Tennis News You Can Use
Data integrity issues surface over Novak Djokovic’s positive Covid test, the “Barty Party” fuels a participation spike in Australia, and Danielle Collins plays the AO finals without a clothing or shoe contract.
Novak Djokovic: Doubts over timing of Covid test
The serial number on his test on 16 December appears out of sequence with a sample of tests from Serbia over this period gathered by the BBC. Full Story: BBC (1/28)
The Ash effect: Barty sparks huge spike in Australians taking to tennis
The impact the Wimbledon and French Open champion has had on participation among adults and juniors in Australia is clear. According to AusPlay, tennis enjoyed more growth than any of the 15 other major sports in the country last year. Full Story: The Age (1/29)
Is Tennis Moving Into a New Golden Age? We Can Only Hope.
It will be hard to let go of aging stars like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, and troubled ones like Novak Djokovic. But the time is coming, if it is not already here. Full Story: The New York Times (1/24)
‘He’s Inspired a Nation’: Dylan Alcott Says Goodbye to Tennis
Alcott, a recent Australian of the year recipient, ends his career with 15 Grand Slam quad singles titles and a platform for his motivational messages, but a loss in his final match. Full Story: The New York Times (1/27) see also “Able: Gold Medals, Grand Slams and Smashing Glass Ceilings” reviewed on this site last week.
This is unusual: Danielle Collins played in the Australian Open final without a shoe or clothing sponsorship
Most top-ranked tennis players are sponsored by not only racket companies, but also shoe and clothing brands. The American tennis player Danielle Collins is sponsored by Babolat for her racket. But Collins, the No. 27 seed in the tournament, played in her first-ever Grand Slam final without a clothing or shoe deal. That’s because her sponsorship with New Balance ended last summer. Full Story: MarketWatch (1/28)
Nick Kyrgios is the undisputed Happy Gilmore of tennis, and the sport ‘needs to embrace it’
Gilmore, the flamboyant, failed hockey player turned unorthodox golf pro, a fictional character wonderfully portrayed by Adam Sandler in the 1996 film, was a polarizing figure, to say the least. Gilmore could entertain crowds like nobody else, doing things with a golf club that others wouldn’t dare dream of, but his aggressiveness and short fuse often landed him in hot water. Full Story: ESPN (1/23)
Grand Slam Player Development Programme: 2022 Player Grant Recipients
The Grand Slam Player Development Programme (formerly known as the Grand Slam Development Fund) was established by the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments in 1986 to encourage and increase competitive opportunities for players from developing tennis regions. The Programme provides Grand Slam Player Grants to support players so that they can gain competitive experience at an international level, including at the Grand Slams. Full Story: ITF(1/28)
Let’s Talk Tennis, and Politics
The drama of the Australian Open began early this year, before the first match, with the saga of whether or not the top men’s player, Novak Djokovic, would be allowed to stay and play despite being unvaccinated. His deportation was followed by another off-court dispute, when a Melbourne-based artist wore a T-shirt to the tournament that read, “Where is Peng Shuai?” Full Story: The New York Times (1/27)
What Does a Forehand Winner Sound Like? Clink, Blip-Blip-Blip!
At the Australian Open tennis tournament, new technology is translating the movement of the ball into sounds to help blind and low-vision fans follow the action. Full Story: The New York Times (1/27) I also wrote about that technology last year in “Broadcast Tennis Innovation for the Visually Impaired.”
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location/Timezone |
| 1/31-2/6 | Cordoba Open | ATP 250 | Cordoba, Argentina (GMT – 3) |
| 1/31-2/6 | Tata Open Maharashtra | ATP 250 | Pune, India (GMT + 5:30) |
| 1/31-2/6 | Open Sud de France | ATP 250 | Montpellier, France (GMT + 1) |
