Hello dear readers, friends, and racket sports enthusiasts.

A new year brings fresh perspectives, tough questions, and renewed urgency for the global racket sports industry. Our January 2026 issue sets the tone for what promises to be a defining year — one shaped by governance debates, rapid innovation, shifting participation models, and the ongoing evolution of tennis, padel, pickleball, and beyond.

As he’s been doing for many years now (no-one actually knows how many!), Rich opens up with his ‘Publisher’s Notes’ and as is often the case it’s the USTA that he’s putting in the spotlight. ‘USTA Coaching: Should We Believe the PR?’ cuts through the headlines to ask whether recent messaging aligns with reality on the ground.

That theme continues with Susan Nardi’s ‘In the Trenches’, where she delivers a candid assessment of what many coaches see as a quiet but consequential shift in control and compliance. Together, these pieces challenge the industry to think critically about leadership, transparency, and who the system is really designed to serve.

Balance comes in the form of reflection and imagination. Mike Barrell’s ‘Back to Reality’ grounds the conversation in what truly matters now — and what must matter if we want progress in 2026. At the same time, we allow ourselves some fun with ‘5 Things That "Might" Happen in 2026’ a satirical look at predictions that highlight just how unpredictable — and entertaining — this industry can be.

Growth remains a central theme. Gary Horvath’s ‘Advancing Tennis with Play, Games, Sports, and Athletics’ makes a compelling case for industry-wide collaboration to market the brand TENNIS more effectively. Rod Heckelman adds to that discussion with ‘Let’s Rethink How We Can Increase Tennis Fans’, reminding us that fandom is built far beyond the court. Heckelman also teams up with Juan Garcia in ‘Facilities, Supplies, People’ to tackle one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: hiring, motivating, and retaining great people.

Our coverage expands across the broader racket sports landscape with comprehensive ‘Racket Sports Industry News’, a packed events calendar, and insights into the growing wave of technology reshaping how the industry operates in ‘An Avalanche of Racket Sports Apps’ and ‘Racket Sports Tech for January 2026’.

Padel and pickleball continue their global surge, and this issue reflects that momentum. From ‘Padel at Scale’ and the ‘unveiling of the Hexagon World Series’, to ‘Padel Power Sweeping the World’ and ‘Pickleball Buzz Beyond the Kitchen’, we track the business, governance, and cultural forces driving these sports forward.

Finally, our ‘Knowledge Is Power’ section reinforces a core belief at Racket Business: learning never stops. Leadership, education, fitness, nutrition, podcasts & webinars all play a role in shaping a stronger industry.

As always, we invite you to engage, challenge, and contribute. The conversations in this issue matter — because 2026 is already underway. If you have insights, ideas, or industry experience to share, we invite you to contribute to RacketBusiness — because the conversations that shape our sport start with voices like yours. 👉 Write for RacketBusiness

Enjoy the issue, stay curious, and keep swinging forward.

See you courtside,

Rich & Tim (Learn more about us)

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From inside the lines…

An exclusive series of short features, only available to newsletter subscribers, from the owner’s of Racket Business. This month…

Our 2026 Wish List for the Racket Sports Industry

As we begin a new year, optimism is a powerful force. The global racket sports industry continues to grow, innovate, and attract new participants, yet many of its biggest opportunities still lie ahead. Looking toward 2026, we have a wish list — not based on fantasy, but on practical changes that could unlock long-term growth, clarity, and collaboration across the industry.

1. A Unified ATP and WTA Tour

Our first wish is for the ATP and WTA Tours to merge into a single, unified professional tour. Tennis already enjoys one of the most balanced fan interests between men’s and women’s competitions, yet it remains administratively split. A merged tour would simplify the commercial structure, strengthen sponsorship opportunities, and create a clearer product for broadcasters, fans, and host cities.

Beyond efficiency, the benefits are cultural. A unified tour would send a powerful message about equality, shared purpose, and modern governance. It would allow for more integrated events, better storytelling around rivalries and stars, and a more compelling global calendar — all of which would help tennis compete more effectively in an increasingly crowded sports marketplace.

2. A Global Pickleball Federation

Pickleball’s growth has been nothing short of remarkable, but its governance has not kept pace with its expansion. Our second wish is the formation of a truly global pickleball federation, with representation across continents and a clear mandate to guide international development.

Such a body would provide consistency in rules, competition structures, coaching standards, and international rankings. More importantly, it would help pickleball transition from a primarily national phenomenon into a globally recognized sport. For investors, facility developers, and emerging federations, a central authority would bring clarity and confidence — essential ingredients for sustainable growth.

3. Industry Standards for Planning and Building Padel Courts

Padel is expanding rapidly across borders, but court development practices vary widely by country. Our third wish is for the padel industry to produce a standardized, globally recognized document outlining best practices for planning, building, and operating padel courts in different regions.

This would address critical factors such as climate, materials, space requirements, lighting, and long-term maintenance. The benefit would be fewer costly mistakes, higher-quality facilities, and a more professional image for the sport as it enters new markets. Standardization would also make it easier for municipalities, clubs, and investors to say “yes” to padel with confidence.

4. A Global Racket Sports Collaborative Community

Finally, we wish for the creation of a global collaborative community that brings all racket sports together — tennis, pickleball, padel, squash, badminton, and more. Too often, sports operate in silos, competing for space, funding, and participants rather than learning from one another.

A collaborative industry platform would allow stakeholders to share data, participation strategies, facility innovations, and governance lessons. The ultimate goal would not be to crown one winner, but to grow participation across all racket sports. When more people play, everyone benefits.

As we look to 2026, these wishes share a common theme: collaboration over fragmentation. If the industry can move in that direction, the future of racket sports has never looked brighter.

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