Tennis News You Can Use
Malcolm Gladwell penned a powerful essay praising the WTA response to the Peng Shuai crisis, ESPN drops the ball on a significant match at the Australian Open, and other stories from the margins of the tennis world.
The Women’s Tennis Association Set a Standard For Crisis Response
New York Times best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell (Blink, Outliers) penned a powerful essay praising the response of the WTA to the Pen Shuai situation. Full Story: Malcolm Gladwell Bulletin (1/15)
Australian Open officials ask fans to remove T-shirts with slogan ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’
On Saturday, a TikTok user uploaded a video in which fans at the Australian Open were approached by security and asked to remove the shirts with the slogan on them. An officer is heard saying: “The Australian Open does have a rule that you can’t have political slogans … it’s a rule that it’s a condition of entry. Full Story: ESPN (1/22)
Australian Open Midterm Grades: Ash Barty Dominates, TV Coverage Falters
Sports Illustrated gave the AO television coverage a gentlemen’s “C.” It is the very definition of an unforced error that SI places on the doorstep of Tennis Australia for the cash grab.There’s no better way to kill off a sport than making it difficult, if not impossible, for fans to find. Full Story: Sports Illustrated (1/22)
ESPN’s Australian Open coverage leaves tennis fans lost and poorer
As it is, to watch the Australian Open, you need cable and ESPN+. As part of your cable bill you are paying around $10 per month. For ESPN+, you are forking over nearly $7 per month. It is quite a lark, charging twice for the same product.“[Wednesday] night, a combination of factors led to certain matches being unavailable on ESPN+,” ESPN said in a statement. “One of those matches — Fritz vs. Tiafoe — should have been covered live in full on one of our platforms. Full Story: The New York Post (1/20)
Sam Stosur given farewell after final Australian Open match
Samantha Stosur’s decorated singles career is over after a second-round defeat in her farewell Australian Open at Melbourne Park.Stosur received a standing ovation from the Kia Arena crowd before departing after a record 20th Open campaign, the most by any Australian women’s tennis player. Full Story: ESPN (1/19)
Australian Open 2022: Inside the quirky yet intense job of a USTA scout
Inside the four-person team that provides scouting reports ahead of every match for every single American in a major, including during qualifying rounds — and even during some Masters-level events. Full Story: ESPN (1/19)
Adidas and Parley for the Oceans launch floating tennis court in Great Barrier Reef
Adidas worked with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to assemble the floating tennis court on one of the marine authority’s barges. The court’s surface was made from recycled plastic provided by Parley for the Oceans, which also provides the recycled plastic used in Adidas’ latest tennis collection.Full Story: dezeen (1/21)
Why Great Tennis Players Don’t Always Make Great Coaches
The average career-high singles ranking of the coaches working with the top 20 women is 896, and the coaches for the top 20 men have an average ranking of 254. Some have never even played professionally. Nearly 30 percent of the 49 coaches currently working with top 20 women and men didn’t play enough professional tennis to accrue a WTA or ATP ranking. Full Story: FiveThirtyEight (1/19)
This Simple Piece of Equipment Could Elevate Your Workout
A jump rope can increase your agility and speed while giving you a great workout in half the time of a run. Full Story: The New York Times (1/7)
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location/Timezone |
| 1/17-30 | The Australian Open | Grand Slam | Melbourne, Australia (GMT + 11) |
