Tennis News You Can Use
The Billie Jean King Fed Cup is underway and Davis Cup rosters have been announced. The Australian government’s position on Covid vaccination is becoming more clear.
The Billie Jean King Fed Cup Starts TODAY
Tennis Channel and its streaming service Tennis Channel Plus will be the exclusive U.S. homes of the 2021 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, live from Prague November 1-6. The event, formerly known as Fed Cup, is the women’s “World Cup of tennis” and features the best players in the sport representing their countries on national teams. Coverage begins Monday, Nov. 1, at 5:30 a.m. ET. Full Story: 10sBalls , Official Billie Jean King Cup Site (10/28)
Davis Cup Finals Rosters and Groups
Rosters for the Davis Cup finals next month have been announced. Eighteen countries will participate in group-stage matches starting Nov. 25 on indoor hard courts in Madrid; Innsbruck, Austria; and Turin, Italy. After quarterfinals in those cities, the semifinals and final will be held in Madrid. The United States is in Group E which includes Italy and Colombia. Full Story: ESPN (10/29)
Australian Open: no exemptions for unvaccinated tennis players, Victoria premier says
Daniel Andrews, the Victoria Premier, said refusing to consider exemptions for unvaccinated players was “the only fair thing to do”, given fans and people working at the tournament are required to be double-jabbed. Full Story: The Guardian (10/26)
Unvaccinated tennis players deserve Australian Open ‘opportunity’: Millman
Australian tennis player John Millman, a member of the ATP Player Council, believes unvaccinated tennis stars who complete 14 days of hard quarantine should have the chance to play the Australian Open. He also explained why vaccination rates on the men’s tour have been sluggish and remain at about 70%. Full Story: The Age (10/29)
RecycleBalls Offers an Eco-Friendly Way to Retire Tennis Balls
The non-profit company repurposes the balls for tennis court construction and other green projects. Full Story: tennis.com (10/29)
Train Like a Pro: How Tennis Star Sloane Stephens Makes Time to Recharge
Sloan Stevens on Rest: “Rest shouldn’t be a radical practice. It should be something that is encouraged. Although I’m a pro athlete, I’m not training 24/7. Active rest and therapy for the body and mind is as important as active intensity no matter what your career. I very much believe in the power of a vibe check, and if something doesn’t feel quite right I’ve grown to where I take that pause and re-allocate my energy.” Full Story: Vogue (10/27)
Billie Jean Won Wimbledon. Randy Struck Out Dodgers. A Baseball Sibling Rivalry for the Ages.
Talking playoffs and baseball memories with Dodgers minority owner Billie Jean King and her younger brother, Randy Moffitt, a former San Francisco Giants relief pitcher. Full Story: WSJ (10/10) Editorial note: I somehow missed this in the week it was originally published. Inexcusable.
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location (Timezone) |
| 11/1-6 | Billie Jean King Federation Cup | ITF | Prague (UTC + 2) |
| 11/1-7 | Rolex Paris Masters | ATP 1000 | Paris, France (UTC + 2) |
| 11/1-7 | Dow Tennis Classic | WTA 125 | Midland, TX, USA (UTC -6) |
| 11/1-7 | Argentina Open | WTA 125 | Buenos Aires (UTC – 5) |
