Tennis Headlines

from Net News magazine November/December 2020

Junior Challenge Ladder

Leaders Challenged on COVID-19 Protection Plan By PHIT America

PHIT America, a national charity dedicated to improving the physical and mental health of Americans, is espousing the tremendous benefits of physical activity to help protect people from COVID-19. To communicate to national leaders and Americans, PHIT has launched a petition campaign to increase physical activity levels for children.

This petition says, “Every child must have at least 30 minutes of physical activity three times a week in school.” Almost 50 percent of schools have eliminated physical education and many have eliminated recess.

PHIT America Founder Jim Baugh, the former president of Wilson Sporting Goods, said, “I’ve been sitting on the sidelines for three to four months listening to our government talk about the three ways adults and kids can protect themselves from COVID-19: 1) wear a mask, 2) social distancing, 3) wash your hands. But these leaders are overlooking one of the most important ways to protect yourself from COVID-19, increasing physical activity.”

The charity is partnering with Dr. Zhen Yan, professor of cardiovascular medicine from the University of Virginia, who says, “There’s no question that increased physical activity will build up a child’s natural defense system and protect them from COVID-19.”

Through its established physical activity programs, PHIT America has introduced over half a million kids to regular physical activity in schools. Learn more at phitamerica.org.

New Babolat Pure Drive Unveiled

Babolat unveiled an updated Pure Drive racquet in September. The Pure Drive 2021 is enhanced with two, new, major technologies that improve performance. First, the HTR (High Torsional Rigidity) system helps improve torsional stability for more efficient baseline strokes and optimized power on returns. This resistance to twisting allows for a greater tolerance with off-center shots. Coupled with the racquet’s inherent power, the HTR in the new Pure Drive offers an energy return as explosive and powerful as ever. Second, the new SWX (Smac Wrap eXtended) PureFeel of the Pure Drive filters vibrations, keeping only those that give players the best feeling. With this technology, Babolat says, the Pure Drive offers unparalleled playing sensations on each shot. Slinger Bag Expands Reach in Agreement With Dunlop Europe Slinger Bag recently announced a multiyear distribution agreement with Dunlop across nine, key markets in Europe. This announcement follows similar strategic agreements in key tennis markets including Ireland, Japan, UK, Ireland, Switzerland and all four Scandinavian markets, bringing the total value of Slinger Bag’s international distribution partnerships to a cumulative five-year retail value of $200 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dunlop International Europe Ltd (Dunlop), whose parent company is Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Japan, will be granted exclusive distribution rights for Slinger Bag’s ball launcher in the core European markets of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Netherlands, and Spain.

“There is no bigger endorsement of how far Slinger Bag has come in a short space of time than this new commercial association with Dunlop, a global giant in tennis with an unequalled market reach and a reputation to match,” said Mike Ballardie, CEO of Slinger Bag. “We have the utmost confidence in the sales and marketing strategy provided by the Dunlop team to rapidly build Slinger Bag brand awareness in the core markets covered by this deal and to activate this partnership through a multitude of traditional grassroots marketing activities allied with aggressive online marketing to European tennis consumers.”

Slinger Bag enables tennis players to get out on court to play at any time without the need to find a playing partner — whether that be at their club, local park, on their driveways or in any other available open space. Slinger Bag is lightweight, wheeled like a trolley bag, and easily transported in the trunk of the smallest saloon or sedan car. It offers players the versatility to store all of their tennis gear, including racquets, shoes, towels, and accessories.

K-Swiss, Lucky In Love Launch Collaboration Hypercourt Express 2 Shoe

K-Swiss and Lucky In Love recently announced the first of two collaboration projects with the launch of the Hypercourt Express 2 X Lucky In Love 10th Anniversary shoe. The shoe features collaboration logos on the tongue and heel, as well as a translucent outsole. The design also features both a customized sockliner and shoe box with two different color lace options.

Mike Miringoff, K-Swiss vice-president, said, “Lucky In Love is a leading brand in our sport, and it is recognized for its new, fresh, fashion-forward designs and product. The passion and expertise their team brings is inspiring, and we are honored and thrilled to celebrate Lucky In Love’s 10th anniversary together.”

K-Swiss used Hypercourt Express 2, the best-selling footwear model in the tennis industry, and worked with Lucky In Love founder Brad Singer and his design team to create a shoe featuring the brand’s anniversary messaging. With a suggested retail price of $110, the shoe is sold exclusively at select specialty retail stores and online partner websites, kswiss.com, and shopluckyinlove.com.

“We enjoyed working with K-Swiss throughout the process,” said Singer. “K-Swiss’s tremendous business growth in footwear has been similar to ours in apparel, and we both have a strong women’s consumer base. As a result, the partnership was a natural fit. Our goal is to inspire women of all ages to feel amazing. By collaborating with K-Swiss on this fun and exciting project, we were able to do that.”

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Tech Startup Helping Keep Tennis Tournaments Alive in the US

In Response to COVID-19 Pandemic, Match Tennis App’s Virtual Tournament Desk is a Game-Changer for Tournament Directors Nationwide

Match Tennis App is helping keep tennis tournaments alive throughout the United States through the creation of its Virtual Tournament Desk (VTD) technology.

Match Tennis App is the provider of the leading tennis player tournament management application. The new technology integrates with the USTA’s existing tournament management system to provide more effective social distancing protocols. The goal was simple: Develop a solution that would facilitate a safer COVID-19 environment for tennis venues nationwide so that the sport of tennis could once again host competitions for tennis players, especially those hoping for college scholarships.

CEO and former WTA world-ranked No. 33 player Lindsay Lee-Waters founded Match Tennis App with her husband Heath Waters and his brother Matt Waters. As the parents of a nationally top-ranked 14-and-under junior, the Waters have been on the front lines of the junior tennis tournament scene, and desire to enhance the quality of experience for players, parents, and tournament staff through innovative digital experiences.

“Running a tennis tournament technology company, we felt not only a responsibility, but rather a duty to take expedient action to help get the sport we love back going again. Playing and attending tennis tournaments for the last 30 years, I knew firsthand tournament desks were the primary bottlenecks where social gathering occurred at tennis event,” Lee-Waters said.

Lee-Waters highlighted some of the benefits of using Virtual Tournament Desk technology:

• Enables players to access match times and submit scores from the safety of their cars. • Announces important tournament information and updates. • Eliminates waiting in long lines at tournament desks. • Allows juniors to continue being recruited and pursue their dreams of college scholarships. • Reduces the workload of tournament staff and keeps their social distance from players.

Match Tennis App approached the various USTA Sections and presented the enhanced feature set in April as a technology solution to facilitate tennis tournaments resuming nationwide. The USTA Sections were receptive and have made the app an integral part of many of the USTA Sections COVID-19 resumption and planning protocols.

Trevor Kronemann, director of Junior Tennis, USTA Southern California, said, “Match Tennis App’s Virtual Tournament Desk has offered us another avenue to make sure we are running our tournaments and programming in the safest way possible for our players and parents. The immediate success is noticeable in many ways.”

Upwards of 50 tournaments each week are currently using the VTD technology. Tournament players enjoy the convenience of being able to check-in for their tournament and tennis matches just like they do for airlines and reservation systems offered at restaurants. Similar to a TV production team, tournament directors appreciate being able to run entire tournaments through VTD from behind closed doors, allowing tournament staff to remain safe while keeping the tournament moving along and on schedule.

USTA Georgia's Director of Competition Eva Marie McCravy added, “I appreciate the time and energy the Match Tennis App team has put into this product in order to keep our players safe. Players go straight to their assigned courts to play and then, once the match is completed, enter their scores on the app as they walk back to their cars.”

TRUIST ATLANTA OPEN 2021: THANK YOU AND LOOKING AHEAD

Greetings and Happy Holidays! As live sports return, we wrap up a banner year for tennis participation. Tennis participation is up 10 percent in 2020, according to the Sports Marketing Survey.

It has been great to have ALTA teams back on the court this summer and fall. It’s proof that we can adapt to our surroundings and tennis players can make the best of any situation.

It was inspiring to see a safe US Open and French Open conducted, as some new and familiar champions were crowned. It’s also exciting to have both ATP and WTA tours back playing, before and after the major events. It’s a good sign for 2021 and beyond!

Be assured that plans are well under way for a safe and fun 2021 Truist Atlanta Open, with the dates July 24-August 1 at Atlantic Station. ALTA members should know that this includes productive, current player conversations to bring the best field possible to Atlanta for our ATP event. Additionally, we’ve put a lot of thought into our new and improved stadium layout and that includes better viewing on all match courts!

We can’t wait to show you our new layout and how you will be able to enjoy world-class tennis in 2021.

With the holiday season upon us, there’s no better way to show your love of tennis than serving up the gift of tennis with our current holiday pack promotional offer. Please visit our website for more details.

Again, our 2021 dates are July 24August 1. Visit atlantaopentennis.com for deals, tournament news and surprises.

Thanks for another great year to everyone at Ortho Atlanta for being our trusted medical partner. They are available to help tennis players of all ages and levels get back to playing tennis. From our ATP Tour players to ALTA league players, contact Ortho Atlanta to get back on the court!

As always, please email me with any comments, questions or ideas on how we can improve our Truist Atlanta Open. Now more than ever, we want to hear from tennis fans on how we can make the Truist Atlanta Open the most talked about event in Atlanta each summer.

Remember, tennis is a sport where you can “social distance” and I hope to see you soon at the courts!

— Eddie Gonzalez Truist Atlanta Open Tournament Director gonzalez@atlantaopentennis.com

JULY 24-AUGUST 1, 2021

Anne McCollum (right) and her doubles partner, Deborah Brown.

Last Issue’s Trivia Contest Winner Is …

Congratulations! We drew our winner from a pool of readers who submitted correct answers, and Anne McCollum, Sunday Women, Flowers Crossing B5, won a new pair of shoes from Mizuno! Try your luck with this issue’s contest and see if you can join the ranks of our previous trivia contest winners. Here is the original quiz and the correct answers:

1. What is the name of the former ATP player who currently runs an art investment business in Atlanta,

and what is the name of the business? Mihnea Nastase, Foreign Affair International

2. AYTEF launched a summer program to help keep kids learning and engaged in fun activities for the

summer. What’s the name of this program? Learn & Earn

3. In this issue, we launched the GPTA spotlight series. Who are the local tennis pros who were

featured? Geoff Browne, Jim Carella

January/February Trivia Contest Enter for your chance to win a tennis bag from Adidas.

To enter the contest, correctly answer the following three questions, in addition to submitting a new favorite courtside recipe, and mail it to New South Publishing, Attn: Cory Sekine-Pettite, 9040 Roswell Road, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30350. Answers and recipes may also be submitted online at netnewsmag.com. Hint: The answers can be found in this issue.

Entry deadline: Monday, December 7.

1. What is the name of the ALTA scarecrow?

2. Who will be the president of ALTA in 2021?

3. Which players are currently ranked number one on the Junior Challenge Ladder for both the girls and the boys? _________________________________________________