Letters from July 2026

Re: USTA Coaching 15K Strong

Good morning,

Saw this on Facebook today. Had to look at the calendar. I thought today must be April 1.

15K...wow.  From the same people who bring you the tennis participation numbers. Written by Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.

There was one comment. Mark Bishop from Hawaii commented, "When are you coming to Hawaii again?  I want to get certified by the USTA." 

Warning to tennis players in Hawaii: "You don't want to take lessons from anyone named Mark."

This is not certification. It is a participation trophy. Attend a clinic, pay a few bucks, and you are a USTA pro. The janitor where my kids went to school had more rigorous training than  the USTA provides. 

The RSPA and PTR deserve to go out of business for letting the industry think this is certification. 

The Commish***
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them

Rich,

Maybe they are trying to bring better understanding to the phrase often used to describe someone who is not all there… ”They are certifiable.” 😜

The Commish***
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them

Rich,

The USTA states it has 15,000 coaching members. Every event they have is a sales job for it, with the USTA giving free 1-year rally memberships. I wonder how many of the 15,000 were free.... I bet more than 80 -90% on the conservative guess.

With all the policy changes, intentional players will find it much harder to stay after graduation and teach/coach. There could be a coaching shortage in the near future.

The Commish***
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them

Re: Tennis Stars Presented the World Cup Trophy

Rich,

Once again, tennis players are highlighted in the most celebrated global sports events. In the 2024 Olympics in Paris, our own Rafa Nadal was featured carrying the Olympic Torch in the opening ceremony. And yesterday, in New York, Carlos Alcaraz presented the World Cup Trophy to the stadium of fans and Team Spain and Argentina. What an honor for both men and our sport, showcasing them as role models…double wow.

That shows the world within sports: tennis players are recognized as some of the leading athletes not only for their winning championships on court but for their sportsmanship attitude and character…kudos and props to our competitive image worldwide.

Let’s grow our game…we have the popular stars!

Leo Estopare
Wichita, KS

Re: Updates coming to the ITF World Tennis Number

USTA is the winner of the 2026 Spiro Agnew/Dan Quayle Award for Being Irrelevant - and there are still five months in the year. 

On 7/21, the USTA announced that updates are coming to the ITF World Tennis Number.

Wowwee, Zowwee!

The surprising thing about this notice is that it is debatable whether the USTA knows anything about WTN - they are still trying to figure out the meaning of WTF (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday).  

USTA is fixated on promoting NTRP and pretending the UTR doesn't exist.  Double Wowwee Zowwee!! They should get the award twice for 2026.

Rich,

The ITF (International Tennis Federation) officially rebranded to World Tennis on June 25, 2026, “aiming for a simpler, modern identity.”

The USTA sends out the “Update to the ITF World Tennis Number” email almost a month later and totally ignores the name change. Did they not get the memo? Or did they not want to bother with a headline that would read “Update to the World Tennis World Tennis Number?”

Did the ITF not think about that conundrum before announcing the change?

Boy, are they all screwed up!

The Commish***
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them

Re: The Big Bucket Hats Crisis

Rich,

Oh my goodness. Pickleball has a crisis on their hands. 

Bucket Hats.  

Which is more important: world peace or bucket hats or 75-year-old ladies in halter tops and short shorts?

The Commish***
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them

Re: RSPA Added 250 New Members

Hi Rich,

I saw on Instagram that there are 250+ new RSPA members. That is good news.  Hopefully they can be retained.

As I glanced through the list, I noticed there were a lot of people with last names other than Smith and Jones.  I am not opposed to that. 

I am curious where these new members are from - U.S.  or international?  If they are U.S., why hasn't RSPA tapped this market before?  If they are international, can they truly be served in a meaningful way in a fiscally efficient manner?  If so, how will that benefit tennis in the U.S.?  Is this an effort by RSPA to expand internationally to offset the inappropriate interference in the teaching profession from the USTA? Was part of the reason the USPTA became the RSPA so they can more readily pursue foreign members? 

The Commish***
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them

Re: 2026 FIFA World Cup and The Championships

Rich,

What a compelling summer week of men’s soccer (a.k.a.football) and men’s and women’s grass court tennis at Wimbledon. The similarities and differences of athleticism are an interesting comparison.

We tennis players often are recognized as the best of athletes in sport, but soccer athletes are right at the top as well. Their footwork, body control, burst of speed, endurance, and all this with someone and/or multiple people trying to disrupt that movement, etcetera, etcetera. Getting thrown to the ground, tripped and stepped on, and being pulled on throughout a play requires full strength and agility.

I consider us tennis players more complete because we use our entire body, including hands and arms carrying a racquet. Tennis athletes have to be efficient on both sides for swings, reaching high on serves, bending on low balls, anticipating balls coming towards you or away at 100+ MPH. The mental capacity on every point, game, and match can be equivalent to several soccer games in time against one opponent. The physicality and mentality are one-of-a-kind on different court surfaces and atmosphere. Then do it again after a day’s rest and recovery.

The leg power of soccer players is amazing, and their accuracy with pinpoint control of the ball at 50 yards is truly special. The precision for tennis players is even better when they have to thread-the-needle and hit the white lines…often a millimeter is the difference.

Soccer, being a team game, is a different element and responsibility, whereas tennis is a lonely man’s game. The ruggedness of soccer, even though it’s known as the “Beautiful Game,” is graceful, and at any moment something special can happen for victory or defeat.

Tennis is a one-on-one battle with no time clock, so you can’t win unless you win the last point.

Tennis players have their all-round skill sets, as do the soccer athletes, but I give the edge to the men and women on the court over the Pitch as the ‘Total Package.”

However, I will say, tennis players are often seen kicking, bouncing, and balancing a tennis ball on their feet…and it’s not only for fun but for a purpose.

Concentration is the common denominator that is the “Trademark” of both sports competitors. 

I’m having sport withdrawal since both major events are over…Congrats, Spain, and to Noskova and Sinner for their titles. Kids start playing tennis and/or soccer! 

Leo Estopare
[email protected]
(316) 573-7467

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