PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES ORGANIZATIONS STRING PLAYTEST ADAPTIVE TENNIS

Reaching inside Brian Hainline leads Velociti Catalyst is Adapt your teaching to
prisons to share a new USTA Board of the industry’s first help players with mobility
pickleball passion Directors slate biodegradable string and cognitive issues

THE CHAMPS
January 2023 / Volume 51 / Number 1 /$5.00

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Our annual awards recognize the
many heroes who continue to make a
difference for players and fans.

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Contents January 2023

DEPARTMENTS
4 Our Serve
7 Industry News
22 Pickleball
24 Tips & Techniques
26 String Playtest:
Velociti Catalyst 16
29 Champions of Tennis
54 Adaptive Tennis

INDUSTRY NEWS
7 USPTA, Wilson to part ways
following 7-year partnership
7 USTA announces slate for
2023-24 Board of Directors
7 Universal Tennis adds p-ball
rating, management systems
8 USTA, Athleta partner to
empower women & girls
8 After 57 years, TENNIS
Magazine ends print edition
9 Babolat debuts two new
frames in the Evo line
10 Short Sets
11 ICP introduces 'CoolTop'
pigment to CSS product lineup
11 McMahon launches initiative
for young rac sport pros
11 Aer-Flo Sports opens new
facility in Alabama
12 Racquet, shoe, string sales
at speciality stores
14 Hall of Fame CEO Todd
Martin resigns, joins Beemok CONGRATULATIONS TO:
14 2 pickleball tours to merge MIKE MCNULTY • STEAMBOAT TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL CENTER • JEFF WILLIAMS • GAME-SET-MATCH • LAURA CANFIELD
to form team-based league TROY RUDOLPH/ELITE SPORTS BUILDERS • MALIVAI WASHINGTON YOUTH FOUNDATION • BARNES TENNIS CENTER
15 Peoplewatch DAVID DWELLE • JODIE ADAMS • COLUMBUS REGIONAL TENNIS ASSOCIATION • NICK TAYLOR • ROBERT SASSEVILLE
16 Westminster Dog Show to be DELAINE MAST • ALBERT MURATA • TENNIS-POINT • CITY OF LOS ANGELES • JOYCE DRESLIN
held at USTA BJK NTC GRASSROOTS TENNIS & EDUCATION • MELISSA MCCORKLE • US OPEN WHEELCHAIR CHPS. • NIGEL PUGH
WHITNEY YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL • GIRLS RULE THE COURT • CARRIE ZARRAONANDIA • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–KEARNEY
16 Midwest's Saunders retires,
USTA INTERMOUNTAIN
Docktor is new CEO

PLUS

58 CEO Message
p.57
62 First Vice President
Message
58 62 69 72 65 USPTA Reflections
Renowned An Update Are You Devastation 69 Communication
Tennis Historian on the Leaving to Hope: Connections
Steve Flink Joins USPTA Money Leveraging
AddVantage Foundation On the Table? USPTA's Network 71 Member Benefits

72 Member Feature
Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
76 Membership Update

2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 ®

OFFICIAL
SURFACE OF sportmaster.net | (800) 395-7325
 OurServe
EDITOR'S NOTE PUBLISHER
KEN SOLOMON

Continuing EDITOR

to Inspire
PETER FRANCESCONI

MANAGING EDITOR
SCOTT GRAMLING

RSI’s Champions of Tennis CREATIVE DIRECTOR

are an annual celebration of

IAN KNOWLES

SENIOR EDITOR

the good in this industry. ED McGROGAN

ART DIRECTOR
CRHISTIAN RODRIGUEZ

 R
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
BOB PATTERSON

ecently, I attended both
the USPTA World Confer-
ence in New Orleans and
the PTR International
and this industry. And that is just thrilling
to see.
When we started our Champions of
Tennis awards in 2000, I felt at the time
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
KIM BASTABLE, CYNTHIA CANTRELL,
PEG CONNOR, DAVID LASOTA, JUDY LEAND,
KENT OSWALD, CYNTHIA SHERMAN,
MARY HELEN SPRECHER

Tennis Symposium in that we as an industry weren’t doing all we CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Indian Wells—both terrific events that
play key roles in this industry. Not only
did both have great educational presenta-
tions, but the networking opportunities
were excellent. I was happy to be able
to connect, and re-connect, with many
people in this industry.
After the awards dinner at the PTR
event, as tables were being cleared, a few of
us old-timers lingered, chatting about the
business. Paul Roetert, the USTA’s manag-
ing director of USTA-U and a longtime
influence in tennis and sports, mentioned
that it was nice to see people who have
weathered the storms in tennis over the
years and remained in this industry.
That got me thinking about the people
whose paths I’ve crossed, and followed,
in this business over the last few decades,
and how many of them—most of them,
actually—still continue to soldier on in the
racquet sports industry, helping to grow
tennis, create excitement for the game
and bring more people into the sport.
Then, I started thinking about RSI’s
Champions of Tennis awards, and all our
past winners. This issue marks the 22nd
edition of our annual awards. In the past,
we’ve published the “honor roll” that
lists all our winners over the years (and
we’ll run that list again soon). Today, the
number of past Champions of Tennis win-
ners has swelled to over 400 individuals,
organizations and companies.
Importantly, many of our Champions
could to honor those who were helping to
make this sport vital—the many unsung
heroes who give all they can, and espe-
cially those who volunteer. So we figured,
as the largest trade magazine in tennis,
we would do what we can to bring these
heroes to light.
Along the way, we’ve made some amaz-
ing discoveries and uncovered many
winners that serve as inspirations and
resources for others in this business. But
what is particularly satisfying is when I
receive a note or a call from one of our
winners, who tell me that the recogni-
tion they received as an RSI Champion of
Tennis helped revitalize their program,
or helped them gain funding, or, in one
remarkable case, actually helped save an
NJTL program. My one regret is that we
just don’t have the room to celebrate all
the many heroes in our industry.
We are, unapologetically, cheerleaders
for our sport and industry. Sure, things
aren’t all rosy all the time, and we clearly
need to be cognizant of that. But we
always should celebrate the good.
It’s the people in this industry who
make it all worthwhile for all of us, and—
whether honored in these pages or not—
are the true Champions of Tennis. •
Peter Francesconi
Editor
Peter@TennisIndustryMag.com
DAVID KENAS
EDITORIAL DIRECTION
10TEN MEDIA
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
60 East 42nd St., Suite 740, NY NY 10165
info@tennisindustrymag.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
JOHN HANNA
770-650-1102, x125
hanna@knowatlanta.com
SALES DIRECTOR
RORY ELLIS
914-715-8896
acellis@tennis.com
APPAREL ADVERTISING
CYNTHIA SHERMAN
203-558-5911
cstennisindustry@gmail.com
Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per
year: monthly, January through August with combined
issues in September/October and November/
December, by Tennis Channel, Inc., 60 East 42nd St.,
Suite 740, New York NY 10165. Periodical postage
paid in Duluth, GA and at additional mailing offices
(USPS #004-354). January 2023, Volume 51, Number
1 © 2023 by Tennis Channel, Inc. All rights reserved.
Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and logo are trademarks
of Tennis Channel, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone
advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation
and editorial: 646-381-8735. Yearly subscriptions
$25 in the U.S., $40+ elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to Racquet Sports Industry, 60 East
42nd St., Suite 740, New York NY 10165. Racquet
Sports Industry 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.

are still involved in this business, still

doing all they can to promote this sport

4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023 www.tennisindustrymag.com

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IndustryNews Information to help you run your business
TENNIS PROFESSIONALS
USPTA, Wilson To Part Ways
Following 7-Year Partnership
A
fter a seven-year relation-
ship, the USPTA and Wilson
Sporting Goods are parting
ways. Following internal
changes within Wilson, the equipment
company made the decision in October
to move away from its endorsement
deal with the teaching pro organization.
Wilson has been the official equipment
supplier of the USPTA, providing rac-
quets, balls, strings and other equipment
C O U RT E S Y U S TA /J E N N I F E R P O T T H E I S E R
for USPTA members and programs.
A statement from the USPTA says
Wilson plans to channel its resources
into more direct relationships in the
future, and have expressed that they
will continue their ongoing support of
USPTA professionals who are on the
current Wilson Advisory staff.
The announcement came within
days of Wilson ousting Hans-Martin
Reh, the longtime General Manager–
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Racquets Sports. In his place, the com-
pany promoted 22-year Wilson veteran
Jason Collins to Global General Manager
of Racquet Sports. Collins was formerly
the Senior Director of Global Product.
“Most [USPTA] members are aware
of the long-term relationship that I have
had with Wilson, both personally and
professionally,” said USPTA CEO John
Embree. “USPTA has played a significant
role in Wilson’s success over the years,
so this decision to move on from our
endorsement is disappointing. But we
will find new ways to best support
our members.”
The shared focus for the USPTA and
Wilson to bring excitement back into the
tennis marketplace was widely support-
ed and there have been multiple points
in time that the two entities partnered
together, both benefitting each time, said
the USPTA statement.
IndustryNews
USTA Announces New Slate
For 2023-24 Board of Directors
Dr. Brian Hainline (above) of the Mid-
west Section leads the new slate as USTA
Chairman of the Board and President for
the 2023-2024 Board of Directors. The
new board begins its two-year term on
Jan. 1. Also selected for the slate:
• Brian Vahaly of Mid-Atlantic as First Vice
President
• Laura Canfield of Middle States as a Vice
President
• Kathleen Francis of Eastern as a Vice
President
• J. Christopher Lewis of Southern
California as the Secretary-Treasurer
• Directors at Large will be:
Jeffrey M. Baill of Northern, Violet Clark
of Midwest, Maggie Chan Jones of
New England, William McGugin of
Southern, Emily S. Schaefer of Texas,
Bobby Sharma of Eastern
• Elite Athletes on the new board are:
Liezel Huber of Middle States,
Vania King of Southern California,
Megan Moulton-Levy of Mid-Atlantic.
• The immediate past president is Mike
McNulty of Southern.
Universal Tennis Adds P-Ball
Rating, Management Systems
Starting in early 2023, Universal Tennis
will add pickleball to its existing event man-
agement software and will introduce a new
pickleball rating. The company, which cre-
ated the UTR rating system for tennis, said
its goal is to serve as a one-stop shop for all
pickleball and tennis tournaments, includ-
ing matchplay, draws, results, schedules,
statistics, player profiles and ratings.
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7
IndustryNews

USTA, Athleta Partner To opportunities for women of all

Empower Women & Girls
The USTA recently announced a multi-
year sponsorship with Athleta that will see
the women’s and girls’ performance lifestyle
brand serve as an official sponsor of USTA
League, USTA Player Development Teaching
Professional Initiatives and the USTA Foun-
dation Excellence Girls’ Team. The partner-
ship was announced on Oct. 11, which was
International Day of the Girl, and will aim to
empower women and girls and reach new
audiences of active tennis players.
“Athleta is proud to add USTA to our roster
of purpose-driven partners,” says Athleta Pres-
ident and CEO Mary Beth Laughton. “Between
our innovative tennis product and accessories,
expanding access to girls from underserved
communities, and focusing on more diversity
in the next generation of leaders in tennis
coaching, this partnership is poised to make a
significant impact on the sport.”
“All three of the USTA initiatives that
Athleta will be partnering with us on are
areas where the USTA is trying to open more
backgrounds,” adds USTA CEO and
Executive Director Lew Sherr.
.
TENNIS Magazine
Ends Print Edition
The November/December 2022
edition of TENNIS Magazine is the
final print version of the publica-
tion, ending a 57-year run. The re-
cently retired Serena Williams and
Roger Federer graced the cover.
The announcement was made
on the last page by longtime
writer Steve Tignor, who invites
readers to explore content at
TENNIS.com, which can offer
more coverage in a timelier fash-
ion, with a global viewpoint.
“What won’t change,” writes
Tignor, “is our commitment to
the goal that TENNIS’ original
editor set: To give our sport the
undivided attention it doesn’t get
anywhere else.”

74% of the
88% of parents Program
are extremely Directors see
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ACEing in motor
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ACEing Autism programs help children on the

spectrum develop motor skills, confidence, and fitness
ACEing Autism is growing across the country to serve
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ACEing Autism is on a mission for children with autism to grow, develop and benefit
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from social connections and fitness through affordable tennis programming.

8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023

 IndustryNews

EQUIPMENT

Babolat Debuts 2 New

Frames in the Evo Line

T
 
he newest racquet models
from Babolat include the
Evo Aero and the Evo Aero
Lite. They’re designed
for players “who enjoy the physical
and self-improvement challenges of
tennis,” and are looking for a perfor-
mance racquet that provides easy
power and comfort, says the manu-
facturer, or for junior players transi-
tioning to their first adult racquet.
The Evo frames feature a larger
head size (102 square inches) and vibration dampening, says Babolat.
are designed to supply more power The Aero has a new 16 x 18 string
to return shots deep into the court. pattern, weighs 9.7 ounces, and has a
A viscoelastic material (“SMAC EX suggested retail price of $189 (strung).
technology”) in four key areas of the The Aero Lite is 9.2 ounces and $169
frame add comfort with increased (strung). Visit Babolat.com.

www.tennisindustrymag.com January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9

IndustryNews
Short
Sets
Switzerland defeated Australia, 2-0,
to win the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup
Championship in November, held in
Glasgow. It is the first time Switzerland
has won the competition, formerly called
the Fed Cup.
Sportsmen's Tennis & Enrichment
Center in Dorchester, Mass., recently
broke ground on a $5 million expan-
sion. The project will enclose four of the
facility’s existing seven outdoor tennis
courts—enabling more year-round play
and providing additional revenue for the
nonprofit, which was recently named the
USTA Foundation’s National Junior Tennis
& Learning Chapter of the Year. Phase II of
the project will establish the Bud Collins
Welcome Center, named after the famed
THERE IS ALWAYS TIME TO PLAY.
iGENIE Ball Machine
Stan Oley, Product Marketing Specialist
HalfPage-InsideTennis.indd 1
10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
tennis journalist and longtime supporter
of Sportsmen’s.
Gainbridge Insurance Agency recently
signed on as the new official title partner
of the Billie Jean King Cup. The new part-
nership will provide further support for
the ITF’s Advantage All program, which
focuses on developing and maintaining
tennis as an equal advantage sport for all.
Takeya USA, the Southern California-
based global hydration and fitness brand,
has been named the Official Water Bottle
of the Minto US Open Pickleball Champi-
onships. The event, which attracts nearly
3,000 players and is televised on CBS
Sports Network, will be played from
April 15 to 22 in Naples, Fla.
FREE
iGenie
DEMO
TM
Recipes for Tennis: How to Prepare a
Tennis Game That Will Impress Your Every
Opponent is a new book by tennis profes-
sional Mike Sprengelmeyer designed to
help players at every level develop a solid
foundation for their games. The paper-
back is available on Amazon.com.
Lexus was the presenting sponsor of
the Association of Pickleball Profession-
als 2022 APP Sunmed Hilton Head Open,
which was held in October at Palmetto
Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center in Hilton
Head Island, S.C.
The Professional Pickleball Association
has partnered with Molson Coors Bever-
age Company to make Vizzy the “Official
Hard Seltzer of the PPA Tour.”
playmatetennis.com
(800) 776-6770
11/17/19 2:19 PM

ICP Introduces ‘CoolTop’ Pigment
Technology to CSS Product Lineup
The newest addition to ICP’s California
Sports Surfaces brand is CoolTop Cool Pig-
ment Technology. This new range of vibrant
topcoat colors, through infrared reflective
pigments, will reduce acrylic athletic court
surface temperature via solar reflectance
compared to other court surfaces, assisting
in overall player comfort for matches and
practice, says the manufacturer.
The product also reduces heat absorption
and the adverse effects of “heat islands,”
which occur when natural land cover is
replaced with dense concentrations of pave-
ment and other surfaces that absorb and
retain heat, supporting a primary goal of
environmental sustainability efforts, accord-
ing to the company.
“California Sports Surfaces’ new CoolTop
technology is the culmination of many hours
of research and laboratory testing,” says
Caroline Field, VP and general manager of
Australia and Asia-Pacific. “The goal is to en-
sure the best possible outcomes for players
www.tennisindustrymag.com
and the environment, [so] real-world testing
is being carried out on courts located on
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and in Bris-
bane, Australia.”
With “solar reflective” ratings 20 to 30 per-
cent higher than standard court coatings, ICP
says CoolTop technology retains less heat,
reducing court temperatures and providing
better playing and practice environments.
The CoolTop finishing topcoat is compatible
with current CSS rubber cushion systems,
including Rebound Ace, Plexicushion and
DecoTurf, and comes in a range of colors.
McMahon Launches Initiative for
Young Rac Sports Professionals
McMahon Careers has engaged Ryan
Johnson, JD, USPTA, CRSE to serve as the
firm’s Young Racquet Sports Professionals
Liaison. He will connect with and support
young racquet sports professionals who
currently work, or aspire to work, as a
Director of Racquet Sports.
Johnson will also help young profession-
als identify relevant career-advancement
WWW.GAMMASPORTS.COM
IndustryNews
opportunities when positions open.
To further engage and work with this
important demographic, McMahon
Careers is establishing a Young Racquet
Sports Professionals Advisory Board,
which Johnson will lead. Advisory Board
members will include a diverse group of
young, career-focused professionals who
also desire to help and support other like-
minded professionals. For information,
visit mcmahontennisssearch.com.
Aer-Flo Sports Opens
New Facility in Alabama
Aer-Flo Sports has opened a new, state-of-
the-art facility on a 22-acre site in Lincoln,
Ala. The new site allows the company to
continue to expand in coming years.
The location serves as a warehouse and
distribution center, and as the manufactur-
ing center for custom windscreens, field
padding, tarps and other sports padding
and protectors.
The new facility also houses Aer-Flo’s
digital print capabilities, plus engineers
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11
IndustryNews
LOB_RSi_1/6_0922 final_red.qxp_Layout 1 9/6/22 11:58 AM Page 2

and CAD professionals who develop new

products. Located 15 miles from the pre-
vious site, the new 100,000-square-foot
Introducing
the pickle
Over 50 years facility will house more than 100 employ-
ees when fully operational.
champion by
Lobster!
of innovation
and still growing
Tennis Racquet Performance
at Specialty Stores
Jan.-Sept., 2022 vs. 2021
®

Units 2022 556,746

play more. win more.
®
2021 620,683
follow lobstersports on call 888.380.9460 or visit lobstersports.com % change vs. ’21 -10%
Dollars 2022 $99,362,000
2021 $102,180,000
% change vs. ’21 -3%
Price 2022 $178.47
2021 $164.63
% change vs. ’21 8%

Top-Selling Racquets
at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date dollars,
Jan.-Sept. 2022

Best Sellers
1. Babolat Pure Drive 2021 (MP)
2. Babolat Pure Aero 2019 (MP)
3. Wilson Blade 98 16x19 V8 (MP)
4. Wilson Clash 100 V2 2022 (MP)
5. Babolat Pure Aero Rafa 2021 (MP)

“Hot New Racquets”

• Nets (introduced in the past 12 months)
1. Wilson Clash 100 V2 2022 (MP)
• HarTru 2. Yonex Ezone 100 2022 (MP)
• Windscreen 3. Head Boom MP 2022 (MP)
• Lights 4. Yonex Ezone 98 2022 (MP)
• Fence 5. Head Speed MP 2022 (MP)
• Rollers Top-Selling Tennis Shoes
• Benches at Specialty Stores
• Brooms By year-to-date dollars,
and More... Jan.-Sept. 2022
1. K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2

Welch Sport Surfaces™

2. Nike React Vapor NXT
3. K-Swiss Hypercourt Exp 2 2022
4. Nike Zoom Vapor Pro 2021
5. K-Swiss Hypercourt Supreme
“The World’s Largest Builder of Har-Tru Clay Tennis Courts”
Top-Selling Strings
HydroGrid | HydroCourt | DecoTurf at Specialty Stores
By year-to-date units,

EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES Jan.-Sept. 2022

1. Babolat RPM Blast
Most Ship Same Day! 2. Solinco Hyper G
3. Head Velocity
800-543-9111 4. Wilson NXT
5. Wilson Sensation
www.WelchTennis.com/Site/Catalog
(Source: Tennis Industry Association)

12 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023 www.tennisindustrymag.com

For players seeking a lightweight, comfortable shoe that
supports all movement on the court.
www.tennisindustrymag.com November/December 2022 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11
IndustryNews
Hall of Fame CEO Todd Martin
Resigns to Join Beemok Capital
International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO
Todd Martin has resigned from his position,
effective Jan. 1. He will become the
Head of Tennis for Beemok Capital, the
owner of tennis assets in Charleston, S.C.,
14 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
and most recently, Cincinnati, where it
acquired the ATP Masters 1000 event.
“I came to the ITHF [as CEO in Septem-
ber 2014] because I was drawn to the op-
portunity to be in service to tennis and cre-
ate impact on behalf of the sport,” Martin
said. “I remain passionate about the ITHF’s
work and the power of history to inspire. In
the recruitment process by Beemok, that
same sense of inspiration and opportunity
to create impact has taken hold of me and
encouraged my decision. It has not been
an easy decision for me to resign as ITHF
CEO, but I do so knowing that the ITHF is in
very good hands.”
“Thanks in no small measure to Todd’s
outstanding work, the ITHF has never been
in a better position to make the transition
to our own next chapter,” says ITHF Board
Chairman Mike Goss. During his eight-year
tenure, Martin has led the organization in a
period of tremendous growth with empha-
sis on digital transformation and interna-
tional engagement with the organization’s
mission of celebrating tennis history.
2 Pro P-Ball Tours to Merge
To Form Team-Based League
Professional pickleball underwent a
transformation when Major League
Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball
Association’s VIBE Pickleball League
agreed to merge to form one global,
co-ed, team-based league.
“Coming together as one team league
allows us to build much bigger events, of-
fer more prize money, enhance player de-
velopment, and pursue larger media and
sponsorship deals,” the new, combined
league announced, which will continue
using the Major League Pickleball name
and format. It will continue promoting the
top players along with the high-profile
team owners it has attracted recently,
which includes LeBron James, Kevin Du-
rant, Tom Brady and Kim Clijsters.
In addition, Anheuser-Busch, which
recently purchased an MLP team, will stay
on. And Dallas Mavericks owner Mark
Cuban announced in November that he
was the first of six VIBE owners.
www.tennisindustrymag.com

People
Watch
The award-winning Sportsmen’s Ten-
nis & Enrichment Center in Dorchester,
Mass., recently added new staff mem-
bers. Mason Bultje is the Annual Fund
Manager, Marisa Prince is the Marketing
& Communications Manager, Laurent
Plaisimond is the Director of Community
Tennis and Harshana Godamanna is a
High Performance Coach.
Paula Hale of Raleigh, N.C., and Bill
Ozaki of Cherry Log, Ga., will be inducted
into the 2023 Southern Tennis Hall of
Fame in a ceremony on Jan. 14 in Atlanta.
American Brandon Nakashima beat
Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic to
win the ATP Next Gen Finals in Milan in
November.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Milagros “Milly” Sequera Huss, a
former WTA player who reached a
career high of No. 48 in singles in 2007,
has been hired as senior manager,
Adult Tournaments & Special Projects
for the USTA Southern Adult/Human
Resources Department. She will also
work on Serve Tennis and the ITF World
Tennis Number.
Dick Sullivan has been named execu-
tive chairman and CEO of PGA TOUR
Superstore. He moves up from president
IndustryNews
and CEO of the company. In addition, Jill
Spiegel was promoted to president.
Pro player Leylah Fernandez is the
newest brand ambassador for Avocados
From Mexico.
Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open
champ, is an investor and ambassador
for enhanced water company Lemon
Perfect.
The International Tennis Integrity
Agency has banned Lorenzo Chiurazzi, a
national-level chair umpire and line judge
from Italy, from the sport for seven years
and six months after he admitted match
fixing charges. He’s also been fined
$50,000.
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 15
IndustryNews
Westminster Dog Show to Be
Held at USTA BJK NTC in May
Tennis- and dog-lovers were pleased to
hear the news in November that the West-
minster Kennel Club Dog Show will be held
May 8-9, 2023, at the USTA Billie Jean King
National Tennis Center in New York, home of
the US Open. The 147th annual Westminster
show is America's second-longest continu-
ously held sporting event.
“The Club is excited to bring the dog
show to a venue that has always celebrated
world-class athletes, and these champion
dogs are no exception,” says Westminster
Kennel Club President Darrell W. Crate. “The
16 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
sprawling complex will give spectators a
truly memorable experience as they meet
thousands of purpose-bred dogs that each
have a rich history and background.”
“This is an incredibly unique and pres-
tigious event that we're thrilled to host at
our venue,” says Danny Zausner, COO of
the USTA BJK NTC. “The USTA Billie Jean
King National Tennis Center is increasingly
becoming a marquee event destination for
non-tennis related events.”
The show will again attract top-winning
dogs from across the country, with 200-plus
Breed competitions (for Champion dogs)
and seven Group competitions, concluding
with Best in Show being crowned in Arthur
Ashe Stadium. Tickets go on sale in early
2023. Information and schedules are at
westminsterkennelclub.org.
Midwest’s Mark Saunders to
Retire; Chad Docktor Named CEO
Longtime USTA Midwest Section CEO
Mark Saunders will retire Jan. 1, after 32
years with the section. The new Midwest
CEO will be Chad Docktor, the current COO
of Community Tennis for the section.
Saunders, a USPTA Elite Professional,
began his career with the section in 1990
as director of Player Development. He
became CEO of the section and the USTA
Midwest Tennis & Education Foundation
in 1996. He will be inducted into the USTA
Midwest Hall of Fame, along with the late
Jimmy Evert, at a ceremony on Feb. 11 in
Indianapolis.
Docktor will continue to partner with
the section’s board of directors to set the
strategy for tennis growth in the Midwest.
Another top priority is to engage a more
diverse population, both through USTA
and non-USTA programming. He also plans
to expand opportunities of support for the
13 Section Districts.
In a related move, the section’s current
CFO, Dorian Dyson, has been named CEO
and Executive Director of the USTA Mid-
west Tennis & Education Foundation, the
charitable arm of the section, which also
has been headed by Saunders.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 IndustryNews

www.tennisindustrymag.com November/December 2022 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17

IndustryNews

PRO PICKLEBALL

Pictona at Holly
Hill to Host
APP Daytona
Beach Open

P
 
ictona at Holly Hill in Flori-
da, one of the world’s newest
pickleball facilities, will host
the Association of Pickleball
Professionals first major tournament,
the APP Daytona Beach Open, Feb. 8-12.
Three other APP majors will be held in
2023—in Southern California, Chicago
and Dallas—in addition to the Spring
“We are beyond excited to
Championships in New York City and box. The two-story Pictona Education partner with such an incredible
Fall Championships in Mesa, Ariz. Center offers instructional programs, facility to host our first Major
Pictona has 49 dedicated pickleball clinics, camps, and a training center for tournament of 2023," says APP
Founder Ken Herrmann.
courts with permanent lighting, 13 referees and instructors. Other ameni-
of which are covered. Its Champion- ties include a full-service restaurant,
ship Court features stadium seating locker rooms, and a game room featur-
for 1,200, box seats, suites and a press ing table tennis and other activities.

18 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023 www.tennisindustrymag.com


USRSA Names New MRTs and CSs
Master Racquet Technicians
Maria Alcala, Doral, Fla.
Steven Black, Norman, Okla.
Nicolas Echavarria, Doral, Fla.
Natalia Escobar, Doral, Fla.
Alejandro Herrera, Doral, Fla.
Stephen Kampman, San Antonio, Texas
Yeffrens Lopez, Doral, Fla.
Luis Ospina, Doral, Fla.
Jonathan Plaza, Doral, Fla.
Certified Stringers
Edward Dolan, Laguna Woods, Calif.
Mateja Gacic, Mississauga, Ontario, Can.
Michael Stevenson, Bonita Springs, Fla.
ITF Members Vote to Halt
Takeover Bid for Padel
A proposal for the International Tennis
Federation to assume governance of the
sport of padel, much like it has for the
sport of beach tennis, was rejected at the
ITF Annual General Meeting in Glasgow in
November. The measure would have re-
quired an amendment to the ITF's
www.tennisindustrymag.com
constitution, which needed a two-thirds
majority of the ITF members. Of the votes
cast, less than 58 percent were in favor of
pulling padel into the ITF.
The move was controversial from the
start. The International Padel Federation
(FIP) had earlier filed an appeal to the
Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking to
stop what it termed a “hostile takeover.”
Padel is a racquet sport played on a shorter,
enclosed court, using the same scoring
system as tennis.
Buffalo Groupe Acquires
Sports Marketing Surveys USA
Buffalo Groupe, LLC, a collection of agen-
cies, events and media properties, expand-
ed its research capabilities with the recent
acquisition of Sports Marketing Surveys
USA, the industry leader in sports research.
Together with Longitudes Group, which
joined Buffalo in January 2021, Sports Mar-
keting Surveys USA (SMS), along with its
ActionWatch subsidiary, will merge comple-
mentary capabilities offering clients a full
IndustryNews
range of research, analysis and insights into
the purchase behaviors of consumers in
outdoor sports, including golf, tennis, run-
ning, surfing and skateboarding.
“We are impressed by Buffalo Groupe’s
vision and look forward to joining their
collection of companies,” says Keith Storey,
president of Sports Marketing Surveys USA.
Relaunched Snauwaert Brand
Seeks Partners in the U.S.
Snauwaert, which was founded in
Belgium in 1928 and was the racquet of
Vitas Gerulaitis and many other Grand
Slam winners, is being relaunched. The
new company, now based in Italy, where
it designs and manufacturers product for
tennis, padel and other racquet sports, is
seeking partners in the U.S.
Currently, the company says it has an ac-
tive subsidiary in the U.S., selling through
the website snauwaert.com, with a New
Jersey warehouse run by its logistics part-
ner, who ships to North America. For infor-
mation, contact info@Snauwaert.com.
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 19
IndustryNews
Dick’s House of Sport Hosts
‘Pickleball Takeover’ in Minn.
In October, Major League Pickleball star
Susannah Barr (front right) and her son
Porter (front left)—a top-ranked junior
player — hosted a day full of pickleball
activities at Dick’s House of Sport in Min-
netonka, Minn. The Pickleball Takeover was
highlighted by clinics and demos on two
20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
pickleball courts built inside the store, as
well as Selkirk paddle giveaways.
Four Officials Honored With
2022 USTA Umpire Awards
The USTA recently honored four officials
for their service to the game with the an-
nual 2022 Umpire Awards.
* Dean Richardville of Tulsa, Okla., received
the USTA Nicholas E. Powel Award, recog-
nizing the importance of officiating at the
local level.
* Patrick Zuraski of Colorado Springs re-
ceived the Woodie Walker C.A.R.E. Award,
for longstanding service to the sport and
for exemplifying the qualities of Commit-
ment, Accountability, Responsibility and
Excellence.
* Chase Urban of Brentwood, Tenn.,
received the Jr. McGovern Award for
outstanding on-court officiating by a
relatively new official.
* Greg Allensworth of North Canton, Ohio,
received the John T. McGovern Award, for
longstanding service that has demonstrat-
ed outstanding contributions to officiating.
“We are fortunate to have talented and
dedicated officials such as Dean, Patrick,
Chase and Greg, who are truly making an
impact in growing tennis at both the grass-
roots and professional levels,” says Sean
Cary, USTA Managing Director–Competi-
tion Operations.
Coach Pete Scales Publishes
‘Compete-Learn-Honor Playbook'
The latest book by world-renowned
developmental psychologist Dr. Peter C.
Scales is The Compete-Learn-Honor Playbook
(Coaches Choice), which is available now on
Amazon.com. The new book supplements
his award-winning 2019 book, Mental and
Emotional Training for Tennis: Compete-Learn-
Honor, and gathers all the “how” you do it
into an efficient and easily used resource,
with more than three dozen new work-
sheets for players and coaches. Coach Pete,
who also writes “The Bench” column in RSI,
is a longtime USPTA teaching pro and high
school coach.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 - It’s time to play, on CaliClay -

Telluride Racquet Club, Telluride, Colorado. CaliClay over old beat up hard courts.

PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES
Inside Game
In sharing his passion for pickleball,
along with the sport’s benefits, Roger
Belair is reaching inside prisons.
By Kent Oswald
P
assion can take you to the
most unexpected places.
Banker, author and motiva-
tional speaker Roger Belair
is passionate about the rush that
pickleball offers, and that’s landed him
inside, of all places, prisons. He’s hop-
ing those who share his passion will
join him on the inside of many more.
Belair, a friend of one of pickleball’s
founding fathers, Barney McCallum,
was a seven-year veteran of the game
when he saw a CBS "60 Minutes" re-
port about ideas for the rehabilitation
of inmates at the Cook County, Ill.,
jail. It seemed obvious to him that the
man in charge needed to add pickle-
ball and its benefits to the system. So
he wrote to him.
22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
Pickleball
After learning there was actually a
game with such a silly name, the Cook
County sheriff, admittedly a skeptic
until his 8-year-old daughter ex-
plained her interest in the sport, wrote
Belair back to invite him to the lockup.
“My approach is pretty much the
same, whether teaching inside or out-
side the institution,” says Belair, who
also instructs in non-incarcerated set-
tings. “I’m very adaptable to whatever
they set up.”
In addition to a love of the game and
a desire to help others, adaptability is
a key when introducing pickleball to
audiences that have included about
1,500 convicts coast to coast, from
New York City’s Rikers Island prison
to the Washington State Penitentiary.
Clear-eyed on who he is talking
to and why they are where they are
(including those convicted of mul-
tiple homicides), Belair believes the
benefits from his mission are found
in reducing tension through physical
activity and offering a viewpoint few
pick up from the street.
“It’s very important to me to be
giving them life lessons,” he says.
The most important themes
of each Belair session are:
1) It’s important to know
and follow the rules, as you are
here because you broke the
rules, and 2) You do it
Roger’s way, and nobody
gets hurt.
“I come at them from a different
angle,” offering ideas about teamwork
and sportsmanship that can support
a rehabilitated life when a prisoner
finishes serving their sentence.
The most important themes of each
Belair session are: 1) It’s important to
know and follow the rules, as you are
here because you broke the rules, and
2) You do it Roger’s way, and nobody
gets hurt.
Belair makes his visit, trains staff
in the rules, and leaves nets, paddles
and balls to support continuation of
pickleball play. While there is a great
deal of research on how rehabilitative
efforts of various kinds reduce recidi-
vism, funding specific to a controlled
study of the effectiveness of pickleball
on prison life, unfortunately, has not
yet come through.
Anecdotally, Belair is on the right
track. Prison staff and prisoners both
have reported to him that the op-
COURTESY ROGER BELAIR
portunity to play pickleball—a game,
unlike basketball, that does not rely
on size or strength—is a privilege that
seems to encourage better behavior.
Also supporting the effectiveness of
pickleball as a rehabilitative endeavor
is that Belair no longer has to solicit
interest; it comes to him from around
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 the country as prison administrators
get in touch, inviting him to visit or to
consult about a pickleball program.
In another positive sign, Belair no
longer has to fund the work from his
own pocket. Multiple companies,
including Pickleball Central, Oso
Pickleball and Baddle, have either
already donated equipment or asked
how they can support his programs.
Belair is discussing with various
people how to grow the program’s
impact for those living on the inside.
While the future is bright if unclear,
there is no doubt in his mind on how
watching a show and contacting a
sheriff has impacted his life.
“Nothing I’ve ever done is as satisfy-
ing and rewarding as this,” he says.
“I’m making a difference in some lives
on the inside … and making a differ-
ence in lives on the outside, because
if we can make them better people on
the inside, it is safer for all of us when
they get on the outside.”

www.tennisindustrymag.com January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23

 Tips&Techniques
Tips and Techniques submitted since 1992 by USRSA members and appearing in this column have been gathered into a
searchable database on racquettech.com, the official website of the USRSA. Submit your best stringing tips to Bob Patterson
at bob@racquettech.com.

> Making White Stencil Ink Work

As black and darker colored strings became popular,
manufacturers introduced white stencil ink to make
sure their logos were seen on the racquet face. But
the white ink seems to dry differently and clog up the
applicator long before the bottle is empty, causing
you to toss out the bottle, or try to find replacement
applicator tips. I use a fine awl to give the applicator a
few careful pokes—and problem solved. The flow is
back, and you don’t have to toss a nearly full bottle!

5 sets of Laserfibre Native Tour 17 to:

Sam Chan, MRT
Australia

> Marketing By Volunteering

As a racquet stringer in a smaller market, one of the
ways I keep myself in my customers’ and potential
customers’ minds is to volunteer to maintain public
tennis courts through the local nonprofit tennis asso-
ciation. As a result of repairing a tennis net or fixing
up loose windscreen, players see me doing the work,
I’m recognized in association newsletters, and I’m
mentioned or referred to when players are at those
courts. While my volunteer work helps to improve
and maintain community courts and encourage
people to play, it also helps my business. When play-
ers need to restring their racquets, they think of me.

5 sets of Dunlop NT Max Plus to:

Roger Gough, MRT
Davis, Calif.

> High Tech Label Markets

the Business
Many stringers print their own racquet labels from
their computer or a stand-alone label maker. These
look very professional, but fitting in all the client’s
information along with your business info can be
difficult on that tiny bit of real estate. My labels
include the job information and a QR code that
when scanned takes the client right to my website.
(You can find free QR code generators with a search
on the internet.)
C O U RT E S Y U S R S A

5 sets of Yonex PolyTour Pro 120 17 to:

Sam Chan, MRT
Australia

24 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023 www.tennisindustrymag.com

Serving
made
simple.
With Serve Tennis, you can manage, simplify and

promote your business all in one place.

Let’s Tennis.

GET STARTED AT
PLAYTENNIS.USTA.COM
© 2022 USTA. All rights reserved.

EQUIPMENT
Velociti Catalyst 16
By Bob Patterson
V
elociti Catalyst is a hexagonal
co-polyester that is the first
fully biodegradable tennis
string, which is a huge deal in
an industry that can use more sustain-
able and recyclable products. The string
only begins to biodegrade and turn
back to dirt (in three to five years) once
it reaches the landfill, where microor-
ganisms then start to do their work, so
it won’t affect playability when in the
racquet. In fact, according to the manu-
facturer, the biodegradable technology
improves the tensile strength and knot
strength of the string. We hope to see
more manufacturers of string and other
products taking sustainability steps like
this for their products.
Catalyst, designed for string-breakers
and those who prefer polyester strings,
is available in 16 in white. Retail price is
$14.95 per 40-foot set. For information
or to order, contact sales@velocititennis.
com, or visit velocititennis.com.
In the Lab
We tested the 16-gauge Catalyst. The coil
26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
StringPlaytest
measured 40’2”. The diameter measured
1.29-1.35 mm prior to stringing, and 1.25-
1.34 mm after stringing. We recorded a
string-bed stiffness of 69 RDC units im-
mediately after stringing at 60 pounds in
a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern)
on a constant-pull machine.
After 24 hours (no playing), string-
bed stiffness measured 64 RDC units,
representing a 7 percent tension loss.
Our control string, Prince Synthetic
Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC
units immediately after stringing and 71
RDC units after 24 hours, representing
a 9 percent tension loss. In lab testing,
Prince Synthetic Gut Original had a
stiffness of 217 and a tension loss of 11.67
pounds, while Velociti Catalyst 16 had a
stiffness of 310 and a tension loss of 15.45
pounds. Catalyst 16 added 18 grams to
the weight of our unstrung frame.
The string was tested for five weeks by
40 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP rat-
ings from 3.5 to 5.5. These are blind tests,
with playtesters receiving unmarked
strings in unmarked packages. Average
number of hours playtested was 22.1.
Playtester Ratings:
Ease of Stringing
(compared to other strings)
Much easier: 0
Somewhat easier: 5
About as easy: 19
Not quite as easy: 13
Not nearly as easy: 3
Overall Playability
(compared to the string played most often)
Much better: 0
Somewhat better: 6
About as playable: 9
Not quite as playable: 19
Not nearly as playable: 6
Overall Durability
(compared to other strings of similar gauge)
Much better: 16
Somewhat better: 12
About as durable: 7
Not quite as durable: 4
Not nearly as durable: 1
Rating Averages
From 1 to 5 (best)
Playability: 3.4
Durability: 4.4
Power: 3.4
Control: 3.6
Comfort: 3.0
Touch/Feel: 3.1
Spin Potential: 3.7
Holding Tension: 3.4
Resistance to Movement: 4.0
Most of our playtesters confirmed
the string’s durability, with 16 rating it
“Much Better” and 12 rating it “Some-
what Better” than their usual string.
Stringing
One playtester broke the sample during
stringing, 14 reported problems with
coil memory, five reported problems
tying knots, one reported friction burn
and two reported other problems.
Nineteen testers said Velociti Catalyst
16 was about as easy to string as their
usual string, five found it somewhat
easier to string, 13 testers found the
string to be not quite as easy, and three
found it to be not nearly as easy.
On the Court
Velociti Catalyst 16 scored high marks
for overall durability, with 28 of the 40
testers rating it more durable than their
C O U RT E S Y V E L O C I T I
usual string, and another seven testers
rating it about the same durability as
their usual string. It also got high marks
for Spin Potential and Resistance to
Movement. None of the testers broke
the string during play and one tester
www.tennisindustrymag.com
reported fraying/peeling. Two reported
buzzing and six reported notching, with
the average test time of 22.1 hours on the
court.
Conclusion
Our test results seem to validate the
manufacturer’s claims of durabil-
ity. With its attractive price, Velociti
Catalyst 16 seems to be well-suited for
players looking for durability and spin
in a polyester-based string—and saving
the planet is an added benefit.
Playtester Comments
“I really enjoyed this string and I love
the white color! This will be my new
string. I absolutely loved this soft,
super-controllable, spin-friendly
string—it did everything I wanted
it to do. The feedback was kind and
lively but not too much. I will push
this product. ” —5.0 male baseliner
with moderate spin using Wilson Pro-
ASBA
totype strung at 41 pounds LO (Weiss
Cannon Ultra Cable 17)
R E C R E AT I O N A L C O U R T S
Your source for quality
builders and designers who
will help you
For more information visit us at sportsbuilders.org or call 866-501-ASBA (2722)
www.tennisindustrymag.com
“Thin, firm, round poly. Excellent
slip and snapback. Not only is this
string durable, it stayed slippery for
probably more than a week. I’d use
this as a cross paired with a gut main
string.” —4.5 male touch player using
Yonex EZone Tour strung at 52/48
pounds CP (Babolat VS Touch/Head
Hawk Touch 16/17)
“Just a nice all-around string. Noth-
ing special, but a good string.” —5.0
male all-court player using Head Pres-
tige Pro strung at 50 pounds LO (Prince
Synthetic Gut 16)
“Interesting string. A bit stiff for the
first week; much better after 10 days,
with better feel and power.” —3.5
male baseliner with moderate spin us-
ing Prince Speedport Black strung at 52
pounds CP (MSV Focus Hex 19)
“Stringing was difficult as I experi-
enced problems with coil memory and
weaving the string. But on the court,
PICKLEBALL
I enjoyed the feel of the string from
my first swing. It had nice ‘pop’ and
provided decent power on my shots.”
—4.5 male all-court player using
Volkl V Sense 10 Mid strung at 51
pounds LO (Kirschbaum Super Smash
Orange 17)
“The string played surprisingly well.
Good control, power and feel. Assum-
ing it is a ‘poly’ of some sort, it was
soft enough to not hurt my shoul-
der or arm. It did seem ‘stiff ’ while
installing, so again, another bonus.
Overall, a good solid string.” —5.5
male all-court player using Wilson Ul-
tra V3 strung at 48 pounds CP (Luxilon
4G/Wilson NXT 17/17)
“For a poly, it has good feel and the
usual good spin. Durability was good
for 40 hours of use with no signifi-
cant notching.” —5.0 male serve-
and-volley player using Wilson Pro
Staff strung at 50 pounds LO (Wilson
NXT 17)
TENNIS
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27
Congratulations to this year’s
Champions of Tennis
Person of the Year
Mike McNulty
New Orleans, Louisiana

Tennis Industry Service Award NJTL of the Year Innovative Tennis Event of the Year
Jeff Williams MaliVai Washington Youth 2022 US Open Wheelchair
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Foundation Championships
Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year
Jacksonville, Florida New York, New York
Game-Set-Match Wheelchair Tennis Champion of the Year School Facility of the Year
Colorado Nick Taylor Whitney Young High School
Commercial Facility of the Year
Wichita, Kansas Chicago, Illinois
Steamboat Tennis & Pickleball Junior Tennis Champion of the Year Innovative Initiative of the Year
Steamboat Springs, Colorado Robert Sasseville Girls Rule the Court
Municipal Facility of the Year
Fairburn, Georgia USTA Mid-Atlantic
Barnes Tennis Center Racquet Technician of the Year College Facility of the Year
San Diego, California Albert Murata University of Nebraska-Kearney
Builder/Contractor of the Year
Honolulu, Hawaii Nebraska
Troy Rudolph/Elite Sports Park & Recreation Agency of the Year Online Retailer of the Year
Builders City of Los Angeles Tennis-Point
Phoenix, Arizona California Cincinnati, Ohio
Commercial Executive of the Year High School Coach of the Year PTR Member of the Year
David Dwelle Delaine Mast Nigel Pugh
Marietta, Georgia Lancaster, Pennsylvania San Ramon, California
Tennis Advocate of the Year Youth Tennis Provider of the Year USPTA Member of the Year
Jodie Adams Grassroots Tennis and Education Carrie Zarraonandia
Billings, Montana Norwalk, Connecticut San Rafael, California
Community Tennis Association of the Year Adaptive Tennis Champion of the Year USTA Section of Year
CORTA Joyce Dreslin USTA Intermountain
Columbus, Georgia Arlington, Texas
Grassroots Champion of the Year Adult Tennis Provider of the Year
Laura Canfield Melissa McCorkle
Langhorne, Pennsylvania Tulsa, Oklahoma

Let’s Tennis.
© 202 USTA. All rights reserved.
 This issue marks Racquet Sports Industry
Industry’s
22nd year honoring our
annual Champions of Tennis.
We created these awards to recognize the many and often unsung heroes of this sport and
this business. These individuals and organizations continue to go above and beyond in helping
to make a difference in this industry, and collectively are positively impacting millions
of lives throughout the United States. We hope their stories and service are an inspiration
to thousands of other dedicated “champions” across the country who continue
to move this sport forward every day.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

MIKE MCNULTY • STEAMBOAT TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL CENTER • JEFF WILLIAMS • GAME-SET-MATCH • LAURA CANFIELD
TROY RUDOLPH/ELITE SPORTS BUILDERS • MALIVAI WASHINGTON YOUTH FOUNDATION • BARNES TENNIS CENTER • DAVID DWELLE
JODIE ADAMS • COLUMBUS REGIONAL TENNIS ASSOCIATION • NICK TAYLOR • ROBERT SASSEVILLE • DELAINE MAST
ALBERT MURATA • TENNIS-POINT • CITY OF LOS ANGELES • JOYCE DRESLIN • GRASSROOTS TENNIS & EDUCATION
MELISSA MCCORKLE • US OPEN WHEELCHAIR CHPS. • NIGEL PUGH • WHITNEY YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL • GIRLS RULE THE COURT
CARRIE ZARRAONANDIA • UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA–KEARNEY • USTA INTERMOUNTAIN

www.tennisindustrymag.com January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29

 RSI Champions of Tennis
2022 Intermountain Winners
Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year:
Game-Set-Match

Commercial Facility of the Year:

Steamboat Tennis & Pickleball Center
Tennis Advocate of the Year:
Jodie Adams

2022 Intermountain
Annual Award Winners
Jon Messick Leadership Award: Taryn Archer (Colorado)
Family Of the Year: Jenkins Family (Colorado)
David Freed Award: Carolyn Peters (Colorado)
Nikos Ridle (Junior Sportsmanship) Award: Hardy Owen (Utah)
Barbara Clark (Diversity & Inclusion) Award: Glen Alex (Nevada)

Congratulations to RSI’s
2022 Person of the Year
Mike McNulty
www.tennisindustrymag.com

Mike McNulty
PERSON OF THE YEAR
Michael J. McNulty III
was born into a tennis fam-
ily. The USTA Southern and
USTA Louisiana Family of
the Year awards are named
for Mickey McNulty, his
father, who urged “Mike” to
begin volunteering in ten-
nis. The younger McNulty
remembers his dad saying,
“I think you can make a
difference. You will make
friends for a lifetime.”
“Well, truer words
have never been said,” the
younger McNulty remarked
recently. “I’m so glad I
followed his advice and got
involved.”
Starting in Lake Charles,
La., in the early 1980s,
McNulty helped organize
COURTESY USTA
the Lake Area Community
Tennis Association, gaining
valuable experience and
insights into what needs to
happen for tennis to flour-
www.tennisindustrymag.com
ish at the grassroots level.
After rising through USTA
associations in Louisiana
and the Southern Section,
McNulty is now finishing
his two-year term as Chair-
man and President of the
USTA Board of Directors.
McNulty’s personal
touch—a firm handshake
and a look-you-in-the-eye
connection—is a hallmark
of his successful career. He
has noted that the lessons he
learned in building a home-
town CTA have guided him
in district, sectional, national
and international circles.
More recently, McNulty,
who lives in New Orleans,
has been a key part of the
relatively new Tennis
Industry United, which was
formed in early 2020 to
bring together the industry
to weather the Covid pan-
demic. Thanks in part to his
Tip for Success
Start with your hometown community
and build positive, personal relationships
on a wider scale.
efforts and in working with
the other entities in this
sport, the TIU helped the
industry deal with the many
challenges and emerge
stronger. Now, the TIU will
continue on as the collab-
orative group in tennis to
help grow the game.
“Mike has been an instru-
mental part of TIU,” says
Craig Morris, the USTA’s
chief executive of Com-
munity Tennis. “His energy
towards embracing the in-
dustry and the role it plays
in growing the game at the
local level has always been
high on his agenda.”
It’s that key focus on the
industry that propels Mc-
Nulty to RSI’s 2022 Person
of the Year honors.
“Mike is an integral part
of Tennis Industry United
and ultimately its success
in bringing industry leaders
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
together to collaborate on
growing the game,” adds
Mickey Maule, the USTA’s
managing director of En-
gagement and Services.
“I was impressed by how
Mike took an active role
on TIU calls, particularly
his interest in the coaching
industry,” notes PTR CEO
Dan Santorum.
A lawyer by trade, Mc-
Nulty was considered one
of America’s top attorneys
in insurance defense, with
specialties in construction
and product liability. He
was also a certified media-
tor and arbitrator—skills
that no doubt he’s found to
be useful in the often-con-
tentious tennis world.
McNulty has a long his-
tory of volunteerism, and
his many honors include
receiving the Southern Sec-
tion’s highest service award,
the Jacobs Bowl.
But using all means pos-
sible to grow tennis at the
grassroots, and continuing
to reach out to the entire
tennis community, remains
the core of what McNulty
has brought to tennis. He’s
focused on key areas such as
public parks and park & rec
departments, and he con-
siders “customer service”
vital to adding and retain-
ing players. He also makes
it a point to be on as many
volunteer committee calls
as possible, keeping up with
and helping to shape the
direction of future growth.
“Mike’s particular pas-
sion for National Tennis
Month and his support
through the volunteer net-
work was key for the suc-
cess in 2022 and setting the
foundation for its continued
growth and importance to
the industry,” says Morris.
“We all have appreciated
Mike’s leadership, unrelent-
ing passion for the game
and friendship.” —Ron Cioffi
31
Mark
Saunders
USTA Midwest Executive Director & CEO
27 years of service to the sport

The USTA Midwest congratulates

Mark Saunders on his retirement.
His longtime leadership and commitment
to growing tennis is felt throughout the
Midwest and beyond.

Cheers, Mark—Enjoy your boatin'

and floatin'!

Your friends and colleagues

at the USTA Midwest

www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Tip for Success
Finding a way to add some national flair
to a local tournament increases the event’s
impact and generates excitement.
Laura
GRASSROOTS CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Canfield
Feel like tennis is keeping you busy? Laura Canfield takes
“busy” to a new level. A lifetime community tennis advocate,
Canfield is the director and co-founder of the Bucks County
Tennis Association (BCTA), a non-profit based in Langhorne,
Pa. She also serves as a vice president on the USTA national
board of directors.
Canfield and BCTA took community tennis to the national
level by organizing and hosting the National Public Parks
Tennis Championships, the first time since 1926 that the
NPPTC was played in the Philadelphia area. The three-day
event took place in July 2022, bringing in more than 350
junior and adult players across numerous categories. As part
of the tournament, BCTA reproduced the “Original 9” tennis
COURTESY USTA MIDDLE STATES
exhibit showcasing the nine women who started the women’s
professional tennis tour.
“This is just one example of what an incredible advocate for
tennis we have in Laura,” says Ben Zislis, executive director
of the USTA Middle States. “There are very few people who
can tie together local and nationwide tennis so seamlessly and
with such an impact. Our sport is better because of people like
Laura and the efforts that they make.” —Katie Miness
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Delaine
HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR
Mast
For decades, Delaine Mast has been a fixture on the national
tennis scene. In the town of Lancaster, Pa., she’s simply known
as “Coach.” In 1986, Mast began her high school coaching
career by making history, becoming the first female coach
in the Lancaster Lebanon League to coach a boys’ varsity
sport. As head coach of both the boys’ and girls’ teams at J.P.
McCaskey High School, Mast credits the history-making
opportunity to coach the boys’ team with helping her to
mature and grow professionally and personally.
That starting point sent her on a path to developing and
empowering countless student athletes, improving her
community and fiercely advocating for the game she loves.
“Don’t forget why you’re here,” Mast would tell herself.
“You’re here because you love the game.”
Growing up, sports played an integral role in Mast’s life. She
says coaching is one way she continues to give back.
“Sports saved me as a person. It’s why I do what I do. This is
all for them.” —Katie Miness
Tip for Success
Coaching youth teams is a great way to
advocate for tennis.
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 33
 Tip for Success
Pursue education in the industry for yourself and for your employees. Also, understand that
factors in your area—such as water restrictions and lower availability of land—will drive
change in the way you build. And stay on top of technology.
Troy Rudolph/ David
BUILDER/CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
Elite Sports Dwelle
Builders
When a company is looking head-on at its third decade of not
only being in business, but being in the business of producing
award-winning facilities, it must be doing something right.
But to Troy Rudolph, president of Phoenix, Ariz.-based Elite
Sports Builders, it’s simply a continuation of the way the com-
pany works: by keeping its employees at the forefront of the
industry with educational programming.
“When really good contractors invest in education, it leads
to outside-the-box thinking and getting solutions to prob-
lems,” he says. “Those that don’t can really get left behind.”
It’s good advice from the very first individual in the Ameri-
can Sports Builders Association to become triple certified,
holding certifications in tennis court, track and fields building.
Rudolph, who has served on the ASBA’s board, and who has
spoken at meetings and contributed to industry publications,
is also—not surprisingly—in favor of sending employees to
industry meetings.
“When you get people together, they network and talk, and
it can actually open up doors for you and your customer,” he
says. —Mary Helen Sprecher
34 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
COMMERCIAL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
The key to great leadership is a great team. The key to a great
team is a leader committed to meeting the team’s needs at
least as much, if not more than, meeting his or her own. David
Dwelle, the RSI Commercial Executive of the Year, has been
on both sides of that symbiotic relationship, first as a highly
regarded sales rep at multiple racquet companies, and now as
Yonex USA’s Tennis National Sales Manager, based in Mari-
etta, Ga. Of his current sales team, he says, “They push me to
find ways to grow sales with questions and ideas.”
According to Dwelle, “A brand is only as good as the people
COURTESY ASBA, USTA INTERMOUNTAIN
on its team. Teamwork and maintaining a strong sense of com-
munity is what gets everyone through the rough spots and also
helps us celebrate the victories. The secret is really simple. We
are all stronger together than apart.”
What he demands of himself and what he asks of others are
a passion for the brand, an ability to listen, and from him for
his team—and for his team to their accounts—a commitment
to the brand, the game and service. —Kent Oswald
Tip for Success
Building a team starts with love for the game of
tennis and belief in the product itself. This can
change the course of a brand.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Tip for Success
Engage and collaborate with the local community
by offering an appealing mix of programming,
quality facilities and events.
COMMERCIAL FACILITY OF THE YEAR
Steamboat Tennis and Pickleball Center
Powerhouse couple Bill
and Loretta Conway have
long used tennis to make
a difference in the lives of
people and communities.
Ten years ago, they brought
their passion and expertise
to Steamboat Tennis and
Pickleball Center, a public
tennis facility located at the
base of Mount Werner in the
famous ski town of Steam-
boat Springs, Colo. In 2016,
they took over as the facil-
ity’s independent conces-
www.tennisindustrymag.com
sionaires and operators.
Under the direction of the
Conways, STPC reinvigorat-
ed program development,
staff training, market-
ing, public relations and
community collaboration.
Many program areas have
flourished over the years,
including school outreach,
Colorado SERVES, adap-
tive tennis and ROGY. In
addition, the center runs
popular tournaments
and fundraising events
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
that bring the community
together. Steamboat’s focus
now is a $10 million proj-
ect to renovate the tennis
courts and build an indoor
pickleball building.
“It all starts with people
who truly care about others
and the community,” says
USTA Colorado Executive
Director Fritz Garger. “The
center sets the gold standard
for quality facilities, quality
staff and community engage-
ment.” —Wendy Anderson
35

Nick Taylor
WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Wheelchair tennis legend
Nick Taylor of Wichita,
Kan., announced his retire-
ment from the sport a year
ago at the UNIQLO Wheel-
chair Masters Doubles
event held at the USTA
National Campus in Or-
lando. Taylor, whose playing
career spanned three
decades, is a former world
No. 1 in both quad singles
and doubles. He played
his final tournament with
longtime doubles partner
36 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
David Wagner. The pair are
the winningest Team USA
wheelchair doubles team,
holding three consecutive
Paralympic gold medals
(2004, 2008, 2012) as well
as a silver (2016) over four
Paralympic Games.
Taylor started playing
tennis at age 14 and went
on to become an 11-time
Grand Slam champion and
owner of a record 11 titles at
the Doubles Masters with
Wagner. He ends his career
Tip for Success
Striving for excellence helps inspire others
to do the same.
with a total of 813 combined
wins: 383 in singles, and
430 in doubles.
A double alumnus of
Wichita State University
(earning a bachelor’s and
a master’s degree), Taylor
has been involved with the
school’s varsity men’s tennis
team for more than 15 years
and serves as its director of
operations. In recent years,
he has also been a mentor
to young wheelchair players
including Casey Ratzlaff,
who qualified for his first
Paralympic Games this year
at age 23.
COURTESY USTA MISS OURI VALLEY
Taylor will remain
involved in the sport as the
tournament director at the
$25,000 ITF World Tennis
Tour event held in Wichita.
But he'll also continue to
have an impact and influ-
ence in growing wheelchair
tennis nationally and glob-
ally. —Mark Collins
www.tennisindustrymag.com

Barnes Tennis Center
MUNICIPAL FACILITY OF THE YEAR
When San Diego native
Brandon Nakashima won
his first ATP tour title this
year, it was only fitting that
the victory should come at
the Barnes Tennis Center
in San Diego, Calif., one of
the nation’s top breeding
grounds for young talent
and future champions.
The facility is a hotbed of
racquet sports, offering
world-class tennis facili-
38 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
ties, state-of-the-art padel
courts and an array of pick-
leball courts.
Barnes is also home to
a flourishing wheelchair
tennis community, as well
as the Kathy Chabot Wil-
lette After School Tennis
Program, which provides
structure and supervision
for San Diego youngsters.
The programs represent
lofty, overarching efforts
Tip for Success
Offer a variety of programs and events for
players of all ages and ability levels.
by Barnes and Youth Ten- municipal tennis facility
nis San Diego, collectively that offers a depth of pro-
operated by visionary CEO gramming for all ages and
Ryan Redondo. skill levels. —Darryl Nash
This fall, Barnes also
welcomed the ATP Tour
for the second time in as
many years, and doubled
down with a WTA 500
event in October, with
world No. 1 Iga Swiatek
raising the trophy.
Barnes is an exemplary
COURTESY USTA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
www.tennisindustrymag.com

Tip for Success
Team up with volunteers and the community
to provide a variety of programs and events.
Columbus Albert
COMMUNITY TENNIS ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR
Regional Tennis Murata
Association
The Columbus Regional Tennis Association (CORTA), which
celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, typifies organiza-
tional excellence. CORTA’s home is the Cooper Creek Tennis
Center in Columbus, Ga., a hub for programs and tournaments
COURTESY USTA GEORGIA, ALBERT MURATA
and one of the finest clay-court facilities in the country, boast-
ing 39 championship clay courts and 12 hard courts.
Led by President Michelle Fuller and Executive Director
Judy Pearce, CORTA’s impact with its outreach programs are
well known throughout Georgia. One example is the NJTL
chapter TennisWorks!, an after-school tennis and academic
enrichment program for kids ages 4-18. The program encour-
ages academic achievement, health/wellness and social/emo-
tional skills by guiding children through educational processes
that include decision-making, problem-solving and working
together toward common goals.
“CORTA truly embodies the makeup of a successful CTA,”
says Darren Potkey, USTA Georgia’s executive director.
“Through their community outreach programs, leagues, tour-
naments and volunteer network, they have provided a vehicle
for players to continue to enjoy our sport.”
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Tip for Success
Fitting players with the right racquet and
strings is all about enhancing the playing
experience for your customers.
RACQUET TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR
Albert Murata serves as the Director of Tennis at the Royal
Kona Resort Tennis Club in Hawaii. But along with teaching
the game to players, he has also been on the forefront of teach-
ing the craft of stringing racquets with private lessons, various
seminars and workshops. He even has a YouTube Channel
where he shares his expertise with beginners and seasoned
veterans alike.
Murata has been stringing racquets professionally for more
than 40 years and was among the first to become certified
when the USRSA launched the Certified Stringer program
in 1986. He became one of the first USRSA Master Racquet
Technicians in 1993, and has served as the USRSA Certifica-
tion Tester for Hawaii since 1989.
“Shortly after taking up the game, stringing became my first
real job,” Murata says. “But over time, stringing became more
like therapy for me. Stringing racquets for recreational players
to touring professionals, I feel a part of me is on the court with
them. I enjoy the opportunity to share racquet-stringing tips
and techniques I've learned through my experience in the
business.
“However, more important than the business itself, I feel it's
about being passionate about the art of stringing and actively
playing a role in making tennis more enjoyable for everyone.”
—Bob Patterson
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 39

Game-Set-Match Robert
PRO/SPECIALTY RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Sasseville
Game-Set-Match, founded by owner Adam Burbary in
1989, has long been Colorado’s leading retailer of racquet and
paddle sports gear. The business operates three stores and five
pro shops in the Denver metro area, plus one location in Las
Vegas. The recent expansion of the Denver superstore makes
Game-Set-Match the biggest tennis and pickleball specialist in
Colorado and the Intermountain region.
For more than 30 years, Burbary and his staff have main-
tained a laser-like focus on racquet sports service, selection
and product advice, working with players of all ages and ability
levels. Game-Set-Match carries all of the top brands and will
price-match any authorized dealer on a like-for-like item. Cus-
tomers can also take advantage of 24-hour racquet stringing,
a used racquet and paddle trade-in program, and racquet and
paddle demo programs. Court maintenance and ball machine
services, plus in-store team nights and sponsorships of local
tournaments and special events, round out the mix.
“Adam and his entire team continue to be a great resource
and destination for tennis consumers in the Denver metro
area and now they are expanding out to Las Vegas to service
that vibrant tennis market,” says Mickey Maule, USTA manag-
ing director of Engagement and Services. —Judy Leand
Tip for Success
Focus on customer service and product selection,
and become an integral part of the community
by supporting local teams and events.
40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
Tip for Success
A focus on organization combined with a
low-key approach creates a smooth tournament
experience for everyone.
JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
C O U RT E S Y G A M E - S ET- M AT C H , U S TA S O U T H E R N, U S TA M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y
Robert Sasseville of Fairburn, Ga., is one of the country’s
top junior tournament referees. He handles a tournament’s
complexity with a low-key approach, honed over nearly 40
years, that puts his customers at ease. In 2022 he refereed
nine events, including the USTA Girls’ 14s National Champi-
onships, eight of which were played at the 63-court, 30-acre
Rome (Ga.) Tennis Center at Berry College. He also draws
high-level officials and prides himself on making sure there are
enough officials to cover courts. In 2018, he received the USTA
Georgia Junior Tournament of the Year award for the USTA
Girls’ 14s National Championships.
Julie Wrege, founder of TennisRecruiting.net, worked with
Sasseville when he went from teaching STEM high school
courses to dedicating himself to tennis in the mid-1980s.
“He is one of the finest people I know,” she remarks. “We
wrote a whole bunch of rules and expanded the draw to bring
in the better players.”
USTA Georgia Executive Director and ITF Silver Badge
referee Darren Potkey says, “Robert’s commitment to provid-
ing a high-quality tournament product to players at all levels is
exemplary. He’s incredibly organized and committed to mak-
ing sure players have an excellent experience and can focus on
competing to the best of their ability.” —Ron Cioffi
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Congratsto
thisyear's
ADULT TENNIS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

Melissa
McCorkle winners!
USTA Eastern is proud to be
home of the 2022 Innovative
Tennis Event, the 2022 US Open
Wheelchair Championships.

FOLLOW US!

Melissa McCorkle is at the forefront

of adult tennis in Tulsa, Okla., and she

Congratulations
is an inspiration nationally for league
growth at the 2.5 and 3.0 levels. Her
drive to capture and maintain hun-
dreds of players is a model for begin-
ner leagues nationwide. This year,
her efforts at Case Tennis Center at
LaFortune Park Tennis in Tulsa were
expected to generate more than 200 RSI CHAMPIONS OF TENNIS
teams in 2022.
“I learned early on in my teaching ca-
reer that it was more about just getting
players playing quickly, and that will get
them locked into the game,” McCorkle
says. “Of course, the technique is im-
portant for those adults starting a little
later in life, but things don’t have to be
perfect to play the game.”
McCorkle is quick to share that
leagues provide instant friends and
great exercise, making it a win-win for
everyone. She continues to take advan-

2022 Midwest Winners

tage of programs and other resources
that the USTA offers to help share the
game with others. —Casey McKenzie
Online Retailer of the Year:
Tip for Success
Grow beginner leagues
TennisPoint
by offering consistent
programming, have School Facility of the Year:
lots of teamwork—and Whitney Young High School
have lots of fun.

www.tennisindustrymag.com January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 41

 Tip for Success
Have an impact on kids’ lives by focusing on
tennis as well as encouraging academic success
and community service.

NJTL OF THE YEAR

MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation

Established in 1996, the
MaliVai Washington Youth
Foundation was the brain-
child of the former Wimble-
don finalist, who reached No.
11 in the world. With the help
of Executive Director Terri
Florio, who has been with the
foundation from the begin-
ning, Washington sought to
give back to his adopted com-
munity of Jacksonville, Fla.
Starting with provid-
ing clinics for 27 kids, the
foundation—part of the
USTA Foundation’s National
Junior Tennis & Learning
Network—has flourished
through Washington’s
personal funding, plus
corporate, government and
USTA contributions. MWYF
has eight full-size courts, six
mini-courts and two build-
ings servicing elementary
and middle-school kids, as
well as a teen center. “One
of our biggest accomplish-
ments was creating this in-
frastructure, with this amaz-
ing campus,” says Florio.
The foundation encourag-
es academic success through
mentoring and tutoring,
building life skills, and
stressing the importance of
community service. Wash-
ington notes, “We started
with tennis, but make no
mistake, we’re not just ten-
nis. We’re impacting lives.”
Florio adds, “Kids say
we’ve not only changed their
lives, but saved their lives.”
—Cynthia Sherman

USTA Southern Congratulates

Racquet Sports Industry

C O U RT E SY M A L I VA I WA S H I N G T O N YO U T H FO U N DAT I O N, U S TA N E W E N G L A N D
2022 Champions of Tennis
MICHAEL J. McNULTY III
PERSON OF THE YEAR

COLUMBUS, GA. (CORTA)

COMMUNITY TENNIS ASSOCIATION
OF THE YEAR
DAVID DWELLE, YONEX USA
BUSINESS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
ROBERT SASSEVILLE
JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

42 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 Tip for Success
Be an organization geared toward building the whole youngster, not just
the tennis player. Teach them skills they can use on and off the court to
make their community stronger.
YOUTH TENNIS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Grassroots Tennis & Education
Since 1995, Grassroots
Tennis & Education has
been changing the lives
of underserved youth in
Southern Connecticut
through tennis and aca-
demic enrichment. Based in
Norwalk and Stamford, the
NJTL chapter offers free,
year-round programming
and uses a relationship-first
approach to help shape the
lives of its youth.
“Whether the goals of
our students are to play
www.tennisindustrymag.com
in college, high school or
recreationally with their
family or friends, we want to
set them up for success and
help them build skills they
can use on and off the court
for the rest of their lives,”
says Acting Executive Direc-
tor and Senior Director of
Tennis David Kimani.
Grassroots helped a
record 168 youngsters this
fall, including hosting seven
in-house Junior Team Ten-
nis teams, the most by any
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
New England organization
in 2022. The NJTL provides
daily tennis instruction and
academic support five days a
week, plus additional week-
end on-court opportunities
for high-level players.
“It’s most special for me
to see those youngsters
coming out and looking for-
ward to being on the tennis
court,” Kimani says. “If they
keep believing in us, they’ll
keep coming back.”
—James Maimonis
43

Jeff Williams
TENNIS INDUSTRY SERVICE AWARD
Throughout his more than
35 years in the tennis indus-
try as a publisher and media
executive, Jeff Williams
has been recognized for his
continued involvement in
growing the game locally,
nationally and internation-
ally—and he is this year’s
recipient of RSI's Tennis
Industry Service Award.
“This sport has been an
incredible driver for me,”
Williams has said. “[As a
44 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
kid], tennis helped build up
my self-esteem while teach-
ing me many important
life lessons, including how
to deal with adversity and
perform under pressure.”
Williams, the current
president of the Tennis
Industry Association and
longtime publisher of
Racquet Sports Industry
magazine, began selling
advertising for the trade
magazine Tennis Industry
Tip for Success
To strengthen the industry, strive to inspire a
culture of excellence and innovation.
(later RSI) shortly after
graduating from the Uni-
versity of Florida, and by
1985 he had become owner,
publisher and editor of the
publication. He became a
member of the TIA board of
directors in 1990. In 2001,
he added roles as publisher
of Tennis Magazine and
Tennis.com, becoming a
managing partner in the
Tennis Media Company in
2014. He was a driving force
behind the acquisition of
Tennis Magazine, Tennis.
com and RSI by Tennis
Channel in March 2017. On
the volunteer side, Williams
has served as president of
USTA Eastern, and was on
the national board of the
USTA, in addition to serving
on numerous committees.
While he recently has
stepped away from his roles
with Tennis Channel, Wil-
liams has remained presi-
dent of the TIA, a position
he took on in 2016, and he
has lately been quarterback-
ing a key change in the non-
profit organization, scaling
back many of the programs
and initiatives and focusing
the TIA on research and
data for the industry.
“Jeff has played a key
role over the years in the
tennis industry and in the
leadership of the TIA,” says
Mickey Maule, the USTA’s
managing director of
Engagement and Services.
COURTESY TIA, USTA TEXAS
“Overall, we would not be
moving the TIA forward
without his vision and
ability to bring brands and
organizations together to
move the game and trade
association forward. We are
grateful for Jeff's contribu-
tion to the sport of tennis
and to the TIA.”
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR 2022
CHAMPIONS OF TENNIS!
ADAPTIVE TENNIS CHAMPION OF THE
YEAR

Joyce Dreslin
Nick Taylor
Wheelchair Tennis Champion of the Year

Melissa McCorkle
Adult Tennis Provider of the Year

University of Nebraska-Kearney, Grundy Tennis Center

Collegiate Tennis Facility of the Year

Joyce Dreslin of Arlington, Texas,

has become a tennis legend in the Lone
Star State due to her significant contri-
butions in serving adaptive athletes—
which this year earned her a spot in the
Texas Tennis Hall of Fame. Although
she didn’t play tennis until she was past

Congratulationsto
age 30, she quickly made up for lost
time, becoming an active Texas Tennis
and USTA national volunteer for more
than three decades, and building a

GrassrootsTennis&Education
reputation as an incredible advocate
and expert resource.
Dreslin got involved in adaptive ten-
nis when her husband had a stroke and

ofNorwalk,CTforwinning
she heard that tennis was a good means
of rehab for those with disabilities.
She currently serves on the National
USTA Adaptive Committee (and is a

YouthTennisProvider
past chair), and has earned prestigious
awards including the USTA Texas
Henry Cox Adaptive Award and the
USTA National Volunteer Exceptional
Service Award.
“Joyce works tirelessly on the local,
section and national levels," says com-
munity tennis advocate Scott Hanover.
—Judy Leand
oftheYear!
Tip for Success
Help to expand the
game’s appeal and reach
by fostering an inclusive
environment for adaptive
athletes.

www.tennisindustrymag.com January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 45


US Open Girls Rule the
INNOVATIVE TENNIS EVENT OF THE YEAR
Wheelchair Court
Championships
History was made at the 2022 US Open Wheelchair Cham-
pionships presented by Deloitte, as junior wheelchair tennis
players competed at a Grand Slam tournament in New York
for the first time. The 16-player draw was comprised of eight
boys and eight girls from eight countries, and the event was
won by No. 1-seed Ben Bartram of Great Britain and unseeded
Jade Moreira Lanai (above) of Brazil.
Stacey Allaster, tournament director of the US Open,
reports that the USTA remains committed to providing more
opportunities at the highest level of the sport. “We hope that
this is a catalyst for the continued growth of wheelchair tennis,
the most effectively integrated and inclusive Paralympic sport
in the world,” she says. —Cindy Cantrell
Tip for Success
Showcasing wheelchair athletes inspires other young
athletes with disabilities to learn the sport and aspire
to its highest levels.
46 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
Tip for Success
Find and implement solutions to
remove barriers to equity and increase
access to the sport.
INNOVATIVE INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
“I’m going to be an athlete!” That’s what one of the youngest
Girls Rule the Court participants, Iman Blackston, said when
asked what she wants to be when she grows up. For the last five
months, Iman has been learning tennis in the city of Baltimore
thanks to a new program from USTA Mid-Atlantic called Girls
Rule the Court (GRTC), a low- to no-cost introductory tennis
program for young girls to promote health, wellness and team-
work while building self-esteem and positive social-emotional
growth through tennis.
The program is being piloted in three communities and
aims to reach girls that may not have access to tennis. GRTC
COURTESY USTA, USTA MID -ATLANTIC
is held at public park tennis courts or at schools, and all ten-
nis equipment is provided. Every session includes important
dialogue about such topics as teamwork, leadership, and the
benefits of moving your body. What’s more, the program is led
by female coaches, mentors and organizers, enabling partici-
pants to see and learn from women in leadership and coaching
roles. —Lauren Hoffmann
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Tip for Success
A reconstruction project takes patience and
perseverance. Approach it like a marathon.
Whitney Young
SCHOOL FACILITY OF THE YEAR
High School
A focus on excellence at a
public school in Chicago’s
West Loop infuses every
part of school life. Whitney
Young Magnet High School,
RSI’s School Facility of
the Year—a new awards
COURTESY USTA
category—proved it on the
tennis courts in 2017 when
it became the first Chicago
public school to finish in
www.tennisindustrymag.com
first place in the Illinois
high school tennis champi-
onships.
That’s why a tennis court
refurbishing in 2022 was
so important to players,
parents and the commu-
nity. The project took three
years to finish at a cost of
$240,000, with contribu-
tions coming from neigh-
bors, alumni, the city and
the USTA.
“It was a labor of love,”
says Todd Carlson, the
USTA’s director of tennis
venue services, who noted
that Friends of Whitney
Young, a community sup-
port group, raised substan-
tial funding to redo the run-
down courts and drove the
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
project forward. “It was nice
to be able to lift up those
courts and give pride to the
team and the school.”
Named for former USTA
president and Whitney
Young graduate Katrina
Adams (photo), the courts
are co-located with a new
$4.3 million athletic com-
plex that bears the name of
former first lady Michelle
Obama, another alum.
Adorned with the school’s
orange and navy blue, the
update included resurfac-
ing, new nets, a secure gate,
and an online booking sys-
tem that guarantees public
court time for a reasonable
fee. About 750 players
have made 2,570 bookings
since the courts reopened
last summer, Carlson says.
Proceeds fund school tennis
activities and court mainte-
nance.
“The courts provide an
incredible setting for play
with the Chicago skyline as
a backdrop,” notes USTA
Chicago District Executive
Director Jill Siegel. “But
more importantly, they
represent the hard work of
a school community that
rallied behind the effort to
improve the courts.”
—Joe Tedino
47

City of Los Angeles
PARK & RECREATION AGENCY OF THE YEAR
With the 2028 Summer
Olympics on the horizon,
the City of Los Angeles has
ramped up its efforts to re-
flect the spirit of the games
through the development
of athletic opportunities
throughout the metropolis,
including an emphasis on
growing the game of tennis
across Los Angeles com-
munities.
Tennis has been a vital
48 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
component of the city’s
PlayLA initiative, providing
youth-based programming
in underserved and high-
risk communities. Work-
ing with USTA Southern
California, the City of Los
Angeles has embarked on
a pilot project funded by
the California Board and
Community Corrections
to implement tennis and
violence intervention and
Tip for Success
Expanding opportunities in underserved
communities will help grow tennis locally
and nationally.
prevention to four neigh-
borhood sites in the city.
City Rec & Parks
General Manager Jimmy
Kim, and his predecessor
Mike Schull, have been
instrumental in expanding
programming at many of
their sites to assist and sup-
port the USTA in growing
the game of tennis for a new
generation of gold medal
champions. —Darryl Nash
COURTESY USTA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, PTR
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Tip for Success
Always seek more education, for yourself and for your staff.
PTR MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Nigel Pugh
Although repeat Champi-
ons of Tennis award winners
are rare, Nigel Pugh of San
Ramon, Calif., has proven
that he again deserves the
honor of RSI’s PTR Member
of the Year. The winner of
this award in 2014, Pugh
continues to make the game
thrive, as the longtime di-
rector of tennis for the City
of Fremont.
Pugh, who won the 2014
PTR/USTA Community
Service Award, was born
www.tennisindustrymag.com
in Australia and played
the junior circuit, securing
a spot on the Australian
Junior Davis Cup team. As
an instructor, he’s taught at
every level of the game, from
2-year-olds up to 85-year-
olds, and from beginners to
WTA Tour pros.
For more than a decade,
Pugh has been a coach edu-
cator, working with the PTR
and the USTA. In addition to
being certified with the PTR,
he’s also a certified pro with
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
the USPTA, Professional
Pickleball Registry, Tennis
Australia and the Australian
Tennis Professional Coaches
Association.
“Nigel has spent hundreds
of hours traveling around
the country on behalf of
the PTR, helping coaches
become the best versions of
themselves while enhancing
the overall delivery system
of our sport,” says PTR COO
Brian Parkkonen.
—Judy Leand
49

USTA Intermountain
USTA SECTION OF YEAR
Known for its geographic
diversity and grassroots
structure, USTA Inter-
mountain rallied through
2022’s pandemic recovery
and unprecedented natural
disasters with steady
growth. Resilient and expe-
rienced leaders set the tone
for the positive culture that
continues to gain industry-
wide accolades.
“I witnessed Intermoun-
tain’s team-building and
collaborative leadership
effort across what is likely
50 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
the largest geography in the
nation. Impressive, to say
the least,” says the USTA’s
Mickey Maule.
Adult leagues in the
section grew 2.72 percent
in 2022. Colorado—In-
termountain’s biggest
district—runs the largest
non-advancing Junior Team
Tennis program in the
country, and Intermountain
hosts three of the largest
tournaments in the nation.
But what truly sets the sec-
tion apart is the bottom-up
Tip for Success
A positive culture and collaborative leadership
can help all parties flourish.
service leadership approach environments, Intermoun- C O U RT E SY U S TA I N T E R M O O U N TA I N, U S P TA
to governance. tain always tops the list. The
“What works well in one support that I have received
district doesn’t always work since coming on board on
in other areas,” explains both a professional and
USTA Intermountain Ex- personal level from Rob and
ecutive Director Rob Scott. the section board has been
“We make sure all of our amazing.”
districts are included in key
policy decisions.”
New Intermountain
Section League Coordina-
tor Liz Murrieta concurs.
“When those who are famil-
iar with the USTA discuss
healthy and happy work
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Tip for Success
Create a positive culture in which
kids can gain confidence and feel free
to make mistakes.
USPTA MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Carrie Zarraonandia
A longtime member of the
USPTA Northern California
family, Carrie Zarraonandia
of San Rafael serves as vice
president of the USPTA
NorCal Board of Directors.
She recently spearheaded
a successful fall division
conference—the division’s
first in-person event since
the pandemic hit—in which
she arranged guest speak-
ers and presented Northern
California’s first pickleball
demo session.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Throughout 2022, Zarra- honors, the 2022 Alex Gor-
onandia continued her work don Professional of the Year
as a speaker and certified Award.
trainer for the Positive “Carrie has been an inspi-
Coaching Alliance, and was rational leader for women
the faculty coach for USTA, throughout the USPTA,”
working seasonal and local says USPTA CEO John Em-
player development camps bree. —Judy Leand
for both high-performance
and ROG players. In 2021,
she served on the Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion Com-
mittee. Her hard work and
devotion recently earned
her one of the top USPTA
USTA Midwest congratulates
2022 Person of the Year
Mike McNulty
USTA Chairman of the Board
and President
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 51

Tennis-Point
ONLINE RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Germany-based Tennis-Point is a top global tennis equip-
ment supplier, and its American business, Tennis-Point USA
(formerly Midwest Sports Tennis) is a leading online tennis
store, boasting one of the largest in-stock inventories of tennis
equipment. The company’s 40,000-square-foot automated
warehouse in Cincinnati allows for a comprehensive product
selection, fast shipping and competitive pricing, and the col-
lections carried are consistently first-to-market.
Tennis-Point’s staff members—many of whom are tennis
players—provide personalized service to all customers includ-
ing school teams, leagues and clubs. The company is the official
on-site retailer of the Western & Southern Open tournament
each summer, and will continue as the Official Racquet Sports
Retailer of the ATP Tour through 2025.
“As predominantly an online tennis retailer, Tennis-Point
has really embraced grassroots tennis in the USA market,”
says the USTA's Mickey Maule. “They are much more than an
online tennis retailer, fully supporting growing the game at all
levels—from recreational to high-performance partnerships.”
PTR CEO Dan Santorum concurs: “We started our relation-
ship this year and it’s been fantastic. Tennis-Point provides great
service, good prices and a broad product line.” —Judy Leand
Tip for Success
Whether online or brick-and-mortar, offer an
extensive product assortment at competitive prices,
along with personalized service.
52 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
Tip for Success
College tennis facilities can and should play
a crucial role in providing tennis access and
opportunities to local communities.
University of
COLLEGE FACILITY OF THE YEAR
Nebraska-
Kearney
Our Collegiate Tennis Facility of the Year, a new award for
SHUTTERSTOCK, COURTESY USTA MISS OURI VALLEY
RSI, is an example of what can happen when the local com-
munity, city leaders and the collegiate community combine
forces. The $9 million Ernest Grundy Tennis Center at the
University of Nebraska-Kearney opened in spring 2022, and
came to be through one large financial gift, city grants and oth-
er funds, as well as contributions from University of Nebraska-
Kearney and the Kearney Tennis Association (KTA).
The center is operated by the Kearney Parks & Recreation
Department and features six indoor courts with mezzanine
spectator seating. It also offers office space, conference rooms
and locker room space for the UNK women’s tennis team, and
provides year-round tennis access to the public. The KTA helps
program the facility and already has about 100 kids in lessons.
“This new facility will lead to growth in the Kearney tennis
community, as the university has a partnership with the city,”
says USTA collegiate consultant Scott Treibly. “Since opening,
[the university] has added men's tennis and is set to host the
ITA Division 2 National Indoors next year. It is truly a model
for the rest of the country.” —Andrea Gallagher
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Tip for Success
All people deserve to have equitable access to
high-quality recreation facilities, programs
and park spaces.

TENNIS ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Jodie Adams
Jodie Adams has been instrumental in
promoting tennis for 40 years. A former
pro circuit player who left the tour to
take a full-time position in the Spring-
C
ONGR
ATULA
TIO
NSTOO
U R
field, Mo., parks, she’s been a longtime
national volunteer with the USTA, serv-
2
022CHA
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ONSO
FTENNI
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ing on the Parks Committee and many
others, including as a member of the
USTA Board of Directors from 1990 to
2000. She also spent eight years on the
Board of Trustees for the National Rec- USTANor ther
nCalif
orni
ai sproudoftheworkbeingdone
reation and Park Association, including togrow tennisinoursecti
on,andweappr eci
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ortsofallofourmembersand
“Currently, I’m working with the partners.
USTA as a consultant, focusing on
growing tennis through the parks and
PTRMEMBEROFTHEYEAR
working with key partners to make that
happen,” says Adams, who now lives NigelPugh
in Billings, Mont. “Since more than 70
percent of tennis is played at public fa- USPTAMEMBEROFTHEYEAR
cilities, we need to continue to grow and Car
ri
eZar
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renovate those venues to ensure that
future generations continue to have a
healthy, public alternative for staying fit Andaspeci
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physically and mentally through tennis.” MikeMcNul
tyforbei
ngnamedPERSONOFTHEYEAR.
Says one colleague working with her
at the USTA, “Jodie is preserving and
developing tennis court infrastruc-
ture—one facility at a time!”

www.tennisindustrymag.com January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 53

 ADAPTIVE
2023 TENNIS
TEACHING PROS
Adapting
the
Game
With altered teaching methods, you can
help players with mobility and cognitive
issues enjoy tennis for a lifetime.
By Bob Ingersole
A
n often-overlooked
aspect of growing tennis
is reaching out to play-
ers with physical and
cognitive challenges.
There are about a million people in
this country whose tennis has been
impacted by significant mobility and/
or cognitive impairment, and at any
moment, any one of us could become a
part of this group.
I’ve worked with professional play-
ers, college players and many juniors,
but I’ve been struck by how rewarding
it is to work with the adult and senior
population. This has challenged me to
re-think both what I teach and how I
teach it.
Each student is different. They have
different goals and different learning
modes. They also experience a variety
of vision, balance, mobility and other
challenges. Sometimes they are not
even aware that they have some of
these limitations.
Tennis is a game of geometry,
54 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
physics and psychology. By adapting
your teaching methods, you can help
those older players and players with
mobility/cognitive issues enjoy the
sport for a lifetime.
Geometry
Players with limited mobility, whether
senior players or adaptive athletes,
are likely going to be playing mostly
doubles. In fact, they are great candi-
dates to become doubles specialists.
Since there is less court to cover and
the movement is mostly up and back
instead of side to side, it makes it
much gentler on knees, hips and lower
back. (If getting four players together
is difficult, there are other forms of
“doubles” tennis , using only two or
three players.)
Here are some tips that might help
older players, and players with mobil-
ity issues, use the geometry of the
court in their favor:
• The control of patterns in doubles
can easily be understood by visualiz-
ing the court split into a left half and a
right half, with each partner responsi-
ble for covering their half of the court
from baseline to net.
• Have your players visualize the court
split in half horizontally, from sideline
to sideline.
The receiver standing near the ser-
vice line is able to attack balls that are
in the higher part of their strike zone
and defend when the ball is low.
Placement of aggressive volleys and
overheads should usually be through
the center.
Low volleys and any volley or over-
head that is difficult to reach should be
played conservatively, either deep or
short, and away from the net person.
If both players are at net, the difficult
volley goes back at their feet to make
them hit up to the opponent.
• The goal of the server or receiver is
to take control with a placement that
allows coverage of the court effectively
and maximizes a player’s strengths
against his opponents’ weaknesses.
For instance, by placing the serve
down the center, the receiver’s ability
to hit a short, wide shot is taken away.
• Geometrically, players should hit
depth to depth, angle to angle. Your
players should center themselves in
the middle of their opponents’ pos-
sible shots.
• The longest distance to cover in
doubles is up and back. The center of
that distance is near the service line.
A player with severe mobility limita-
tions may only be able to take a few
walking steps at a time. It may take
them two or three shots to achieve a
geometrically centered court position.
• Taking steps forward into “No Man’s
Land” while the ball is in the air is a
tactically sound move to counter short
shots. After a player makes a shot,
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 There are about a million people in this country whose tennis
has been impacted by significant mobility and/or cognitive impairment.
he or she should continue moving
forward, keeping in mind the deeper
the shot, the more steps forward they
can take.
• Stop, or split-step, as the opponent is
about to contact the ball, to be able to
read and react to the shot, and to stay
balanced.
• For players with limited mobility,
help them develop deep drives, short
angles, drop shots, lobs, touch low vol-
leys and half volleys.
Physics
Players with mobility limitations may
not be able to move with pro-level
speed, but they can still add some pro-
fessional tactics to their arsenal.
Pros produce powerful ground-
strokes by using their body’s kinetic
chain, pushing against the ground
with their strongest muscles first,
their legs. The force is transferred up
through the body, ultimately creating
www.tennisindustrymag.com
great racquet-head velocity. This is
needed to produce the topspin they
need to control the power and keep
the ball in the court.
• Taking shots in the higher part of the
strike zone and hitting flat, or even
with slice, is very different from the
usual singles practice of letting the
ball drop to about waist height before
hitting up with topspin.
• Taking the shot at shoulder height
allows players to stand further inside
the baseline and shorten the distance
to their opponents.
• Changing the physics of the stroke
from topspin to flat or slice changes
the geometry of the court by short-
ening the distance between a player
and his or her opponents. This is very
different from the need to hit deep in
singles.
• While Western and semi-Western
January 2023 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
grips are great for hitting topspin,
they require changing grips to volley
effectively. Eastern or Continental
grips are perfect for hitting flat or slice
as well as for volleys.
• Another benefit of using an Eastern
or Continental grip is that they create
a much larger margin of error through
the hitting (contact) zone.
• Good doubles players keep the ball
low. Those shots need to be handled
with touch, which requires being on
balance. A short backswing and—most
important—proper placement of the
back leg, will help control low volleys
and half-volleys.
• Another effective shot in doubles is
the slice lob (or touch lob) over the
opponent’s head. This will allow your
player to move near the service line,
better able to handle any shot that
might come back.
55
 ADAPTIVE
2023 TENNIS
• The serve and the return are the two
most important shots in tennis.
In doubles, the “bread and butter”
serve placement is right at the returner,
which limits their options on the return.
Your player should take a full, slow
backswing on the serve to build
momentum on the racquet head, then
reach up to a high contact point. Snap-
ping the wrist on the serve, as many
pros teach, may produce an occasional
ace, but also will produce many more
faults.
Serve placement is more impor-
tant than power. A spin serve, either
slice or topspin, is effective since the
spin can be tough for the returner to
control.
A savvy player can do a lot of damage
when returning serve. One tactic is to
take the return in the higher part of
the strike zone, flatten out the shot,
then hit it back to the server. Taking
the return at shoulder height lets the
receiver move forward to an aggressive
court position as well.
Using the Australian formation, with
both players on the serving team on
56 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2023
the same side of the court, can neutral-
ize an opponent’s strong crosscourt
return and direct the patterns to
maximize the server’s strengths. If an
opponent has a fearsome return on the
ad side to a righty’s backhand, playing
Australian will force the returner to
hit over the highest part of the net,
into the shortest amount of court and
to the server’s strength, the forehand.
Psychology
People play tennis for many reasons.
Usually, as people age, they get a
better sense of themselves and what
makes them happy.
• Ask questions so you can better
understand your players’ goals and
motivations. Why are you here? What
do you want to accomplish? How will
you measure success? What are your
strengths and weaknesses, both on and
off the court? What are your long-term,
intermediate and short-term goals?
• A player should evaluate his or her
skill sets to help forge an achievable
game plan to reach their goals.
• They should also evaluate their life
experiences. Strengths and weak-
nesses don’t only apply to forehands
and backhands.
For instance, an engineer or
physicist may be able to get a deeper
understanding of stroke production
by drawing on their knowledge of the
laws of Newtonian physics. Similarly,
Bernoulli’s principle describes the
relationship between pressure and
velocity of a fluid; this relates directly
to the creation and use of topspin and
slice. An accountant may evaluate the
efficacy of their tactics by analyzing
the percentage and nature of their
winners versus errors. A business per-
son may utilize their problem-solving
experience to formulate or alter match
tactics.
• Players need to evaluate their ability
to focus on the present moment, to be
in the “here and now.” Knowing their
limitations will help craft a game plan
that will maximize their strengths.
• When trouble looms, make sure your
players slow down, have a game plan,
and play in the “here and now” by go-
ing back to their rituals, visualization
and breathing. They need to take con-
trol of what is under their control. •
A USPTA P1 and PTR certified pro, Bob
Ingersole is the president of Ingersole
Events & Tennis Management LLC,
president of the USTA Eastern Junior
Tennis Foundation, MetroTennis CTA
and director of Advantage Camps. A
native of Australia, he moved to the U.S.
in 1976 after playing on the pro tour. He’s
taught several hundred nationally ranked
juniors and adults and 20 professional
tour players. As a past President of USTA
Eastern, Ingersole serves on the section
Board. He is currently a member of the
USTA Junior Competition Committee.
Among his awards are induction into the
USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame and,
in 2018, recipient of the USTA Volunteer
Exceptional Service Award.
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ADD_January_2023.indd 57 11/22/2022 3:18:21 PM
 CEO MESSAGE
O
ne of the biggest challenges
that we face when cobbling
together our ADDvantage
section for Racquet Sports Industry
Magazine each month is to provide
content that is both educational and
interesting. With that in mind, I am de-
lighted to announce that we have added
world-renowned writer and International
Tennis Hall of Famer, Steve Flink, to our
editorial staff. He will be making monthly
contributions to ADDvantage beginning
with this issue.
Steve and I have been industry
colleagues since my early days at Wilson.
I first met Steve as he was covering Chris
Evert during her final days as a player. We
have since crossed paths multiple times
over the course of the last 35+ years, but
never more frequently than during
International Hall of Fame events since
his induction in the Contributor
58 ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE
ADD_January_2023.indd 58
STEVE FLINK (IN THE MIDDLE) — WITH ITHF INDUCTEES
John R. Embree, USPTA CEO
category in 2017. Whether it be during
the Enshrinement weekends in Newport
in July, or during the U.S. Open at the
Hall of Fame Legends Ball, I have always
enjoyed reconnecting with Steve to share
our individual perspectives on the state of
the game.
Here is some biographical information
about Steve:
Just shy of his 13th birthday, Steve
Flink was taken out to Wimbledon for the
first time by his father in 1965. From that
day forward, he was thoroughly immersed
in the game, and even hooked on it.
By 1972, when he was twenty, Flink
established himself with journalists and
players who appreciated his photographic
memory. He started working behind the
scenes that year with Bud Collins at
Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Collins
called Flink his “aide de camp.”
Flink’s first published piece— an
interview with Chris Evert at the 1973
French Open— was published by World
Tennis Magazine. He went to work full
time for that highly regarded publication
in 1974 and stayed there until the last
days of the magazine in 1991. From 1992
until 2007, he was a senior correspondent
for Tennis Week Magazine. From 2007-
2021 he was a columnist for the Tennis
Channel and Tennis.com.
He is the author of four books on the
sport, starting with his collaboration
alongside Dennis Ralston on the
“Dennis Ralston Tennis Workbook” in
1987. In 1999, he wrote “The Greatest
Tennis Matches of the Twentieth
Century”, and in 2012 he penned “The
Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time”. In
2020, Flink released his latest book
entitled “Pete Sampras: Greatness
Revisited”, a thorough career
biography of a sports icon recognized by
JANUARY 2023
11/22/2022 3:18:24 PM

STEVE FLINK (ON THE RIGHT) — INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME
most authorities as the greatest American
male tennis player of all time. On the
back cover, Sampras refers to Flink as “a
tennis purist. He followed my career as
closely as any journalist.”
From 1972 until 1982, Flink was a
statistician for ABC, NBC, and CBS on
JANUARY 2023
ADD_January_2023.indd 59
CEO MESSAGE
inducted at the International Tennis Hall
of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island and
was presented at the ceremony by Evert.
I suspect you may have read an article
written by Steve in various publications
or one of his books that trace the history
of our sport. Many insiders consider Steve
as the dean of American tennis writers.
So, this past summer in Newport, we
were casually chatting during one of the
many social gatherings during the Hall
of Fame festivities and the idea came up
“what if?” Without hesitation, he
accepted my invitation and is excited to
provide his expertise to our membership
on all things tennis.
To bring a world class writer of his
reputation to our little magazine is
incredibly meaningful and fortuitous. I
could not be more thrilled to have Steve
their tennis telecasts and from 1982-
on board and to call him a friend. I look
2009, he worked as an on-air reporter for
forward, as I am sure you all will as well,
CBS Radio at the French Open,
to read his monthly submissions which
Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
will undoubtedly cover a wide range
In 2010, Flink was elected to the
of topics that are relevant to the tennis
Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame. Seven years
world today.*
later, in the summer of 2017, he was
ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE
ADDVAN 59
11/22/2022 3:18:25 PM
ADD_January_2023.indd 60 11/22/2022 3:18:31 PM
ADD_January_2023.indd 61 11/22/2022 3:18:32 PM
 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT MESSAGE
Trish Faulkner, USPTA First Vice President
F
or many years the USPTA had
a thriving Foundation thanks
to the efforts of Pat Whitworth,
Don Gomsi and Nancy Cox. Five years
ago, the Board assessed our existing
foundation funding and the mandato-
ry legal licenses which were required
for each state to be able to continue to
operate our own USPTA Foundation.
After much deliberation and research
into other options the Board voted to
rollover our existing fund into the USTA
National Foundation with the agreement
that USPTA would still have their own
separate funds to disperse.
Unfortunately, over the last four years
USPTA members have not been able
to help raise enough funds for our own
Foundation. USTA Foundation graciously
split two of their fundraising efforts with
our grant fund to give the USPTA Grant
Fund the ability to give out approximately
$30,000 over the last few years to deserv-
ing charitable organizations with USPTA
members. However, there has been very
little in donations or fundraising efforts to
contribute new monies into our current
Foundation funds.
Due to Feisal Hassan and Mark Faber’s
efforts to improve the USPTA’s DE&I
goals, many new Task Forces were formed
to highlight our member’s diversity and to
make sure all professionals were feeling
welcome and inclusive. Board member
Jenny Gray has now moved the needle
and has created a very active dialogue
with all the Task Force leaders. These
Task Forces are running some amazing
programs within their communities
and divisions, and many are eligible for
grants. But the amount in our USPTA
Foundation Grant Fund has dropped to
just $15,000 and in 2022 USPTA efforts
raised very little monies for our own
62 ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE
ADD_January_2023.indd 62
Foundation. Our funds are coming from
our endorsees, and from shared activities
with the USTA Foundation.
Every member has the opportunity
to request a grant if they are organizing
or running a program that needs fund-
ing and that qualifies under our fund
guidelines. For example, Love Serving
Autism’s founder, Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix,
is a USPTA certified tennis professional.
One of her organization’s missions is to
reach as many tennis pros as possible to
include them for adaptive programming.
Love Serving Autism applied for and
was granted $2,500 that was used to
hire and train new tennis professionals
in the industry to teach both adaptive
and inclusive programming. “With your
generous support, the grant enabled us to
expand our programming reach to serve
more neurodiverse individuals and to
train USPTA tennis professionals to make
an impact both on and off the courts,”
explained Pugliese-LaCroix.
We need to help raise funds for our
own Foundation!! Our professionals are
very active and creative. I am sure we can
all find ways to do a fundraiser – large or
small at our facilities.
One day a year $5 extra dollars from
each lesson given that day could go
to the USPTA Foundation! You can add it
to the price of the lesson, it does not have
to come out of your pocket.
Hold a raffle at one of your social
events or tournaments.
If all of our members raised even $100
each, we would double what we have in
our Foundation at the moment. I know
we all run many other charity events for
great causes and our Foundation may not
be at the top of the list. But these funds
are there for you when you need them to
start a new tennis program or event.
Please send your suggestions to
triosports2@gmail.com and let me
know how you would like to see our
Foundation thrive in the future.*
JANUARY 2023
11/22/2022 3:18:34 PM
 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT MESSAGE

JANUARY 2023 ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE 63

ADD_January_2023.indd 63 11/22/2022 3:18:37 PM

 2022 RSI
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR USPTA PROS FOR BEING NAMED

CHAMPIONS OF
TENNIS
USPTA MEMBER OF THE YEAR
CARRIE ZARRAONANDIA

PTR MEMBER OF THE YEAR

NIGEL PUGH

JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPION

OF THE YEAR
ROBERT SASSEVILLE

RACQUET TECHNICIAN
OF THE YEAR
ALBERT MURATA

HIGH SCHOOL COACH

OF THE YEAR
DELAINE MAST

ADULT TENNIS PROVIDER

OF THE YEAR
MELISSA MCCORKLE

WE'RE PROUD THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR INDUSTRY

ADD_January_2023.indd 64 11/22/2022 3:18:38 PM

 REFLECTIONS

Steve Flink, International Tennis Hall of Famer

A
s we head into the heart of a new season in the world of
professional tennis, all of us would do well to pause for one
brief moment, recollect the year gone by and celebrate the
individuals who made 2022 fulfilling on so many fronts.
Iga Swiatek established herself unequivocally as the best player in the
world, claiming the French and U.S. Open titles. The 21-year-old from
Poland dynamically brought much needed stability to the women’s game,
and her best is surely yet to come. Among the men, Spain’s electrifying
Carlos Alcaraz surged to No. 1 in the world and became the first male
teenager since Rafael Nadal in 2005 to secure a Grand Slam title,
winning the U.S. Open.
Meanwhile, Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s enduring excellence
was showcased once more as they claimed the three other premier
SERENA WILLIAMS
prizes in the sport, putting Nadal in the lead with the most men’s Courtesy Of;
BNP Paribas WTA
majors ever at 22 and Djokovic only one title behind.
Championship
All of the aforementioned players enriched the tennis
landscape immeasurably in 2022.
And yet, they were overshadowed in many ways by two
towering champions who announced their retirements in late
summer and early fall, leaving fans in every corner of the globe
deeply saddened by their departures. Each had been in and
around the upper regions of the game for a quarter of a century.
First Serena Williams, and then Roger Federer, bid farewell only a
few weeks apart. She closed the curtain on an illustrious career after
a third round U.S. Open loss, addressing the fans afterwards in New
York, fighting in vain to hold back the tears. Federer was even more
emotional after playing the last match of his career alongside Nadal
in doubles at the Laver Cup in London, weeping several times during
a post-match interview as fans and fellow players were unmistakably
moved by what they witnessed.
Williams and Federer were singularly estimable champions
transcending tennis in a multitude of ways. She emerged
magnificently from an impoverished upbringing in California, following
in the footsteps of her dignified older sister Venus. Serena collected 23
major singles titles between 1999 and 2017 to set the Open Era record
for women. Venus won seven and joined her more accomplished sister
in taking the women’s game to a new level of athleticism and
physicality.
But Serena was the most significant female player of her era. She
sweepingly captured the attention of a worldwide public who
marveled at her speed, shot making potency and, above all else,
extraordinary ferocity as a competitor. Her mind was every
bit as much a weapon as her incomparable serve, inarguably
the best ever in women’s tennis. She reshaped women’s tennis

STRY JANUARY 2023 ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE 65

ADD_January_2023.indd 65 11/23/2022 11:17:40 AM

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almost single-handedly. No female athlete
has done more to raise the profile of a
sport.
Federer was an entirely different kind
of player and personality. He was all
about grace and elegance. There was an
almost balletic beauty to his
craftsmanship, an unmistakable artistry
and imagination, a singularity of purpose
in how he went about his business. Feder-
er enthralled galleries everywhere he went
in the world. I have been watching top-
flight tennis for nearly 58 years and have
never seen a champion engender such
sustained popularity. Federer captured
20 Grand Slam titles and once reached a
men’s record major 23 semifinals in a row,
won 103 tournaments altogether, and was
the most consistent member of the much
heralded “Big Three” of his era.
Through it all—whether he was in the
springtime, summer, or autumn of his
splendid career—Federer was endlessly
showered with affection from fans who
flocked to his contests and were ineffably
inspired by his performances. He was not
ST
S
S
JANUARY 2023
ADD_January_2023.indd 67
REFLECTIONS
simply popular but inimitably revered. Some erudite observers believe
His unshakable demeanor, outstanding Williams should be regarded as the best
sportsmanship and impenetrability set woman player ever to lift a racket.
him apart. Federer was a sports figure Other authorities view Federer as the
unlike any other who cherished what he greatest male player of all time. In the
was doing perhaps more than anyone else ultimate analysis, it doesn’t matter. What
in his profession. is more pertinent is this: the two most
important players of the last 25 years are
gone, leaving a void which will be awfully
difficult to fill, making all of us
extraordinarily contemplative. The
coming year will inevitably be
compelling, but the irreplace-
able Williams and Federer will
be sorely missed not only by the
tennis cognoscenti but also among
mainstream sports followers.*
ROGER FEDERER
Courtesy Of;
U.S. Open
Championship
ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE 67
11/23/2022 11:17:45 AM
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 COMMUNICATION CONNECTIONS

ging

D
o you purchase products from
our endorsees regularly?
Why not earn money back on
those purchases and start saving for your
future? You can get started by joining the
Supplemental Savings program today!
In case you didn’t know, USPTA has
—
developed a program that provides Madison Faulkner, Public Relations Coordinator
w for
USPTA-certified professionals with a
savings plan, each customizable to their As we head into 2023, we have SIX endorsees who are participating in our
unique needs. The Supplemental Savings Supplemental Savings Program with more to come throughout the year:
Program features a
vendor-supported savings plan with some
of our endorsees contributing
commissions to USPTA members who are
enrolled in the program. This program
is a great way to get money back from
purchases you already make from our
endorsees, and we make this a seamless
and rewarding process for everyone who
is participating.

S USPTA professionals are given a menu

of investment options, each bringing

E: their own unique opportunity for growth,

principal protection and/or income. The
USPTA Supplemental Savings program
includes both a Non-Qualified Plan and
ds a Qualified Retirement (tax deferred)
option.
One of those options offered is an In-
dividual Retirement Account. IRA’s were
created to give people a
tax-advantaged way to save for
retirement. The biggest advantage is not
having to pay taxes on annual investment
You can find all of this information on our website by visiting bit.ly/USPTASSP
earnings (gains, interest, or dividends)
while your savings are in the account. The
earlier you start to save in a tax-deferred
IRA, the more time you have for those
savings to grow through the power of
tax-deferred compounding!
JANUARY 2023 ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE 69

ADD_January_2023.indd 69 11/22/2022 3:18:49 PM

ADD_January_2023.indd 70 11/22/2022 3:18:50 PM

Tennis Warehouse and Fila have
teamed up to create an
EXCLUSIVE SHOE for
USPTA TEACHING PROS!
Michelle Heidbrink,
TW Product Tester/Content Creator
“We are extremely excited for what Fila
and Tennis Warehouse have done for our
USPTA members with this exclusive USPTA
Fila Speedserve shoe. It’s a great looking
shoe! When wearing it, our USPTA certified
professionals can show their pride in their
membership, have confidence in the
quality of the shoe’s performance and
represent Fila tennis footwear to their
students! The USPTA appreciates this level
JANUARY 2023 of support from our endorsees.”
ADD_January_2023.indd 71
MEMBER BENEFITS
T
ennis Warehouse, the official footwear and
apparel supplier for the USPTA, has joined
forces with Fila to create an exclusive tennis
shoe for USPTA teaching pros. Loaded with comfort
for a full day on the court, the Fila Speedserve was an
obvious choice for Tennis Warehouse when picking
the best shoe for this project. The Fila Speedserve
made its debut on both the men’s and women’s side
in 2022 and quickly received high praise for offering
great support, stability and cushioning while
remaining light and flexible making it an ideal option
for teaching pros who spend their days teaching,
hitting and even competing. The durable rubber
outsole and tread make it an easy choice no matter
the court surface while the generous fit ensures
players will find step-in comfort.
With this exclusive special make up, teaching
pros can be proud to show off their affiliation as the
USPTA logo can be seen on the tongue and insoles of
these shoes. The white, navy blue and red cosmetic
give them a classic look and make these shoes easy to
pair with any apparel.
President of Tennis Warehouse, Rick Kerpsack, was
enthused he could help bring this collaboration to
the USPTA and said, “We’re very excited to see Fila’s
commitment to grassroots tennis and the USPTA
with the introduction of a men’s and women’s shoe
branded with the USPTA logo. Fila not only devel-
oped a great shoe, but they made 1 + 1 = 3 by embrac-
ing the support of the USPTA with branding on their
product. Get your orders in before we sell out!”
The Fila Speedserve will not only offer coaches
hours of comfort but will also be an amazing option
for players of all ages and levels. Created to meet
the demands of top touring pros, weekend warriors
who spend just a few hours a week on the court or
competitors that train and practice every day will find
success in these shoes. With a responsive midsole
offering cushioning and speed, the shoes keep players
supported for aggressive lateral cuts. Additionally, the
most active players will be able to take advantage of
the 6-month outsole guarantee adding value to every
pair purchased!
Members can now PREORDER the exclusive
USPTA Fila Speedserve shoes at
www.tennis-warehouse.com/uspta which will ship
in early 2023 for both men and women.
Tennis Warehouse is proud to be the official footwear
and apparel partner of the USPTA. Don’t forget
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ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE 71
11/22/2022 3:18:53 PM
 MEMBER FEATURE
Jose Pastrello, USPTA Elite Professional
I
n the past 10 years, I have
attended every USPTA Conference
at the National and Divisional level.
Throughout these years, I have spent a lot
of time in classroom sessions, but what I
have really enjoyed is meeting new
people. Going to a USPTA Conference
brings me great joy to see familiar faces
that I would not see if I just stayed at my
home. The classes are great, but there is a
lot more involved than just learning from
speakers.
Hurricane Ian devastated parts of
Florida; it was a storm never seen before.
The high winds and water were terrifying,
leaving families without homes, loved
ones, and places to work. What Ian did
to families makes everyone heartbroken.
Some people have lost it all – the
destruction took everything from them,
from the personal to the professional
level, with no starting point or hope.
One week before Hurricane Ian
“attacked” us, I was in New Orleans, at
72 ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE
ADD_January_2023.indd 72
one of my favorite tennis conferences
with some great people and awesome
speakers. Like every single conference
that I have attended, I saw familiar faces
but also had the chance to meet new ones.
This year was no different, leveraging the
opportunities that USPTA has created
to network, from XGLOsive to the River
Cruise. The environment was well set to
put people together. But we, from Florida,
had no idea what we would be coming
back home to - a war was in the wait.
As Hurricane Ian made its path to
Florida, touching land in Southwest
Florida and slowly moving, the
unimaginable was about to happen. We
were very aware of the possible danger,
and we reached out to each other in order
to best prepare for this horrendous situ-
ation. The tennis facility preparation was
just the beginning, but in situations like
this, attention to detail is key. Reaching
out to many other professionals, making
sure that we have not missed a point was
an important process to try to survive the
high winds from the possible devastation.
After waiting for several days,
Hurricane Ian made landfall on
Wednesday, with tides of over 10 feet.
USPTA Professionals called each other
to check their status and made sure
everyone was safe. The storm took a long
time to go through, but we never felt that
we were alone. We had our network of
USPTA Tennis Professionals reaching
out, advising, sharing best practices, and
praying for each other. As horrendous
scenes were on TV, our community had
no idea of the dimension of the storm yet
with power being long gone.
As many of you have seen, Hurricane
Ian impacted many of us tennis profes-
sionals. It didn’t matter how much one
had prepared; we could not fight against
nature. Tennis clubs near the water got
the worst. The storm surge was too much,
washing out everything it touched. Mud,
salt water, debris, fence damages, light
pole damages are just some of the notable
impacts. Some USPTA Professionals have
had to start from ground zero.
It’s amazing how the true power of
USPTA came together as soon as the
storm passed. USPTA members, National
Staff, and volunteers immediately began
reaching out to many of us, offering help
to restart and rebuild. There are many
aspects involved in rebuilding such as
having the emotional support
and hope to see the light at the
end of the tunnel.
I cannot count how many
USPTA Professionals have
reached out to me, offering help,
a way out, a starting point, or
even just a simple short-term
solution. These USPTA
Professionals who were sharing
educational classes with me a
week before this natural disaster,
now are offering their homes,
a place to teach, resources and
emotional support.
Ian left us with a lot of work
and what I had seen in just a
few short days after the storm
was amazing. Being a USPTA
Florida Vice President, I have
JANUARY 2023
11/22/2022 3:18:54 PM
 been able to participate in meetings MEMBER FEATURE
where professionals shared some of their
needs to help get them through the rough
period, and the industry has responded
so quickly. USPTA professionals have
stepped up and sent equipment to other
clubs to help rebuild their courts. Others
have relocated temporarily to other clubs
until they can figure out what is best for
them.
When I made a choice to become a
tennis teaching professional, I also made
the decision to invest in my education by
attending USPTA Conferences. The
involvement with USPTA from the
district level to state level, to national
level has added so much more into my
career than just education, it has
provided me an army of resources to find
the answers when in need.
My connections with fellow pros have
brought me so much throughout these
years, but so did the connections with
vendors and staff. Some people might
think that going to tennis conferences is
a bit redundant because the content is
not always what they want to learn, but I
think there is a bigger picture:
networking. Networking is a very
powerful tool; it can take you to places
you’d never known possible and help
solve your problems. It can give you hope
and help you feel secure about what you
are doing. It gives you strength to fight,
knowing that you are not alone in this
battle.
I am so thankful that USPTA has
provided all of our USPTA Professionals
a path and a community to work together,
especially during a time like this.*

In an effort to support our USPTA

professionals after the
destruction of Hurricane Ian, the
USPTA waived 2023 annual dues
for 10 professionals in Southwest
Florida as they continue to push
through the hardship that
Ian has caused.

JANUARY 2023 ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE 73

ADD_January_2023.indd 73 11/22/2022 3:18:55 PM

 B

ADD_January_2023.indd 74 11/22/2022 3:18:56 PM

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ADD_January_2023.indd 75 11/22/2022 3:18:56 PM

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 MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT UPDATE

Dillon Chustz, Director of Membership

S
pecialization and coaching (18 years of which have been
multidisciplinary training are as a USPTA Elite Pro), and now Tennis
both important components for Yoga aficionado. Her yoga journey began
a coach’s growth and impact. One reason with a search for lower back pain relief.
USPTA pros are held in such high regard A series of classes and self-practice not
in our industry is because continuing only helped relieve Margit’s pain, but it
education is of the utmost importance also improved her overall biomechanics
when maintaining your certification. and kept her more grounded and fluid
Continual learning leads to diverse on the tennis court. “It was the mind/
training techniques. Diversifying your body connection that really did it for me,” her students out of their comfort zone
training can often lead to more students Margit recently told me. “When I started and equipping them with the tools to
and more job opportunities. Longtime incorporating my yoga into my tennis, I thrive in that unfamiliar area. She looks
Elite Professional Margit Bannon of found myself able to check in with myself for students who thrive in those scenarios,
Punta Gorda, Florida discovered her more easily during play.” who look forward to using what they’ve
passion for yoga and the overall benefits Marrying these two disciplines has learned to overcome a difficult obstacle.
it gave her on the tennis court and in her required some subtlety and nuance. “I love working with students who are
daily life. Yoga has quickly become her Recreational tennis players put most of eager to work on their own, outside of our
bread and butter since incorporating it their time and effort into the more active lessons,” Margit told me. That sounds like
into her work as a tennis pro, and it has elements of the game- ones that will yield continuing education if you ask me! Yoga
expanded her business “Play Tennis. them noticeable results by the end of their has been a way for Margit to keep her
Practice Yoga.” greatly, helping her lesson. Breath control, flexibility, and lessons feeling new and different.
students in ways they never anticipated. stability are training elements that often Through their on-court yoga practice,
get overlooked. “Even I was apprehensive Margit’s students are adding more
in the beginning,” Margit said. “I thought dimensions to their training that allow
yoga might be too niche for my tennis them to breathe better during rallies,
players.” She slowly began incorporating ground themselves for proper weight
the elements of yoga organically into her transfer, and create more elasticity for
lessons. She found that tennis players shot making. It has been a continual
were more willing to try a new discipline lesson in kinesiology and biomechanics
like yoga if it was subtly blended into for both Margit and her students.
their warm-up and cool down, especially It makes me so happy to see our
if players were surrounded by their peers. members become more
Margit stresses the importance of yoga multidimensional in their approach
when it comes to injury recovery, which is to coaching. As our sport continues to
appropriate considering how she evolve, so must we. You all are exploring
discovered the practice herself. “Framing new avenues for success on and off the
it that way seems to make more sense to court and it is exactly why USPTA is the
my players,” Margit explained. best of the best. If you find yourself in
Margit has been involved in tennis on a When it comes to a coaching South Florida, check out “Play Tennis.
variety of levels including IMG training, philosophy, Margit places an emphasis on Practice Yoga.” Keep up the excellent
junior and collegiate competition, tennis the “comfort zone.” She focuses on getting work, folks!*

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE

President.............................................................Richard Slivocka Editor...............................................................................Marisa Lampe ADDvantage is published monthly by the
Managing Editor.......................................................Madison Faulkner United States Professional Tennis Association.
First Vice President................................................ Trish Faulkner
Layout/Design............................................................... Yaralismar Diaz The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are
Vice Presidents...................... Tracy Almeda-Singian, Mark Faber, Editorial Assistance .......................... Fred Viancos, Ellen Weatherford those of the authors and not necessarily those
Jason Gilbert, Kevin Theos, Jenny Gray of ADDvantage or the United States
Circulation..................................................................... Trevor Trudelle Professional Tennis Association.
Immediate Past President.......................................Feisal Hassan USPTA World Headquarters
11961 Performance Dr. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis
CEO...........................................................................John Embree Association, Inc. 2023. All rights reserved.
Orlando, FL 32827 Reproduction of any portion of the magazine
Legal Counsel........................................................George Parnell 407-634-3050 – www.uspta.com is not permitted without written permission
from the USPTA.

76 ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2023

ADD_January_2023.indd 76 11/22/2022 3:18:57 PM

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