Tennis Headlines

Prince Releases T22.5 Tennis Shoe

With the updated T22.5, Prince introduces a new upper design that improves support with additional layers where players need it most. Prince says that where the shoe needs to flex, the T22.5 has a sleeker design to cut weight and improve both comfort and breathability.

Careful attention was paid to keep the classic Prince fit, so fans of the T22 can slip right into the T22.5 without missing a beat, the company says. Once inside the shoe, players will find a lighter and faster feel to help with quicker changes of direction and improved sprints to net.

Under your feet, the T22.5 offers the traditional plush cushioning found in the T22. The more you hit the courts the more you will enjoy the comfortable ride and how it blends with the better flexing uppers, Prince says. Plus, the shoe is backed by a six-month outsole durability guarantee.

Introduced in white with blue in women’s sizing and the classic Prince colors of white, green, and black for the men’s version, the new T22.5 brings plenty of style to match its performance. An additional black and yellow men’s colorway is available for players looking to make a statement with their footwear. USTA Selects New Surface for US Open The USTA announced earlier this year that it would install a new court surface system for the first time in 42 years. Laykold has been selected as the surface for the US Open and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

The new Laykold courts will be manufactured by Advanced Polymer Technology (APT), a member of Sport Group, the world’s largest business dedicated to sports surfaces. According to the manufacturer, Laykold courts are the only courts with vapor barrier designed specifically for the court system, which also greatly increases consistency in both court performance and court speed.

“At the conclusion of the complete transformation of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we felt it was time to explore all new approaches and technologies to court surfacing,” said Danny Zausner, COO of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“Laykold has been trusted in the tennis court industry for 75 years and to add the US Open to our roster of major events around the world is a landmark moment for us,” said Jim Sacco, COO of APT.

At Net News, we hear that Serena Williams is putting a Laykold court in at her home.

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WTT2020 Championship On CBS Sets Viewership Record, Completes Most Successful Season in League History

WTT Championship featuring the New York Empire’s 21-20 win over the Chicago Smash, delivered 556,000 viewers on CBS, the most in WTT’s 45 years of airing World TeamTennis programming

CBS Television Network’s live airing of the 2020 World TeamTennis Championship match on August 2, in which the New York Empire defeated the Chicago Smash on the last point of the “Supertiebreaker” 21-20, delivered 556,000 viewers, making it the most watched in the league’s 45-year history.

The victory by the New York Empire — coached by French Open Champion and Net News columnist Luke Jensen — earned them the King Trophy and $500,000 in prize money and marked the first time that the WTT’s Finals have aired live on network television. During the event’s Supertiebreaker, viewership peaked at 1.128 million viewers. The previous viewership record for WTT was 484,000, also on CBS Television Network, which occurred on July 19 of the 2020 WTT regular season.

“By almost all metrics, this has been the most successful season in World TeamTennis history,” said WTT CEO Carlos Silva. “I can’t thank our partners, sponsors, WTT staff, and the players and coaches enough for helping us responsibly bring tennis back in front of fans during these challenging times. Without this team effort, with safety our number-one priority, we would not have been able to complete this season and crown a champion.”

The league completed 822 COVID-19 tests of all players, coaches, trainers, WTT staff, and media covering the three-anda-half week season at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, all returning negative results for those participating in the event. In all, three COVID-19 tests were given to each person: pre-arrival, arrival, and midseason.

The season was unlike any other in the league’s history, with all nine participating teams staying in one location versus playing matches across the country in their home venues. Additionally, the league permitted up to 500 fans to attend its matches held at Center Court at Creekside, Greenbrier’s 2,500-seat outdoor venue.

The season featured more television and online exposure than ever before for WTT. The playoffs aired exclusively on CBS Sports with the WTT Championship on CBS Television Network and both Semifinals airing exclusively on CBS Sports Network, which also aired 13 WTT regular-season matches. The WTT 63-match regular season included first-time broadcast/digital partnerships as well with 15 matches on ESPN2, 19 on Tennis Channel, and five matches that streamed exclusively on the CBS Sports app and Facebook Watch.

The WTT’s nine franchises include the expansion Chicago Smash, New York Empire, Orange County Breakers, Orlando Storm, Philadelphia Freedoms, San Diego Aviators, Springfield Lasers, Vegas Rollers, and Washington Kastles.

Slinger Bag Celebrates Strong U.S. Launch

Slinger Bag announced in August that the company reached an aggregate of $1 million in orders taken during the first 90 days of its inaugural brand campaign.

The bag enables tennis players to practice their game at any time whether that be at their local club, local park, on their driveways, or in any other open space. Slinger is wheeled like carry-on luggage and easily transported in the trunk of a car. Players can start launching balls within minutes, controlling the launch speed and frequency of the balls using two customizable dials. Slinger Bag is lightweight at 33 lbs. and multifunctional, holding racquets and other gear, 72 tennis balls, and it has pockets for storing wallets, keys, towel and a water bottle.

“We are delighted that Slinger is resonating with U.S. tennis consumers, especially during these incredibly unusual times,” says CEO Mike Ballardie. “The overwhelming positive reaction we consistently see and hear from Slinger users means we have succeeded in our objective to bring to market the most versatile, transportable, and affordable ball launcher.”

Photography for all your needs.

majestickphotography.com

TRUIST ATLANTA OPEN 2021: THANK YOU AND LOOKING AHEAD

Let me again wish you continued good health and great tennis as fall ALTA gets under way and we start planning for your 2021 Truist Atlanta Open!

The team at GF Sports and the Truist Atlanta Open are working hard with the ATP Tour and local authorities to stay on top of everything relating to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Even though the 2020 edition of the Truist Atlanta Open was not played as scheduled, we have dates for 2021, which are July 24 - August 1, once again at beautiful Atlantic Station. Stay tuned for announcements regarding our more fan-friendly venue design and on-site amenities.

Like ALTA and its members, we have a passion for tennis and we hopefully quenched your thirst over the Fourth of July weekend with the DraftKings All-American Team Cup, the first US tennis event, post COVID-19, with fans in attendance! This first-time event came together in less than 30 days, due in large part to our five-time singles champion, John Isner, and other ATP Tour American players trusting our team to create a safe and successful event. Special thanks to DraftKings, Life Time, city of Peachtree Corners, ALTA and our other partners for a great weekend of tennis. After three days of extraordinary tennis, Team Stars prevailed over Team Stripes in a sudden death tie break!

Additionally, we can’t say enough about our two local medical professionals, Dr. Neeru Jayanthi and Dr. Anthony Ferrara, for assisting in creating our event protocol to ensure a safe, healthy and socially distant event, which was first US tennis event, post COVID-19, with fans in attendance!

Again, our dates are set for 2021: July 24-August 1! See more at www.atlantaopentennis.com and as the 2021 event approaches, you will be able to get your ALTA discounts for members.

Lastly, special thanks as always to OrthoAtlanta for being a great medical partner. They are always ready and willing to help both our ATP Tour players and local Atlanta tennis fans stay and get healthy. If you or any of your ALTA teammates have a health issue or question, please contact OrthoAtlanta and get back on the court as good as new!

Stay safe and see you at the courts!

— Eddie Gonzalez TRUIST Atlanta Open Tournament Director egonzalez@gfsportsholdings.com

JULY 24-AUGUST 1, 2021

Jean Christian

The 17th Annual Net News Photo Contest All Entries Due Sept. 16th!

Get ready, grab your camera or even your smartphone, and go! This is your chance to show the world and your fellow netters how talented you are with a camera (or how lucky you were to be there when the unexpected happened). The 17th Annual Net News Photo Contest will showcase the best “frames” of ALTA players in the November/December 2020 issue. We’re looking for photos of solid play, unusual play or court scenes, and any notable photo relating to the game of tennis. The contest, sponsored by Head Penn Racquet Sports, will award one Best Overall Winner, plus winners in each of the categories. Category and overall winners will receive a variety of outstanding prizes from Head Penn’s collection of quality tennis gear. So, get out your cameras and start taking pictures or pick out your favorite from that stack of stills sitting in your desk drawer. You just might have a winner!

ALL PHOTOS MUST RELATE TO TENNIS.

Photography Contest Rules and Regulations

1. You must be a member of ALTA. 2. Photos must relate to tennis and/or tennis play. 3. All contest submissions must be postmarked by

Sept. 16, 2020. 4. Decisions of the judges are final. 5. Limit three entries per ALTA member. 6. Each photo entry must include a completed entry form (see below). Photocopied forms are accepted. 7. Judges reserve the right to title photos if no title is provided and to change the category into which a photo has been entered. 8. Photos not taken by the entrant must be accompanied by a release form signed by the photographer. ALTA and Net News are not responsible for any copyright violations. 9. Judges reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the above rules and regulations.

Submission Guidelines

1. Mail all entries to: Net News Photo Contest, 9040 Roswell Road, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30350. 2. Both digital and printed images will be considered. See specifications. 3. You may not want to submit irreplaceable or precious images. Contest organizers and sponsors

WILL NOT be responsible for lost or damaged photos. (See waiver of responsibility on entry form.) 4. If you want your picture returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your entry. Pictures will not be returned if they are not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. 5. All winning photos will be featured in the annual

November/December edition of Net News. 6. Questions may be addressed to production@ knowatlanta.com or 770.650.1102, ext. 126.

Digital Photography Specifications

We advise that you take and submit the photos in as large a file size as possible, preferably no smaller than 2,400 pixels tall or wide, because small images may not be reproducible in the magazine (familiarize yourself with the settings on your camera before taking photos). Nonreproducible images will not be considered for the photo contest. Upload original digital photos through the Net News website at netnewsmag.com/photo_contest.

Vintage Photography Specifications

We advise you to have the image printed at 8x10 in. Please tape one entry form to the back of each photo. If submitting an original, please keep in mind contest organizers and sponsors will not be responsible for lost or damaged photos.

3

Still Life — Winner, 2017 Rainbow Tennis, Claudine Lefrancois

5

Children — Winner, 2019

Life Is Good, Karen White 5

Pets — Winner, 2018

Best Use of the BIG Plate, Natalie Lomas

Prizes courtesy of

NET NEWS PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY FORM

Name _____________________________________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________________________

City____________________________________________State_______________ ZIP ___________________

Email _____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone (H) ______________________________________Phone (W)_________________________________

Waiver of Responsibility: I hereby remise, release and forever discharge the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association, Net News magazine, New South Publishing, Inc., and any Net News Photo Contest sponsor from any action, suits or claims arising as a result of the loss or damage of any photograph(s) I submit to this contest. Further, I hereby grant my permission for the reproduction and printing of my photograph in Net News magazine.

Signature_______________________________________________________________Date ___________________

Submit photos by Sept. 16, 2020, to Net News Photo Contest, 9040 Roswell Road, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30350. This form may be photocopied or downloaded at netnewsmag.com.

Please check the category this picture is being entered in:

Action Children Courtside Humor/Novelty Pets Still Life Vintage

Title of photo: ________________________________

Description of picture (where the picture was taken, who is in the picture, what is in the picture, etc.): ______________________________________________