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Retailing
Use our RETAILCHECKLISTfor your store
Construction
Award-winningRESIDENTIALtennis courts
Programming
Opinion: HowCARDIO TENNIShelps the industry
Incorp
oratin
gUSPTA
JUNE 20 14 / VOLU ME 42/ NUMBER 6 / $5.00
Section
Stars!We honor dedicatedUSTA Section staffand volunteers whomake tennis happen
All the LatestRacquet Innovations
Tennis TeachersConference Returns
We honor dedicatedUSTA Section staffand volunteers whomake tennis happen
All the LatestRacquet Innovations
Tennis TeachersConference Returns
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DEPARTMENTS
4 Our Serve
7 Industry News
9 Letters
14 TIA news
16 Retailing Tip
32 Ask the Experts
34 String Playtest: Wilson
Optimus 16
36 Your Serve, by Ted Murray
PLUS
38 CEOs Message
40 Vice
Presidents
Message
41 USPTA News
42 Growing Your Business
44 Tennis Teachers
Conference
50 Career
Development
52 Member News
INDUSTRY NEWS
7 Tennis Teachers Conference
returns to US Open
7 USTA to host 10U
workshops during Citi Open
7 PTR moves its headquarters
8 Own the Zone offers
biodegradable overgrip
8 Adidas brings back
Laver shoe
8 Prince to give away
Tuning Center at IART
10 Peoplewatch
10 Legendary coaches honored
10 USTA awards $150,000 in
multicultural grants
12 Short Sets
13 PTR partners with
PlayYourCourt
13 ASBA facility awards
applications due
JUNE 20 14
TennisIndustry
18Dress for the Occasion
The tennis dress is hot, and in fact, some
can go from court to cocktails.
20 Tech Enabled
Want to stay up on all the latest racquet
innovations? Learn what MRTs need to know.
23 Section Stars!
These 17 USTA Section staff and volunteers
work tirelessly behind the scenes to grow
our sport
28 Private Practice
These residential winners are excellent
examples of tennis court construction.
40 Helping USPTAProfessionals Get Educated
41Call for Nominations
42 TGA: Reaching KidsThrough Tennis
44 2014 Tennis TeachersConference Register Now!
p.20
p.28
2 TennisIndustry June 2014
p.44
FEATURES
p.18
www.tennisindustrymag.com
p.23
Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
www.tennisindustrymag.com
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OurServe PublishersDavid Bone Jeff Williams
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Special Projects Manager
Bob Patterson
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Kent Oswald
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
Tim Strawn
Contributing Photographers
Bob Kenas
David Kenas
TENNIS INDUSTRY
Corporate Offices
PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.TennisIndustryMag.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year:
monthly January through August and combined
issues in September/October and November/
December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, PO
Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096. Periodcal postage
paid at Duluth, GA and at additional mailing
offices (USPS #004-354). June 2014, Volume 42,
Number 6 2014 by USRSA and Tennis Industry.
All rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo
are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.
Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone
circulation and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly
subscriptions $25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tennis
Industry, PO Box 3392, Duluth, GA 30096. TI is the
official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA.
Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/
Racquet Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our
website at TennisIndustrymag.com for free digital
versions back to 2004.
In March, I attended the Future of
Tennis Summit held during theIndian Wells tournament, where
the dialogue and ideas on increasing
tenniss visibility and participation
were terrific. But for me, there was one
simple moment that clearly definedwhat this industry needs to do.
During the final panel discussion,
about how to move the needle on the
adult frequent player market, PTR
CEO Dan Santorum was asked why heplays tennis. He said simply, For my
health.
We tend to overcomplicate so many
things in this industry. But the plain,
simple truth is that tennis is a healthyactivity for everyoneand too often,
we bury that uncomplicated message.
Ive said before that as an industry,we need to do a better job of promot-
ing the health and fitness aspect of
tennis, because it will bring peopleinto the sport and create frequent
players. We need to stop ceding this
health and fitness messaging to other
sports and get together on an orga-
nizedtennis and health campaign.Health and fitness is themost im-
portant thing when it comes to people
playing this sport. Yes, weall know the
health benefits of the game, but com-
municating that to the general public?We just havent done that well.
And this leads into something else
Ive said before: This industry already
has a successfulprogram geared to
health and fitnessCardio Tennis.
People want to lose weight. CardioTennis does that. People want to burn
calories and get in shape. Cardio Ten-
nis does that too. People want to im-
prove their tennis skills. Cardio Tennis
also does that. People want to have
fun and socialize. Guess what program
does that? This is not complicated.Cardio Tennis was created just nine
years ago and already has1.5 millionplayers, according to independent
research. It has already proven itself,
so why is this program not runningrampant throughout your facility, your
parks, your USTA section, the national
USTA office?
Youre going to hear more about
Cardio Tennis in this magazine, with
regular short pieces about how it canimpact your business and participa-
tion. In this issue, the Your Serve (on
page 36) by longtime teaching pro Ted
Murray is about some of the possibly
overlooked benefits Cardio Tennis of-fers both consumers and the industry.
The TIA, with limited resources, has
done an amazing job with Cardio Ten-
nis so far. But its time we all steppedup here. Its not hard to think ofcreative ways to use Cardio Tennis to
achieve your facilitys or organizations
goals. Cardio Tennis creates frequent
players. It brings in new players. It can
create members for your CTA, your
facility or club, and the USTA.Cardio Tennis can solve many of the
problems this industry faces. Its really
not that complicated.
Peter Francesconi, Editorial Director
Keep theMessage Simple
We need to do a betterjob of promoting thehealth and fitness aspectof tennis, because it willbring people into thesport and create frequentplayers.
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June 2014 TennisIndustry
IndustryNewsInformation to help you run your business
Registration is now open for the 2014 Tennis Teachers Conference at the Grand Hyatt
New York, in conjunction with the US Open. The four-day conference, beginning on
Aug. 22, brings together the leading tennis teaching professionals and coaches in the
industry to share best practices, and will include a series of interactive on-court sessions andpresentations. Attendees can register at usta.com/ttc.
The event offers tennis teachers and coaches educational resources,
innovative teaching techniques, and networking opportunities. Keynote
speakers include Patrick McEnroe, USTA Player Development general
manager; Paul Annacone, Australian Open doubles champion and formercoach of Roger Federer and Pete Sampras; Judy Murray, mother of Andy
Murray and British Fed Cup captain; and Admiral James Stavridis, U.S.
Naval Institute (Ret.) Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
In 2014, the USPTA World Conference, which has traditionally been held two weeks after
the US Open, will not be held. Instead, the USPTA will join the USTA in hosting the TennisTeachers Conference. The opportunity to combine our resources with the USTA for this
event allows us to continue elevating the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and
coaches, said USPTA CEO John Embree.
The TTC also will include access to The Tennis Show 2014 on Aug. 24, which will feature
products and services from tennis industry companies, organizations and manufacturers. TheTennis Show is coordinated through the TIA.
In addition, attendees will receive access to the US Open and are invited to a special hospi-
tality area at the US Opens Opening Day, Aug. 25.Visit usta.com/ttc for information on the 2014 Tennis Teachers Conference. For The Tennis
Show, visit TheTennisShow.com.
Tennis Teachers ConferenceReturns to US Open
PTR RelocatesHeadquarters
The PTR has relocated its
International Headquarters
to new office space on Hilton
Head Island, S.C.
With PTRs continued
growth, we needed more
space to operate
efficiently and
effectively, said
Dan Santorum,
PTR CEO. This move will allow
us to decide our best long-term
option for PTR Headquarters.
The PTRs new physical ad-
dress is 4 Office Way, Suite 200,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
(For those familiar with Hilton
Head Island, PTR Headquarters
will be in the PNC Bank Build-
ing just off Sea Pines Circle.)
All other contact information,
phone, fax, etc. will remain
the same, as will the mailing
address of PO Box 4739, Hilton
Head Island, SC 29938-4739.
Tennis Media AwardWinners Named
Chuck McGill, sports editor
for the Charleston (W.Va.)
Daily Mail, is the winner of
the inaugural Tennis Media
Award, presented by the TIA in
conjunction with the National
Sportscasters and Sportswrit-
ers Association. McGills story,
about a woman who under-
went a double lung transplantin 2009 and is now back to
playing tournaments, captured
the best aspects of recreational
tennis, said the judges. McGill
will receive a cash award and
travel expenses to the NSSA
Awards Weekend. The TIA also
honored First Runner-Up Doug
Robson of USA Today, and Hon-
orable Mentions Scott Fowler of
the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer,
Jane Havsy of the Daily Record
(Parsippany, N.J.), and BlairHenley of TennisNow.com.
USTA to Host 10U WorkshopDuring D.C.s Citi Open
The USTA will host a 10 and Under Tennis Workshop on Friday, Aug. 1, in Washington,
D.C., in conjunction with the Citi Open professional tournament. It will be the first time
a 10U workshop will take place at an Emirates Airline US Open Series event.
The workshop will provide tennis teaching pros and coaches with skills needed to engage
and teach children. The USTA says its considering hosting Youth Tennis workshops at alleight Emirates Airline US Open Series tournaments starting in 2015.
At the Citi Open, the 10U workshop will take place at the tournament site, the William H.G.
FitzGerald Tennis Center, and will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $25, which includes
the workshop, lunch and a ticket to the tournaments quarterfinal matches that afternoon.10 and Under Tennis Workshops are part of the USTAs edu-
cational curriculum program, Coach Youth Tennis, aiming to
improve the quality and standards of teaching tennis to kids and
enhance the long-term development of children in the sport.
The program, in collaboration with the PTR, USPTA and USOC,
consists of a series of online courses and a hands-on workshopand serves as a pathway to certification through the PTR and
USPTA.
To register for the workshop at the Citi Open, visit CoachY-outhTennis.com.
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IndustryNews
USTAs Team USA InitiativeBrings Coaches Together
More than 30 of Southern Californias most
respected tennis coaches came together one
afternoon in April in Carson, Calif., to share
their ideas of what makes a successful coach
and, in turn, what will produce successful
American players.
Top developmental coaches from
every level of the gameincluding Robert
Lansdorp, famed coach of Pete Sampras,
Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport and Maria
Sharapova; USCs Peter Smith; UCLAs Billy
Martin; and USTA Player Developments Jose
Higueras and Jay Bergermet to envision a
successful training pathway.
The meeting was part of the USTA's Team
USA initiative to create an inclusive, col-
laborative, national movement to develop
world-class American players. Nine similar
meetings were to be held across the country
through early June by USTA Player Develop-
ment General Manager Patrick McEnroe,
appealing to top personal and collegiate
coaches and USTA section leadership. Theforums are designed to lead to more training
opportunities and recognition for players
and coaches, as well as more opportunities
for top instructors to share ideas for success.
We all want American tennis to be
successful, and none of us can do it alone,
McEnroe said.
Adidas Brings Back Laver Shoe
Nostalgic ephemera or harbinger
of good times? That is the question to
ponder as Adidas brings to market its rei-
magined Rod Laver shoe line ($65 retail),
which includes the classic white/green
model, along with three stylized partners
in a line updated with an air mesh upper,
suede toe and gum outsole.
The company is clear about distancing
this line from its performance-technology
enhanced shoes. And, among Adidas
other fashion offerings are an extended
Stan Smith line featuring a variety of col-
orways, and even a lemon-accented shoe
and womens high-heeled version, as well
as branded mens wear.
The new Lavers also echo the evolu-
tion of the Converse (a Nike brand) Jack
Purcell line, which became a tennis staple
during the glory years. Purcells have
morphed into a wearable token of hipster-ism, sold in a
wide palate
of stylings
tied to-
gether by the
reinforced-
rubber bump
toe featuring
the iconic
smile.
Until sales
results are in theres no telling exactly
what this means, but could it be time to
start looking for serve-and-volley to again
become the dominant strategy between
the lines? Kent Oswald
Parkkonen Named by PTR
Brian Parkkonen is the new director of de-
velopment for the PTR, a post vacated when
Steve Keller was promoted to director of edu-
cation earlier this year. Parkkonens responsi-
bilities will include scheduling and coordina-
tion of all PTR Certification Workshops in the
U.S, and ensuring that workshops are held in
all 50 states each year.
Parkkonen earned a PTR Master of Tennis
Performance rating and is a Clinician and Tes-
ter in all four PTR education and certification
pathways. Additionally, he is certified as both
an Etcheberry Strength and Conditioning
Coach and USTA High Performance Coach. In
2013, Parkkonen was awarded PTR Member
of the Year for South Carolina.
Prince to Give AwayPrecision Tuning Center
Prince is offering IART Symposium reg-
istrants chances to win a free Prince Preci-
sion Tuning Center. The IART Symposiumwill be Sept. 20-23 at Saddlebrook Resort
in Tampa, Fla. Every attendee who reg-
isters for the symposium by July 15 gets
a chance to win. To improve your odds,
register by July 8 for two chances to win,
or by July 1 for three chances to win.
During the IART Symposium, Prince will
also offer a special opening eve-
ning event with prize giveaways.
Attendees can test the latest
Prince product during round-robin
play, with the full Prince product
development team in attendance
8 TennisIndustry June 2014
Own the Zone Offers EcoGripBiodegradable Overgrip
Own the Zone Sporting Goods says it has developed the worlds first biode-
gradable overgrip for tennis, badminton, squash and racquetball racquets.
The EcoGrip comes in smooth or tacky, and is made with an innovative
polymer that is biodegradable.
We developed EcoGrip with two goals in mind, says David Marcus, co-presi-
dent of Own the Zone. First, the grip had to play just as well as the bestovergrips on the market. Second, when the grip was replaced and dis-
carded it had to break down naturally within one year or less. Marcus
says every year hundreds of millions of polyurethane overgrips, which
arent biodegradable, are thrown into dumps and landfills around theworld.
Players in 10 countries play-tested the product, says Marcus, to
make sure it met the first goal. And use of a new technology in polymer
chemistry ensured it was the first eco-friendly sports grip product on
the market, says co-president Julius Stockfish.
In addition to the smooth and tacky versions, EcoGrip is packagedin 120-cm lengths, rather than the typical 110 cm. Buckets of 50 Eco-
Grips are available for $62.95. For more information visit otzsports.
com, or contact [email protected] or 866-802-5550.
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IndustryNews
June 2014 TennisIndustry www.tennisindustrymag.com
Bringing on the Boom
In Mays Your Serve column,Chuck Gill
wondered
whether
a tennisboomakin
to what
we expe-
rienced in
the 1970scould be
re-created.
Here in
USTA East-
ern, we sayemphati-
cally Yes!
In fact, every staff members
office has a poster (above) that
defines our three key strategicobjectives and envisions what the
boom would look like. We have
mobilized our staff and volunteer
resources to focus on the key ob-
jectives and to evaluate decisions
based on whether the outcomewould contribute to the boom
or not.I am fully confident that we can
and will see a new Tennis Boom in
Easternas long as we continue towork toward common objectives
and set aside personal agendas in
favor of the greater good.
Jill Fonte
Executive Director and COO
USTA Eastern
Net TensionRecommendationWith the announcement by USTAthat the 2015 Friend at Court
will include an amendment that
recommends net tension be set at
400-450 pounds across a facilityscourts using a net tension device,
the last remaining variable of the
tennis court has been standard-
ized. ITF has already made a simi-
lar recommendation.
2014 will be the third year allthe courts at the US Open, West-
ern + Southern Open, and Rogers
LettersCup, the fourth year for the
BB&T Atlanta Open (the firstUS Open Series venue to use it),
and second time that the NCAA
Championships have had the net
tension variable solved by use ofthe TNT Gauge (www.tightcable.
net). This compact, durable,
certified accurate, inexpensive,
and patented Tennis Net Tension
Gauge add-on to the dead-sidenet post of each court is the only
net tension device in production.
Whether at pro tourna-
ment sites, elite clubs, colleges,
schools, or public facilities, theUSTA tension recommendation
will guarantee consistent play
across courts and events, and
help prevent net post and court
damage from inadvertently over-tightened net cords.
David Glass
President Cable Tension, LLC
HonoringJonathan AlbrechtIt is with much sadness that I
write to honor one of my col-leagues at Babolat. Jonathan
Seth Albrecht passed away onMarch 15 from a heart attack. He
was only 48 years old.
Jonathan was a tennis territo-
ry manager at Babolat for 4-1/2
years, covering North Texas andSouthern California, and he was
always trying to support and
grow the game of tennis any way
he could. His infectious person-
ality and positive attitude will be
missed throughout the Babolatfamily, and by all his accounts.
Jonathan would tell all his ac-
counts in email or in person that,
You are greatness! I was lucky
enough to be a teammate of his,and I would like to say, Jona-
than, YOU are greatness, and we
love and miss you. Our hearts go
out to his wife, Sandy, and all his
family.
David Dwelle
RSM Team South
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PeopleWatch
Four coaches were
honored recently by the
U.S. Olympic Committeefor outstanding contribu-
tions to the sport of tennis
in 2013: University of
Virginia mens head coach
Brian Boland was named
National Coach of the
Year; Joseph Gilbert, coach
of 2013 USTA Boys 18s
national champion Collin
Altamirano, was named
Developmental Coach of
the Year; Gordon Uehling
III of CourtSense in Tenafly,
N.J., received the Doc
Counsilman Award for
sport science; and Jan
Beeman of Dallas was
recognized as Volunteer
Coach of the Year.
The Adidas Group has
appointed Mark King as
president of Adidas Group
North America, succeed-
ing Patrik Nilsson, who
has decided to leave the
company for personal rea-
sons. King, who had been
TaylorMade-Adidas Golf's
CEO, will be in charge of all
Adidas and Reebok opera-
tions in the North American
market and report directly to
Roland Auschel, member ofthe Executive Board of Adidas
AG, responsible for Global
Sales.
Serena Williams is the only
tennis player on Time maga-
zines 100 Most Influential
People list, and one of only
five athletes on the list. NBA
Player Dwayne Wade wrote
the tribute to Williams.
Jonathan Seth Albrecht,
tennis territory manager for
Babolat covering
North Texas
and South-
ern Califor-
nia, passed
away on
March 15
from a heart
attack. He was
48.
USPTA CEO and Executive
Director John Embree will
serve on the International
Tennis Hall of Fame Board of
Directors as a Tennis Associa-
tion Director.
Swiss tennis star Stanislas
Wawrinka received the Davis
Cup Commitment Awardrecently.
Head Graphene Speed
player Novak Djokovic
captured his fourth Miami
Masters title, beating Rafael
Nadal 6-3, 6-3, to become
only the second player to
win the Indian Wells-Miami
double twice after Roger
Federer.
The Greenbrier Resort in
West Virginia has named Hall
of Famer Pete Sampras as its
first Greenbrier Tennis Pro
Emeritus.
Maria Sharapova
has a new partnership,
with the Supergoop!
skincare line, which is
dedicated to UV protection
and sun safety. Visit super-
goop.com.
Tennis Channel has ap-
pointed Adam Ware to the
newly created position of
senior vice president, head of
digital media. He will report
to Ken Solomon, Tennis Chan-
nel chairman and CEO, and Bill
Simon, Tennis Channel COO andCFO.
In a multi-year partnership,
Ektelon will become the official
racquet of the sports National
Governing Body through 2015
and serve as a presenting partner
of the National Doubles, National
Intercollegiate, and National
Singles Championships.
The WTA has named Heather
Bowler its senior VP of communi-
cations, responsible for strategic
communications, media and
public relations, advertising and
will support the WTAs player and
tournament members in driving
earned media across all channels.
Esurance has signed a two-year
agreement to be an official spon-
sor of Victoria Azarenka. She will
appear on the company's behalf
along with other marketing and
social media integrations.
Francis Tiafoe, who trains at the
Junior Tennis Champions Center
in College Park, Md., won the title
at the 2014 Easter Bowl.
10 TennisIndustry June 2014
IndustryNews
to answer questions and talk about future
projects. There also will be a roundtable
discussion with the Prince product devel-
opment team.
For details on the IART Symposium,
visit gssalliance.com.
Legendary Coaches Honored
Legendary tennis coaches Jerry Baskin,
Nick Bollettieri, Robert Lansdorp and Jack
Sharpe were each honored as Team USA
Coaching Legends at the inaugural Team
USA
Coaching
Awards
recep-
tion held
during
the Asics
Easter
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Bowl junior tournament in Indian Wells,
Calif.
Also honored during the Easter Bowl
was Joseph Gilbert, coach of 2013 USTA
Boys 18s national champion Collin
Altamirano, who was recognized as the
2013 USOC Developmental Coach of theYear. In addition, the Junior Tennis Cham-
pions Center (JTCC) in College Park, Md.,
was named the 2013 Team USA Develop-
mental Program of the Year.
USTA Awards $150,000In Multicultural Grants
The USTA has awarded $90,000
in Multicultural Individual Player
Grants and $60,000 in Multicultural
Excellence Program Grants to young
players and to organizations across
the country
More than 100 student-athletes
received individual grants to help
with national competition and train-
ing, while eight organizations each
received $7,500 grants toward their
competitive junior development pro-
grams, which train young players whoaspire to achieve national or interna-
tional rankings.
Program grant recipients are: Dal-
las Tennis Association, Addison, Texas;
Marty Hennessy Jr. Tennis, Las Vegas;
Northwest High Performance Tennis,
Seattle; Peterson School of Tennis,
College Park, Ga.; Ramp Tennis,
Carson, Calif.; South Atlanta Commu-
nity Tennis Association Inc., Atlanta;
Sportsmens Tennis & Enrichment
Center, Dorchester, Mass.; and T Bar M
Tennis Academy, Dallas.
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ShortSets
France beat the U.S.,
3-2, in the Fed CupWorld Group Playoff on
April 20, which means
for 2015, the U.S. is rel-
egated to World Group
II competition, where
it must qualify to reach
the World Group to be
eligible to compete for
the Fed Cup in 2016. Its
only the second time
the U.S. has dropped
out of the World Group
since the format was
instituted in 1995.
This years final will be
between the Czech
Republic and Germany
Nov. 8-9.
The U.S. will host the
Slovak Republic in a
Davis Cup World Group
Play-Off on Sept. 12-
14, at a location to bedetermined. The win-
ner will qualify for the
2015 World Group and
be able to compete for
the Davis Cup; the loser
will compete in Zonal
competition in 2015 to
get back into the World
Group. In February, the
U.S. lost its first-round
match to Great Britain,
which threw it into the
Play-Off.
USTA New England
has appointed two
interim co-executive
directors: John Bresna-
han, director of finance
and accounting, and
Heather Anastos, direc-
tor of competitive ten-
nis. Both will continue
to serve in their currentroles while taking on the
additional responsibili-
ties.
The French Open
has boosted total prize
money this year to $34
million, an increase
of about $4.1 million.
Singles champions will
receive about $2.28 mil-
lion each, an increase
of 10 percent over last
year.
The International Ten-
nis Performance Asso-
ciation (ITPA) has a new
partnership with the
Mexican Tennis Federa-
tion. ITPA will be the of-
ficial sport science and
physical conditioning
education providerfor tennis coaches,
trainers, strength and
conditioning profes-
sionals, and physical
therapists who work
with tennis athletes
throughout Mexico.
InsideOut Sports
+ Entertainment LLC
run by former tennis
champ Jim Courier
and founding partner
Jon Venison was
acquired by Horizon
Media. Courier and
Venison will remain
as company co-
presidents. InsideOut
owns and operates
events and promo-
tions, including the
PowerShares Series,
the Legendary Night
Series of one-night
tennis exhibitions
and customized
private corporate
outings.
Andy Mur-
ray: Wimbledon
Champion: The Full
Extraordinary Story,
the new book by vet-
eran tennis journalist
Mark Hodgkinson
documenting the life
of Andy Murray and
his history-makingchampionship at
Wimbledon in 2013,
is now available in
paperback in the
U.S. at Amazon.com
and bookstores for
$19.95.
Nizuc Resort &
Spa, Cancn's new-
est deluxe resort at
Punta Nizuc, recently
announced an agree-
ment with PeterBurwash International
(PBI) to direct its
tennis program. The
resort recently com-
pleted installation of
a new tennis center
with two artificial
grass tennis courts
including lights.
Ashaway Racket
Strings has intro-
duced
a new
string for
top-level
racquetball
players
looking for
superior power and
tension stability from
Zyex filaments. New
PowerKill 17, a lighter
1.25-mm version of its
PowerKill Pro cousin,
provides superior feel
and ball control, says
the company. Visit
ashawayusa.com.
PHIT America has
formed Doctors for a
PHIT America to help
Americans under-
stand the magnitude
of the power of daily
physical activity. The
initiative will see some
of the worlds leading
doctors proclaimingthat physical inactiv-
ity is the leading
health issue for the
21st century. There
is plenty of evidence
that physical activity
is the best prescrip-
tion for total health
for the body, mind
and spirit, says Jim
Baugh, founder of
PHIT America.
12 TennisIndustry June 2014
IndustryNews
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June 2014 TennisIndustry 1 www.tennisindustrymag.com
IndustryNewsPTR Partners withPlayYourCourt
The PTR has partnered with PlayYourCourt
to create new tennis coaching jobs and to
help fund education and certification for
aspiring tennis professionals. PlayYourCourt.com is a mobile business that allows recre-
ational players to book tennis lessons in their
neighborhood directly through PlayYour-
Court.com.
PlayYourCourt will reimburse qualified
coaches who join and become PTR certified,
as well as reward them with higher commis-
sions for continued education within PTR. PTR
will provide these new members with eight
hours of education in the form of a compli-
mentary PTR certification workshop. New
members will also have to complete the USTA
Coach Youth Tennis Program.
Nominate for USPTA Awards
June 17 is the deadline for nominations
for the USPTA 2014 National Awards
Program, honoring members who are
committed to excellence as tennis teach-
ers and as ambassadors using tennis
to impact people and communities. All
Professional-level members are eligible.
Recipients will be recognized during the
Tennis Teachers Conference Aug. 22-25 at
the Grand Hyatt New York. Visit uspta.com
for more information and to nominate.
ASBA Facility AwardsApplications Due June 2
The American Sports Builders Association,
in conjunction with Tennis Industry magazine,
is accepting applications through June 2 for
its prestigious Facility Awards Program. Win-
ners will be featured in TI magazine in 2015
issues.
Photos of award-winning projects in all cat-
egories are often featured articles ASBA writes
for various magazines, and in its publications.
Also, the awards have been used successfully
in the marketing and advertising programsof ASBA members, and ASBA presents all
award winners with a free publicity kit to help
them spread the word about their win. Visit
sportsbuilders.org for more information and
for entry forms.
USRSA Announces NewMRTs & CSs
Master Racquet Technicians
Rachel HeiseDenver, CO
Certified Stringers
Byron ClearySan Rafael, CA
Bryan VoelkerYakima, WA
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Mark your calendars for The Tennis Show2014, which will be held on Sunday,Aug. 24, at the Grand Hyatt New York, inconjunction with the collaborative TennisTeachers Conference. This celebration ofthe business of tennis, occurring the daybefore play starts at the US Open, willfeature an Exhibitor Show, the TIA TennisForum, and more.
The Tennis Show will be in the ManhattanBallroom and Foyer, which is on thelobby level of the Grand Hyatt, from 6 to10 p.m. Nearly 50 tennis manufacturers,organizations and businesses, displayingthe latest in tennis products and services,will be exhibiting at The Tennis Show.There will also be a cocktail receptionand prize drawings. For more informationabout the show, visit TheTennisShow.com.
The Tennis Show will be during theannual Tennis Teachers Conference,which brings together hundreds of tennisteachers, coaches, tennis advocates andindustry partners. World-class speakers
and tennis instructors will provide current,cutting-edge educational opportunities.Visit USTA.com/ttc.
The TIA Tennis Forumwill be Sunday, Aug.24, starting at 5:15p.m. on the BallroomLevel of the GrandHyatt New York, andwill present the latest news about thestate of the tennis industry, includingparticipation, equipment sales data,grassroots initiatives, Youth Tennis,and more. The Forum, which is freeto attend, also will outline pathwaysto increasing the number of frequentplayers, ways to better define and boostthe economic growth and impact of thetennis industry, and effective ways todistribute clear, consistent messagingof health, fitness and the reasons to playtennis. The Forum will conclude withan induction ceremony for the TennisIndustry Hall of Fame. To register for the
Forum, visit TennisIndustry.org/forum.
While the overall tennis economy remained flat at $5.55 billion in 2013,there were increases in overall tennis participation, frequent playerparticipation, Youth Tennis, and Cardio Tennis participation.
The detailed data, and much more, will be available soon in theupcoming edition of the TIAs annual State of the Industry report. The2014 SOI analyzes data from the previous year, collected through nearly80 TIA surveys and research studies, and presents key findings in a singleeasy-to-read report about the tennis industry.
Hundreds of tennis facilities andteaching pros have signed onto the Try Tennis for Freecampaign through PlayTennis.com,which ran throughout themonth of May. Supported by anational PR and social media
campaign that reached more than5,000 outlets around the countrywith a potential audience of about60 million Americans, Try Tennisfor Free is designed to bringbeginners and returning playersback to tennis.
The promotion, supported byboth the PTR and USPTA, is forplayers of all ages. The free sessionsoffered can vary depending onthe location, as eachindividual facility orcertified professionalcan choose the best
introductory sessionor programs they feel
will encourage new and returningplayers to step onto the court.Free offers could include lessons,clinics, Cardio Tennis, USTA PlayDays for kids, and more.
For tennis providers, its asimple and free sign-up on the
PlayTennis.com website to becomeinvolved in Try Tennis for Free,says TIA Executive Director Jolynde Boer. It will make you, yourprograms and facility easier tofind, and it will bring in morecustomers. The TIA also offersfree, customizable promotionalmaterial on PlayTennis.com thatproviders can use to promote TryTennis for Free.
The TIA is planninga second Try Tennisfor Free promotionto run throughout the
month of September.Visit PlayTennis.com.
State of Industry ShowsTennis Participation Up
Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org14 TennisIndustry June 2014
Try Tennis for Free Reaches Across U.S. 7th Annual TIATennis Forum
The SOI breaks down the industry into
four segments: Economy and Tennis, including comparisonsto trends in the overall consumer economy. Demand, which highlights participationtrends, playing habits and consumerspending. Supply, which includes trends inequipment shipments, court building,facility performance, retail, and the teachingprofession. Competitive Tennis, including at therecreational, collegiate and professionallevels.
The TIAs State of the Industry report is available to
Industry Level members of the TIA and above. For more information onhow to obtain a copy of the report when it is released, contact the TIA [email protected] or via phone at 866-686-3036.
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Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org June 2014 TennisIndustry 15
In March 2014, the Tennis Industry Association presented the inauguralFuture of Tennis Summit
in Indian Wells, Calif., during the BNP Paribas Open. The Summit brought together more thantwo dozen top executives from inside and outside the tennis industry to speak about how thisindustry can get more players, more fans, and more tennis consumers. Veteran tennis journalist,commentator and industry observer Bill Simons, the editor and publisher of Inside Tennismagazine,attended the Summit and gleaned a number of informational nuggets and notable quotes, whichweve reprinted here, with his permission.
Desperation makes a poor cologne. We have lowself-esteem and are begging people to play. Weshould say, We have the best sport in the world,are you good enough to play our sport?
Its gone from Be like Mike to Be l ike Zuck.
I know it is an amazing concept, but in othercountries, kids still listen to their parents.
Tennis is a product that is absolutely fine, but it
could be absolutely great.
If we dont get the next generation into tennis,we will be like racquetball.
We have no chance unless we change.
If you dont like change, youre going to likeirrelevance a lot less.
Is yoga tennis around the corner?
The good news is that things change each week.The bad news is that things change each week.
If you cant connect with Roger Federer, Im notsure who you can connect with.
Not one interview goes by where Im not asked,Whats wrong with American tennis?
Pro tennis is the ultimate reality series.
The bad news is that were competing with theYankees, the Giants, and the Mets. The good newsis that the Mets are making it easy for us.
1. We have to spend as much time as possibleon storytelling. We need to get people engaged,to have an emotional investment in tennisthats a huge part of maintaining interest.
2. Things dont exist unless we document andshare them. Communication makes youth feel
like they are part of something that is biggerthan themselves.
3. Tennis numbers are generally flat, and notas good as lacrosse. But, they are better thansoccers and golfs, and those of most teamsports.
4. An aging population, tennis players tend tobe more affluent and educated, and more oftenlive in the suburbs and small towns rather thanrural areas or city centers.
5. Americas 5.4 million frequent playersaccount for 70% of total tennis spending, butthere are about 18 million casual players (withlatent demand) who can be moved into thefrequent-player category.
6. The US still leads the world in sports and inpopular culture.
7. We need to bring back fun, ignite passion,make people smile, and make choices aseasy as possible. We should loosen clubmembership rules, have open houses,shorter matches, childcare options, familyroundrobins, Bring a Friend days, and speedtennis, and consider fun ideas like blacklightand short court tennis where there are high-fives and people rotating in all the time. Itsdrop-in tennis on steroids.
8. Kids are dropping out of team and organizedsports. Half of the kids say sports dont reflectthem. Spontaneous free play is disappearing.
9.No parents, no coaches, and no rulessome say that is where sport is at right now.Thats why lacrosse lets kids play openly, andwhy extreme sports are increasingly popular.But others say structure and rewards are key.
10. The use of tennis balls, a key barometer, is
up a bit. Especially for youth tennis.11. The prime keys to success are having thetime to play, and having someone to play with.
12. Baby boomers have supported the game forthe last 30 years.
13. A persons first experience with tennis iskey. There isnt a second chance.
14. We should get new tennis players on ateam right away, then get them to clinics andpractices, and eventually matches.
15. People who arent into sports say they dontplay because they just dont like them, therisk is too high, and they dont need to prove
themselves anymore.16. In two generations, US physical activity willbe down 32%. For the first time, the majorityof 10-year-olds will not live longer than theirparents.
17.Ninety percent of teens say they play tennisfor fun. Eighty-eight percent of adults say itsbecause of fitness.
18. Tennis is good medicine, and has positiveeffects relating to blood pressure, cancer,mortality, and the risk for stroke. Soccer andfootball are facing a serious crisis relating toconcussions.
19. Its all about entertainment. We have toerase the line between entertainment andsportstell stories that happen outside the
lines, and meld them with stories that arewithin the lines.
20.Pro tennis is critical as an inspirational andaspirational game.
21. Ratings for Serenas US Open final matchwere like NFL numbers in some markets.
22. Tennis should have a commissioner. TheDavis and Fed Cups should be played during atwo-week competition every two years. EveryMasters 1000 should be paired with a womenstour event.
23.10 and Under works. You need great athletescoming into a sport that cant be learned inschools. The green ball is like an elixir. Thereshouldnt be a race to the yellow ball.
24. Playing multiple sports helps with move-ment, balance, and mechanics, and the risk ofinjury goes down. Its not clear whether playingmultiple sports helps in elite performance
or not.25.In 1978, 33 of the top 100 were Americans.Now there are just five.
26.Whats wrong with US tennis is whats rightwith tennis in the rest of the world.
27.Our top juniors are not making the transitionto pros. Our effort and professionalism is notwhat it used to be. Our hunger is not what itshould be.
28.The average age of teaching pros in Americais 50. The lesson books of most top pros arepacked.
29. The social element is what makes tennisengaging.
30.We are successful despite ourselves.
30 NUGGETSReprinted with permission from Inside Tennis/Bill Simons
QUOTEBOOK:
FROM FUTURE OF
TENNIS SUMMIT
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keep them clean throughout the
day. Make sure there is seating for
shoppers companions, too.
Even if your store is space chal-
lenged, make sure there is seating
located throughout your store for
significant others so they dontdistract shoppers!
Convene a quick morning staffmeeting before the doors are
opened to make sure the daysevents and schedule are reviewed
and discussed.
At the meeting, remind everyone:
To always wear their nametags.
That food and drink should stay
in the break area. To keep personal cell phones and
smart phones in their lockers for
use during breaks, in the break
area or outside the store.
To have a good time and deliverextraordinary shopping experi-
ences for customers!
To greet every shopper as soon
as they enter the store with a
smile and the three-letter word HOW! (as in, How can I help
you today?)
that way all day. Be prompt in pick-
ing up any litter or dirt, and instill
this in your staff, too.
Walk your aisles like shoppers will
and make sure they arent crowded
and dont give customers that
squeezed-in feeling. Also, make
sure a shopper pushing a babystroller can pass through the aisles
easily.
Look at your store displays to make
sure they arent blocking shoppers
line-of-sight and that your signsare visible and understandable as
guides to shoppers and as silent
sales tools.
Listen to the music played in yourstore and make sure it isnt too
loud, and that it is appropriate and
pleasant and sets an upbeat and
happy mood.
Inspect your stores restroom and
any other rooms to make sure they
are neat, clean and well-lighted
and make sure there is a clear plan
for keeping them that way all day,with specific staff assignments.
Inspect your dressing rooms with
the same care and make sure the
mirrors and the whole area is clean
and well-lighted. Again, assign a
staffer to check on these areas and
This is part of a series of retail tipspresented by the Tennis Industry As-
sociation and written by the Gluskin
Townley Group (www.gluskintown-
leygroup.com).
Marks of ExcellenceUse our checklist to make sure your customers alwaysfeel welcome and comfortable.
Retailing131
16 TennisIndustry June 2014 www.tennisindustrymag.com
Shoppers will decide in the first few
minutes if they are comfortable in
a retail store environment. If theyare comfortable they will stay longer,
and the longer they stay, the more they
will shop!
This is a checklist of things, some
critical and some just important, thattennis specialty store retailers can do
every day to make shoppers feel wel-
come and comfortable in their stores.
Inspect the outside entrance (or en-trances) to your store every morn-
ing before opening to make sure
everything is neat and clean.
Inspect your parking lot or parkingarea and make sure it is clean and all
litter has been picked up.
If you have a lawn or grass and other
plantings outside, make sure they
are trimmed and watered and lookgood. Remove and replace plants
that have died or are withered. Use
mulch on flower and shrub beds to
keep them looking sharp.
If you use potted plants inside your
store, make sure theyre healthy.
Get rid of dead and dying plants, and
pick up any leaves that may have
dropped.
Look at your main doors and win-
dows and make sure they are clean.
These are the eyes into your store.
Walk into your store like shopperswill and make sure the entrance is
open, well-lighted and not crowded
or intimidatingand as welcoming
as you can make it!
Make sure the floors are clean and
well maintained, and that they stay
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Apparel
18 TennisIndustry June 2014
AdidasStella McCartneys
two-tone Pinky
Coral dress for Adidassports a built-in bra
and shorts. Worn byCaroline Wozniacki,
this comfortable poly-
spandex single jersey
dress is available inJune.
adidas.com800-982-9337
Dress forthe Occasion
The dress is hot. In fact, some can go from court
to cocktails. Combos of pink, coral, rich blues andtaupes are signature colors for summer and beyond.Here are a few that will add a spring to your step.By Cynthia Sherman
BolleThe Wild Fire line
in coral and taupe is
part of Bolles high-performance line.
The color-blocked,figure-flattering dress
features embossed
boxes on the taupe in-
set, which comes overthe shoulders. Avail-
able mid-July.
bolletenniswear.com
301-362-0360
Eliza AudleyEliza Audleys cute
strappy Athena navydress with hot pink andorange trim features a
fun handkerchief-type
hemline, in a moisture-
wicking poly-spandex
blend. Also comes in hotpink with orange and
navy trim. Available in
July.
elizaaudley.com
262-691-4770
FilaGinny Hilfigers Heritage
Halter dress for Filasets the style for the USOpen, with a U-shaped
neckline, princess seams,
contrast border and
elastic belt. Zips at center
back. Stretch pique in anylon-spandex fabrica-
tion. Available in Lipstick
(pink) and Peacoatboth
with white.
fila.com
410-773-3000
TailTails Ashlyn Perfor-
mance jersey dress inhot pink and blue is apoly-spandex blend.
The bright color-
blocked dress also
features a colorful
print trim aroundthe arms, neck and
keyhole back. Comes
out in July.
tailactivewear.com
800-876-8245
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Racquet Technologies
20 TennisIndustry June 2014
Racquet manufacturers are constantly workingto improve their products. Sometimes, new
technologies can cross through all manufac-turers, such as wide-bodies and titanium.
Other technologies, though, are proprietary
and limited to one brand. Some are all-encompassing involv-
ing a totally new design (Prince O-Ports, for instance), whileothers are minor tweaks to improve a certain racquet or
previous technology.
As part of our effort to make sure that the USRSA Master
Racquet Technician program exemplifies the highest stan-
dard of professionalism in racquet service, MRTs are requiredto take an update test each year to ensure they are keeping up
with the latest technologies being introduced in the industry.
(Visit USRSA.com for more information on certification.)
Here are brief definitionsbased on manufacturersdescriptionsof the most recent technologies introduced byracquet brands.
Babolat Evo BeamVaried thickness of the beam, which is de-
signed to produce less torque at ball impact and betterresponsiveness.
Flex CarbonNew technology featured in the PureControl line. It has less density of carbon fibers for more
flexibility and offers more control at ball impact.
Stabilizer TechnologyA hybrid frame construction andstiff carbon fiber designed for improved torsional stability
at ball impact, leading to more precise shots. Strike Hybrid Frame ConstructionA mix of square and
elliptic construction designed to offer more responsiveness
at ball impact.
Responsive WooferProvides energy restitution thanksto a new material, PEBAX, injected into the grommets and
bumper.
X-SiderNew frame design that increases the sweetspotby 10 percent, adding more forgiveness on off-center hits.
Pacific BasaltX2 (BX2)The second generation of the BasaltX
technology, with 30 percent more basalt fibers within thesame material. It is designed to be 20 percent lighter in
overall weight, 28 percent stronger, and provide 20 percent
more vibration dampening.
Prince Extreme String Pattern (ESP)More open and aggres-sive string pattern designed to deliver up to 30 percent
more spin. ESP racquets are designed specifically for differ-
ent player types by adjusting the head size, weight, balance,
swing weight and stiffness along with the string pattern to
achieve the best performance.
Tecnifibre Synergy LinkThe use of polyurethane in the bumper,
which offers 18 percent additional shock absorption and
more comfort.
Velocity Shaft Design11 percent less beam size on the
shaft, designed to allow for more speed and spin versus astandard elliptic beam.
TechEnabled
Want to stay up on all the latestracquet innovations? Learn
what MRTs need to know tomaintain their high standards ofprofessionalism and service.By Bob Patterson
www.tennisindustrymag.com
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www.tennisindustrymag.com
Volkl Bio-Sensor Grip PinHandle
system featuring three different
dampening pin lengths and ma-
terials for three different player
profile groupsRecreational (RedSoft Pin, 7.72 cm); Intermediate
(Yellow Medium Pin, 7.72 cm) and
Tournament (Black Hard Pin, 3.81
cm).
Speed GrommetShaped grom-mets designed to allow string
movements in all directions with
no friction at the grommet wall
and no energy loss.
Super GrommetSpeed grom-mets with V-Sponse materialproviding more control by extend-
ing receive time. It increases the
sweetspot and produces more
speed by providing the best energy
return.
V-Sponse TechnologyA visco-elastic polymer material, similar
to Sorbothane, now used in the
patented Volkl Super grommet
system and bio-feel dampeningpin. It is 20 percent more flexible
than standard grommet and pin
material, and provides additional
dampening to the bio-feel grip
pin. It generates an increased
spring effect in the grommets.Has the lowest energy loss factor
of all thermoplastic elastomers.
V-Sponse is designed to provide
the best dampening and energy
return.
Wilson Parallel DrillingDrilling the
grommet holes parallel to each
other to allow for increase string
movement, which increases the
sweetspot size by up to 27 percent.
This provides more comfort, re-sponsiveness, and a forgiving feel.
Yonex Dual Shut SystemShockless
grommets at the bottom of the
frame reduce impact vibration,and Quake Shut Gel, which is
embedded inside the handle, is
designed to remove the more
subtle discomfort from the frame,
resulting in a 50 percent reduc-tion in vibration compared to
conventional models. Designed toimprove comfort and control.
June 2014 TennisIndustry 2
New IsometricEvolved IsometricTechnology with improved grom-
met system applying both deep and
shallow grooves inside of the frame.
This new Isometric technology is
designed to provide a maximumsweetspot.
New OPS (Oval Pressed Shaft)Features rounder shaft corners,
designed to provide an ideal level of
flex, while a wider shaft face increas-es stability, resulting in extended ball
dwell time for optimized ball spinand directional control.
Trans-Weight SystemIntegratesnew Nanometric material, which
improves the bonding strength
between carbon fibers at the centerand bottom of the frame, reducing
the weight shift to the top of the
frame. This results in a racquet head
that reacts faster for quicker maneu-
verability and produces the fastest
swing speed in Yonex history.
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June 2014 TennisIndustry 23
Grassroots Game
SectionStars!We offer our thanks and appreciation to these 17 volunteersand staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to growour sport. Compiled by Cindy Cantrell and Peter Francesconi
All 17 USTA sections are
dedicated to spreading
tennis at the grassroots
to delivering the programsthat will help bring people into the
game, keep them in the sport and
have them playing more frequently.
And in each section, there are
many dedicated staff and volun-teers who truly take tennis to heart.
They want to get more people play-
ing the game because they knowthe lifelong benefits that tennis can
bring.While we wont ever be able to
honor allof these dedicated and un-
selfish heroes of the sport in these
pages, we are pleased to recognize
at least some of the many section
stars who keep this game growing.
EASTERN
JEFF ROTHSTEIN
As director of junior develop-
ment and 10 and Under Tennis
at Centercourt Athletic Clubin Chatham, N.J., Jeff Rothstein has
embraced the importance of the
USTAs youth imperative and served
the Eastern Section admirably. He
is a member of the sections Board
of Directors and serves on its JuniorCompetition Committee.
Jeff stands out because of his atti-
tude, says Jill Fonte, Easterns execu-tive director. He is truly committed to
serving the section and the sport, and
in so doing, he is thoughtful, deliberate
and generous with his time.
Rothstein is also chair of the USTAsNational Junior Sportsmanship Sub-
committee, a Zonals and USTA High
Performance coach, and a USTA- and
ITA-certified official.
Wherever Jeff can serve tennis, heserves tennis, adds Julie Bliss, East-
erns senior director of competition.
He never fails to answer whenever weput out a call for help.
CARIBBEAN
ARLIN HERNANDEZ
Arlin Hernandez, a Spanishteacher and Army Reserve
soldier, began working for
USTA Caribbean as a messen-
ger in 2004. He was called
to active duty in Iraqthe following year, and
upon his return, was
promoted to TennisService Representative
to implement tennisprograms for schools,
communities and
minimum-security jails.
Hernandez was called up two
more times by the military, for which
he most recently served as captain in
charge of a large battalion in Afghani-stan. Now the TSR manager and com-
munity coordinator, he works on all
USTA programs and promotes
the sport among the wheel-
chair population and in
disadvantaged schoolsand regions. In fact, he
helped develop OlivenciaTennis, the 2013 NJTL/
USTA Chapter of the
Year Award winner.Dedicated to serving his
country, Hernandez also is
dedicated to serving this sport,
promoting the game and developing all
individuals.
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24 TennisIndustry June 2014
Grassroots Game
FLORIDA
SCOTT COLEBOURNE
S
oon after Scott Colebournebecame director of tennis at the
Omni Amelia Island Planta-tion in 2012, he committed to
making tournament tennis
a better entry-level
experience for youthand families. And those
discussions were the
beginning of the USTA
Florida Earned Ad-
vancement Pathway.Colebourne is PTR-
certified in adult and junior
development, and USTA-
certified in junior programming. He
is a national tester and tournament
director, and has coached nationally
ranked juniors and sectional winning
USTA adult teams. As a junior, he wasnationally ranked in the Top 5
in New Zealand.
What I admire and
respect about Scott themost is that he gets it,
says Andy McFarland,
associate executive di-
rector of USTA Florida.
He gets how we have
to offer and provide morequality play and competi-
tion opportunities for kids. Hes
a special breed of tennis teacher that
sees a bigger picture.
INTERMOUNTAIN
JON
MESSICK
Encouraging Jon Messick to dis-cuss his lifelong love of tennis is
easy. Getting him to talk about
his numerous accomplishments as
Colorado StateUniversitys
head womens
tennis coach,
or his role as a
distinguishedleader in Colo-
rados tennis
community, is
more difficult.
When Jonspeaks, people
listen, but you wont hear him tak-
ing any of the credit that he rightly
deserves for the progress of USTA
Intermountain programs, says In-termountain Executive Director Rob
Scott. Hes much too humble.
As a Division I coach for 29 years,
Messick has touched the lives of count-
less student-athletes. A board member
and former president of USTA Inter-mountain, USTA Colorado and the
Colorado Wheelchair Tennis Founda-tion, he has influenced countless others
to embrace the physical, psychological
and social benefits tennis has to offer.Im just glad I have been able to
serve those organizations, Messick
says, and hopefully contribute to what
they have been able to do.
Wendy Anderson
HAWAII PACIFIC
PETER DUNGCA
Leading the way in the latest
and greatest initiatives to grow
tennis, Peter Dungca is the ace
in the Hawaii Pacific Section.
After success in teachingadults at the local park,
Dungca turned his
focus to serving youthtennis. Six years
later, he organizedthe Makiki Junior
Tennis Club, which
has become a hub for
youngsters in Honolulu.
Dungca, who has em-
braced 10 and Under Tennis,
is involved in school tennis, tennis
festivals, Play Days, junior tourna-
ments and Junior Team Tennis, which
uses red, orange and green balls
and integrates fun games. He
welcomes parents on thecourt, developing them
into volunteer coaches tosupport the growth of the
program.
In addition, Dungcamanages the Waikiki
Tennis Club, volunteers
with the Ala Moana Park
Wheelchair Tennis program and
continues his adult programs.
MID-ATLANTIC JANET PAULSEN
How does a professionalopera singer become general
manager of the largest indoor
court tennis facility in the Mid-Atlan-
tic region? Through passion, hard workand a sense of fun.
Janet Paulsen has been running the
Green Spring Racquet Club in Lu-
therville, Md., for the past eight years,
offering a variety of USTA programs,
10 and Under Tennis, tournaments anda USTA Competitive Training Center.
In 2014, the club hosted two national-
level junior tournaments.
To give back to the tennis commu-nity, Paulsen established the nonprofit
Green Spring Tennis and Educational
Foundation, which runs USTA Adult
Leagues and USTA Junior Team Ten-
nis, in addition to a variety of commu-nity outreach and adaptive tennis pro-
grams. The foundation also provides
full and partial financial assistance for
disadvantaged participants.
Paulsen aims to continue to grow thegame of tennis, with plans to empha-
size outreach programswhich hits all
the right notes for this sport.
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June 2014 TennisIndustry 2
MIDDLE STATES BRUCE LEVINE
MIDWEST
JEFF & BRYAN SMITH
You may catch a glimpse of Jeff
or Bryan Smith courtside at
Wimbledon or the US Open,
but youll also see themcheering on their students
who are playing at some
of the premier colleges
and universities in the
country.Jeff and Bryan, a
father and son coaching
team based on the southside of Indianapolis, are
one of the most successfulcoaching operations in the USTA
Midwest Section. Even without their
own training facility, they continually
produce nationally ranked juniors,
many of them state champions,who drive hours for their
daily or weekly lessons.
Bryan says its all about
helping kids achieve
their greatest potential.Theres a focus on get-
ting them to take pride
in working hard, he says,and thinking that theres
no other place they would want
to be. Tracy Maymon
NEW ENGLAND
MICHAELMERCIER
Michael Mercier is the head ten-
nis professional at HarvardUniversity, but his more than
two decades of
involvement in
wheelchair tennis
at every levello-cal, sectional and
nationalhas led
to many honorsand much recog-
nition, includingbeing named
Tennis Industry
magazines 2008
Wheelchair Ten-
nis Champion of the Year.
Mike has been an active, devoted,energetic and passionate volunteer for
decades, says Heather Anastos, USTA
NE director of competitive tennis and
interim co-executive director. His
efforts include growing tennis not onlythrough introducing new people to the
sport, but also by helping those with
disabilities learn how they can find a new
avenue to make friends and stay fit.
Currently, Mercier chairs New Eng-lands Wheelchair Tennis Committee
and is a member of the national Tennis
on Campus Committee. But he also
has long assisted USTA NE with many
initiatives and projects. This year, he iscoordinating the first-ever league team
at the 3.0 level with a wheelchair player
as a member.
MISSOURI VALLEY
SCOTT HANOVER
Scott Hanover, who is in his
second term as president of Mis-
souri Valley, has been a longtime
supporter of the sport through hisinvolvement in district, sec-
tional and national USTA
committees. The direc-
tor of tennis at thePlaza Tennis Center
in Kansas City, Mo.,
he is also a member
of the Section Board
of Directors, and the
USTA National CTAand Tennis in the Parks
Committee.
An accomplished 4.0 singles,
doubles and mixed doubles player,
Hanover organizes, conducts and
competes in WTT Rec Leagues, USTA
Flex Leagues, wheelchair training and10 and Under Tennis workshops.
His professional involve-
ment in tennis began in
1987, as an activities direc-
tor overseeing leaguesand tournaments at the
former Racquet Club
West in Des Moines, Iowa.
His long list of awards
and recognitions includesthe USTA Missouri Valleys
Distinguished Service Award in
2013. Andrew Robinson
Considering his vast involve-
ment throughout the tennis
community, Bruce Levinesinfluence on tennis is difficult to docu-
ment. Simply put, hes as influential asthey come.
The general manager of Courtside
Racquet Club in New Jersey, Levine
has done a bit of everything in thetennis industry. From high-level coach
and player to equipment adviser for
Tennis magazine, his involvement in-
cludes board positions at USTA Middle
States and USPTA Middle States, as
well as leadership roles within the Ten-
nis Industry Association retail group
and the Cardio Tennis Global Team.
Levines impact locally has spurred
the growth of a multitude of tennisprogramming. He speaks on the busi-
ness benefits of USTA programs, and
how those programs have been a cata-
lyst for growth in his own business.Levines special events, which
include fundraisers and special clin-
ics, are some of the strongest in the
section. A popular and highly effective
tennis instructor, his players continue
to come back for more.
Michael Gladysz
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26 TennisIndustry June 2014
Grassroots Game
NORTHERN
LES ZELLMANN
I
n the town of St. James, Minn., LesZellmann noticed a shift in de-
mographics as more Hispanicfamilies began relocating to the
small western town with a
population of 4,500. As the
activities administratorat the local high school,
the boys and girls ten-
nis coach and president
of the St. James CTA,
Zellmann focused oninvolving this ever-growing
community in tennis.
Through personal conversa-
tions, free clinics, Hispanic mentorships,
scholarships, discounted equipment and
special tennis events, he has sparked a
tennis revolution in St. James.
If we can get even one additionalfamily member involved with our
programs, he says, we stand a
greater chance of getting the
rest of the family involved.As his programs continue
to grow, what advice would
Zellmannwho won the
USTA Northern Community
Service Award in 2013give
to other small-town com-munities hoping to attract more
diverse populations to tennis? Em-
brace the challenge. There is no magic.
Just keep at it. Lisa Mushett
PACIFIC
NORTHWEST
JANA
HIRST
Thousands of people play
USTA League tennis in
Northern Oregon and
now, with the help of USTA LocalLeague
Coordina-
tor Jana
Hirst, a few
thousandmore are
enjoying
the ben-
efits of the
program.Hirst
earned
national honors for the USTA
league coordinator with the
highest increase of participantsfrom 2012 to 2013. The number of
player registrations in Northern
Oregon increased from 7,836 in
2012 to 9,633 in 2013. Northern
Oregon was also ranked in the top
10 nationally for highest increasein unique league players out of
approximately 330 local areas inthe 17 USTA sections.
Hirst has been a USTA league
coordinator for over a decade,and for all her help in growing the
sport, she will be honored by the
USTA at the 2014 Semiannual
Meeting in New York this sum-
mer, during the US Open.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
LINDA PELTZ
San Francisco native Linda Peltz is
the epitome of service and dedica-
tion to tennis in Northern Califor-
nia. After earning her PTR certifica-
tion in 1992, she has taughttennis to children in after-
school programs, coached a
high school novice tennisteam, and began a tennis
program at the CaliforniaSchool for the Deaf. She is
a NorCal board member
and has served on 10 USTA
NorCal committees and two
USTA National committees.
Peltz was named Leagues Volun-
teer of the Year and also presented with
the inaugural USTA Northern California
Betty Cookson Lifetime Achievement
Award. In addition, she has chaired the
annual Celebrity Tennis Classic
for five years, raising morethan $1 million for the Alta
Bates Summit MedicalCenter.
The impact Linda has
had on our tennis commu-nity has been enormous,
says Steve Leube, NorCal
executive director. She is a
great example of giving back to a
sport that has given so much to her.
SOUTHERN PAT DEVOTO
In 1980, Pat Devoto was among asmall group of volunteers who
jumpstarted USTA League Ten-
nis, a grassroots innovation that has
grown into a national program of500,000 players. But that was just the
beginning of her involvement in the
USTA.
Devoto has been vice president of
USTA Georgia, president of USTA
Atlanta, Southerns state league co-ordinator and a member of the USTA
League Committee.
She founded and has served as the
tournament director of the Atlanta-based Southern Cities Championship
for 17 years, which has raised thou-
sands of dollars for charities. The win-
ner of the 2013 Jacobs Bowl and 2005
Charlie B. Morris Jr. Service Award,she is also involved in the Reading for
Racquets program and teaches female
inmates to read and play tennis at a
state prison in Montgomery.
An accomplished author, her lat-est novel, The Team, is aboutnot
surprisinglya womens tennis team.
Ron Cioffi PHOTO
BYTREYLOVE/ALL-AMERICAN
IMAGIN
G
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June 2014 TennisIndustry 2
SOUTHWEST TRACY LAWSON
Long hours on tennis courts in
blazing desert sun might not
sound like rewarding work tosome, but to Phoenixs Tracy
Lawson, its a life force.
Lawson, an instructor
at Ahwatukee Tennis
Center, has been amainstay in junior
tennis for a decade.
Yet her biggestinfluence has been in
the volunteer realm. Shehas served as volunteer
president of USTA Central
Arizona and on several committees
for USTA Southwest, including her
current role as the sections junior
competition chair. She has also been
a mainstay instructor and organizer
for USTA junior developmentcamps, is part of the USTA 10
& Under Tennis Workshop
Faculty nationally, hosts
local tennis Play Days and
has been instrumental inthe development of USTA
Central Arizonas success-ful 10 & Under Slam Series
of events.
Giving back, and encourag-ing kids to find their own love of
tennis, doesnt feel like work, she says.
Its what I love to do. Jeff Sikes
TEXAS EMILY COXE
In 1987, Emily Coxe played in her
first USTA League in Omaha, Neb.
She has continued participating
each year since, becoming increas-ingly involved in enriching
local tennis opportunities
along the way.
Coxe began her vol-unteer work with the
Omaha Tennis Associa-
tion and Womens In-
ner Club League. After
moving to Beaumont,
Texas, she led a strongTexas Community Tennis
Association as president for
two years, and as a board member for
eight years, while enhancing the pub-
lic tennis facilities and the Southeast
Texas Tennis Association. A league
coordinator for nine years, Coxe washonored with the USTA Texas
Section Community Service
Award in 2011.
Besides her involve-
ment in three Texas sec-tion committees, as well
as the City of Beaumont
Parks and Rec Commit-
tee, Coxe enjoys playing
the sport with her familyand friends and vacationing
to tennis-related events such
as the US Open. Janet Wuerpel
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
MARK McCAMPBELL
M
ark McCampbell has beenMr. Oxnard Tennis Center
(OTC) since he took overthe eight lighted courts,
clubhouse, pro shop and
locker-room facility
from his brother, John,in 1989. OTC is public
park to its Southern
California core.
I am proudest of the
fact that we have takenso many LA84/NJTL
beginners to Junior Team
Tennis to tournament competi-
tors, he says, while noting the myriad
of lesson, league tennis and tourna-
ment opportunities for adults.
Elite juniors have showcased hisTennis mAcademy. OTC is
also the home of the Cen-
tral Coast area Competi-
tive Training Center.A Zonal coach for 15
years, McCampbell has
served on the Ventura
County Junior Tennis
Association board, host-
ed college and universityseminars and co-founded the
All-Star Tennis League.
Mark Winters
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Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards
28 TennisIndustry June 2014
Private PracticeThese residential winners areexcellent examples of tennis-courtconstruction.
Harrison Residence
Hobart, Wis.
(Nominated by Munson Inc., Glendale, Wis.)
General Contractor: Munson Inc.
Consultant: Fred Kolkmann Tennis & Sports Surfaces
Lighting: Har-Tru Sports
Backboard: Bakko
Windscreen, Net, Posts:J.A. Cissel
For details on the 2014 Outstanding Facility-of-the-Year Awards, contact the ASBAat 866-501-ASBA or [email protected], or visit www.sportsbuilders.org.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
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The six residential winners of the Tennis Industry/AmericanSports Builders Association distinguished Facility-of-the-Year
Awards for 2013 are all new construction, and two of them
are unique in that they involved building two-court facilities.
One involves a residence with two clay courts, for training pro
and aspiring players, and the other is a residence that now has a clay court and
a hard court, for training a top junior. So, five of the eight courts in these six
projects are clay.
In Boca Raton, Fla.,the customer wanted to accommodate his childrens
sporting desires, including his daughter, who is a nationally ranked junior
player. Since much of the girl's time was spent traveling and playing tourna-
ments on different surfaces, the owner decided to maximize her court time and
build new hard and clay courts at home. The all-weather cushioned hard court
and the sub-irrigated clay court at their residence are tournament quality, as is
the court lighting. The fencing system allows for easy preparation and retrac-
tion of the windscreens in case of strong winds. The customer also included
a video system with an all-weather courtside monitor to analyze play on the
courts, and which doubles as a security surveillance system.
After much discussion with the town, the Harrison Residence in Hobart,
Wis., got a new hard court, but due to setback requirements, the overall court
dimensions had to be reduced slightly from the standard 120 by 60 feet to fit
against two existing property lines. Elevation difference between the court
surface and the owners access point at driveway level, which was several feet
higher, also posed challenges, including facility and site drainage issues. The
result, though, meets all codes and blends well into the surrounding area. To
top it off, a personalized logo was added.
The site for the Har-Tru court at the Keith Residence in Cookeville,
Tenn., was a former horse pen, but the owner sold the horses and decided tobuild a tennis court, which has live, or angled, corners. Consequently, there
already was a firmly compacted crush screenings base prior to construction,
which was close to being on grade. Space was tight in the 120-foot direction due
to an access road on one side and a hill on the other side. Rip-rap backfill was
used to shore up the slopes.
The project at Southwest Ranches, Fla.,involved building a battery of two
new Har-Tru courts, both with conventional sprinkler irrigation. The owner
is a tennis pro and uses the courts to train and condition professional and
prospective tour players, including his own daughter. A courtside entertaining
area was built around a large tree, which includes an elevated viewing platform.
A custom fence system allows for the retraction of the fence/screens to open
the court up for parties and also allows for easier preparation for hurricanes.
The new HydroGrid sub-surface irrigated court atVilla Terese in Braden-ton, Fla.,also included installing lighting, fencing and 6-foot green wind-
screen, on a beautiful piece of property with great access for construction.
Angled corners soften the look. The subbase material is of existing soils, and for
drainage around the exterior, a 24-inch poly drain moves water to a large catch
basin.
The new post-tensioned concrete court at the Welch Residencein Scott-
sdale, Ariz., which also includes high-end basketball goals, had only one pos-
sible location in the suburban setting. Unfortunately, access to the area was
extremely limited due to concrete block walls that divided several properties,
essentially creating a narrow corridor with several tight turns that required
precise manipulation of large equipment with experienced drivers and opera-
tors. But this design-build project turned out great.
Peter Francesconi
June 2014 TennisIndustry 2 www.tennisindustrymag.com
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30 TennisIndustry June 2014
Keith Residence
Cookeville, Tenn.
(Nominated by Baseline Sports Construction LLC, Knoxville, Tenn.)
General Contractor:Baseline Sports Construction LLC
Surface, Lines:Har-Tru SportsLights:LSI Industries
Windscreen:Putterman Athletics
Net Posts:Edwards/Athletic Connection
Southwest Ranches Residence
Southwest Ranches, Fla.
(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Architect/Engineer/General Contractor:Fast-Dry Courts Inc.
Surface: Har-Tru Sports
Lighting:Techlight
Court Equipment: Fast-Dry Courts/10-S Tennis Supply
Villa Terese
Bradenton, Fla.
(Nominated by Welch Tennis Courts Inc., Sun City, Fla.)
General/Specialty Contractor:Welch Tennis Courts Inc.
Surface: Har-Tru Sports
Sub-Surface Irrigation:Welch HydroGrid System
Nets, Posts, Windscreen:Welch Tennis Courts
Welch Residence
Scottsdale, Ariz.
(Nominated by General Acrylics Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.)
General Contractor:General Acrylics Inc.
Lighting:LSI Industries
Nets, Posts:Douglas Industries
Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Boca Raton Residence
Boca Raton, Fla.
(Nominated by Fast-Dry Courts Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Architect/Engineer/Contractor:Fast-Dry Courts Inc.
Surface:Har-Tru Sports, DecoTurfLighting:Techlight
Court Accessories: Fast-Dry Courts/10-S Tennis Supply
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QBabolat Playmodifications
If I add weight to the upper
end of the hoop of my Babolat Play
racquet, I should get more power, just
like on a normal racquet. However,BabolatPlay.com says: If you use lead
tape, you could lower your power
rating. The Power index is related to
the speed of the racquet's head. If you
add weight, the speed will decreaseslightly and your movement will be
slower.
But what happens if I swing the
racquet at the same speed even with
the additional weight?
AYoull get more power, but the
racquet-head speed you are
generating is not the same
racquet-head speed Babolat is referringto in the text you quote.
The more mass you add to your
racquet, the more difficult it is to ac-
celerate and decelerate. Your Babolat
Play racquet does measure the speed ofyour swing, but it also measures racquet
deceleration on impact. This is where it
becomes a bit counter-intuitive.
The power to which you refer isdue to the force you impart to the ball
thanks to Newtons Second Law of Mo-
tion, which states that force equals mass
times acceleration. On impact, the rac-
quet decelerates slightly, as it transfersenergy to the ball. The more mass you
add to the upper end of the hoop, the less
your racquet will decelerate on impact,
which fools Babolat Play, because it is
precisely calibrated to the mass andmass distribution of the racquet as
shipped from the factory.
If there was a way of measuring the
acceleration and deceleration of the ball
at the same time as Babolat Play was
measuring the acceleration and decel-eration of the racquet, youd have the
complete picture. But without sensors
in the ball, Babolat Play can tell you only
its side of the story.The good news is that, unless you add
a lot of mass to the hoop, the numbers
you get from Babolat Play will still be
close to those you get from an unmodi-fied racquet.
QBabolat PlaypercentagesBabolat Play rates the power
on my strokes as a percentage. Per-centage of what?
AYour strokes
are rated as apercentage of
the highest reading in
the Babolat Play com-
munity. Babolat does
not officially state whohas the highest read-
ing in most categories,
although weve been told
Your Equipment Hotline
Ask theExperts
32 TennisIndustry June 2014 www.tennisindustrymag.com
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that your serve is shown as a percent-
age of an Andy Roddick serve (136.7mph), and your forehand is shown as a
percentage of a Rafael Nadal forehand.
The only known person behind the
data is in the case of the Pulse, the
highest reading of which is currently
held by Rafael Nadal. Keep in mind
that to maximize your Pulse rating youneed to play as often as possible, for as
long as possible.
QBabolat Playdata retention
Does the Play racquet
delete data from hitting sessions
after transfer to the display device
or does it retain data from previoussessions?
AYes, the Babolat Play racquet
conserves space on the rac-
quet and deletes the sessionafter downloading the data from any
recent sessions.
QBabolat Playdata location
Where is the data stored
after you transfer it to my display
device? In other words, is it just on