say it was a business failure, but his revenue doubled. Full Story: Business Insider
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 10/16-22 | Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships | ATP 500 | Japan |
| 10/16-22 | BNP Paribas Nordic Open | ATP 250 | Sweden |
| 10/16-22 | European Open | ATP 250 | Belgium |
| 10/16-22 | Jiangxi Open | WTA 250 | China |
| 10/16-22 | Transylvania Open | WTA 250 | Romania |
| 10/16-22 | Jasmin Open Monastir | WTA 250 | Tunisia |
