Tennis Australia taps out of official support for Novak Djokovic’s 2023 AO visa application. A deep dive on a serious gap in adult tennis lessons, and the deluge of pickleball continues.
Tennis Australia keeps out of Djokovic’s visa application
Novak Djokovic won’t get official support with lobbying from Tennis Australia should he seek to enter the country for the first major of 2023, a year after he was deported because he was not vaccinated for COVID-19. Being deported made Djokovic subject to a possible three-year exclusion period that prevents the granting of a further temporary visa. Full Story: The Washington Post
Russian Tennis Players are applying to Change Citizenship
The vice president of the Tennis Association of Kazakhstan has claimed that more than 30 Russian players as young as 12 years old have been applying to change their citizenship. The moves appear to follow Elena Rybakina’s lead as the Wimbledon champion changed allegiance from Russia to Kazakhstan back in 2018. Full Story: The Express (UK)
Is the Adult Tennis Lesson Model Broken?
A deep dive into the transactional world of adult tennis instruction, and what needs to change. Full Story: Tennis
Tecnifibre To Double In Size, Continues Rapid Growth In Premium Tennis
French tennis brand Tecnifibre has put a racket in the hand of both the top-ranked male, Daniil Medvedev, and the top-ranked female, Iga Swiatek. Exposure like that has helped Tecnifibre on its path to doubling in size this year. Full Story: Forbes
USTA announces partnership with Athleta
A new and transformative partnership between the USTA and Athleta will see the women’s performance-lifestyle brand serve as one of the official sponsors of USTA League, USTA Player Development Teaching Professional Initiatives and the girls’ USTA Foundation Excellence Team for the next three years. The partnership will aim to empower women and girls and reach new audiences of active tennis players. Full Story: USTA
Todd Martin resigns as CEO of International Tennis Hall of Fame
Todd Martin is resigning as CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame after nearly a decade in the post to join Beemok Capital. Martin’s move was announced Wednesday, the same day Beemok Capital announced it had closed its acquisition of the Western & Southern Open tournament from the USTA. Full Story: ESPN
Racquets Ready – the AO Tennis Club is coming
Tennis fans can hit the court and work up a sweat at Cardio and POP Tennis sessions throughout the AO. The Padel court, returning to AO 2023 after a smash hit debut on Grand Slam Oval this year, will again feature come and try sessions and celebrity appearances. Full Story: Australian Open
Former junior Wimbledon champ Noah Rubin leaves tennis for pickleball
On Monday, just weeks after revealing his departure from tennis, the 26-year-old Rubin announced he was turning his sights to pickleball with a video on Instagram in which he poked fun at his 5-foot-9 stature.. Full Story: ESPN
In Seattle, a ‘Turf War’ between Pickleball and Tennis Players Has Just Begun
In a recent survey of more than 3,000 locals conducted by Seattle, 72 percent of tennis players were dissatisfied with the quantity or availability of courts. But even more pickleball players (83 percent) were peeved about court time, leaving Seattle Parks and Recreation to wrestle with a thorny question: If everyone’s unhappy, whose concerns should take priority? Full Story: The Seattle Met (There is a similar story from the San Francisco Chronicle behind a hard paywall.)
Tom Brady, tennis great Kim Clijsters form pickleball ownership group
An ownership group that includes five-time NFL Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady and former top-ranked tennis player Kim Clijsters has purchased an expansion team for the 2023 Major League Pickleball season. Full Story: Biz Journals
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 10/17-23 | Guadalajara Open Akron | WTA 1000 | Guadalajara , Mexico |
| 10/17-23 | Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole | WTA 125 | Rouen, France |
| 10/17-23 | European Open | ATP 250 | Antwerp, Belgium |
| 10/17-23 | Stockholm Open | ATP 250 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 10/17-23 | Tennis Napoli Cup | ATP 250 | Napes, Italy |
