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Odds and Ends in Racketsportsland - June 2024

Odds and Ends in Racketsportsland - June 2024

Adiós, Rafa! Sports Pros Connect, CourtReserve, Beyond The Baselines, beehiiv, Pickleball, Tennis Shoes, Javier Palenque, Padel, Tennis Channel, Mouratoglou in Florida

Rich Neher
May 28, 2024

Adiós, Rafa!

Christopher Clarey titled his latest article after Rafa lost in the first round of the 2024 French Open to German Sasha Zverev AU REVOIR OR ADIEU? Christopher’s article is worth a read, of course. But I go a step further and predict that this is the end of the journey for Rafa. Adiós, amigo. You are one of the greatest ever and I enjoyed watching you. I’m looking forward to seeing what your life's next phase looks like.

Photo: Rafa Nadal Academy

Racquet Sports Professionals Needed

SPORTS PROS CONNECT IS LOOKING FOR TENNIS AND PADEL COACHES IN

Asia, Europe, North America, Middle East, and Australasia. See jobs here.

Mark’s latest Blog Post: FROM SOCIAL TENNIS TO SPORTSPROSCONNECT: MARK CONNECTS THE RACKET SPORTS WORLD

CourtReserve

CourtReserve Announces Collaboration with USTA to Integrate ITF World Tennis Number Rating System

CourtReserve, a premier full club management software platform, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to integrate the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Number (WTN) rating system within CourtReserve’s software. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in enhancing the tennis experience for clubs, instructors, and players across the globe.

Read the full announcement here

Beyond the Baselines

Sanders LaDow Named Vice President

Britney Sanders LaDow

BeyondTheBaselines.com has announced it has hired Britney Sanders LaDow to serve as Vice President. Sanders LaDow, a leader in the industry, brings with her an extensive background working with elite, private members clubs across the nation. Most recently, Sanders LaDow served as Director of Racquet Operations and Communications at the famed Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club in Seabright, New Jersey.
Read more here.

Sports Business Journal reported: Sapphire Sport joins in on beehiiv’s $33M Series B funding round

Newsletter platform beehiiv has raised a $33M Series B funding round led by NEA with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sapphire Sport, SBJ's Chris Smith reports. Why would a sports-specific VC firm deploy capital against a newsletter and email marketing company? According to Sapphire Sport founding partner Michael Spirito, beehiiv represents a next-generation tech solution for large-scale operators -- including teams, leagues, sponsors and other stakeholders -- across the across the sports and media landscape.

Beehiiv’s client base already includes Overtime -- in which Sapphire Sport has an existing investment -- fantasy sports expert Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fitness newsletter. The company, which launched in 2021 and raised a $12.5M Series A last June, sends over a billion emails and generates around $1M in revenue each month.

PICKLEBALL

LevelUp Camps

LevelUp Pickleball Camps Coming to
Madrid, Spain

September 21-29, 2024

Join us for a Pickleball Camp Vacation of a Lifetime!

Visit the LevelUp website to learn more

DUPR

Andre Agassi, one of DUPR’s investors, sent a message encouraging players and clubs to sign up for DUPR.

Excerpt: The Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating System (DUPR) is pickleball’s most accurate and widely adopted rating system. DUPR has gained serious traction across 3,000 clubs and 150 countries. DUPR is not just about numbers — it's about creating a common language for players of all levels to connect and compete on a global scale. One of the elements I love most about pickleball is the connections it creates and how those connections benefit people mentally, physically and socially. I believe DUPR enhances all of those experiences. If you are interested in learning more and joining the effort to unify the game, I invite you to fill out this form and a DUPR representative will be in touch.

Together, let’s elevate pickleball to new heights and create a future where every player feels valued and empowered on the courts.

Pickleball Magazine May/June 2024

Pickleroll

Pickleroll wrote 5/21: We're excited to invite you to the Knoxville Indoor Pickleball Championships, happening July 4-7! Gear up for some competitive fun right in the heart of downtown Knoxville, where you'll also be close to all the Independence Day festivities.

Tennis Shoes get more exciting

As seen in Women’s Tennis Blog
Which one do you like best? Please let us know here.

Coco Gauff shoe: New grey suede model debuts in Paris

The new Coco Gauff shoe is a special-edition design that combines a range of grey nuances with neutral hues and hairy suede texture.

New Naomi Osaka shoes by Nike: Mismatched pair with dragons and flowers

The asymmetrical design seamlessly blends the great strength, power, and good luck of a mythical dragon on the right shoe with the calming aura of some of the tennis star’s favorite flowers on the left.

Also in Women’s Tennis Blog:
It’s official: Badosa and Tsitsipas are back together!
Mattel introduces Venus Williams Barbie doll
Ana Ivanovic returns to competition after 8 years, in Luxembourg!

Javier Palenque goes shopping

In one of his latest articles, “Crusader” Javier Palenque went to Target and had difficulty finding tennis on those racks. He writes:

TARGET, THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND THE INCAPABLE USTA BOARD by Javier Palenque

Target, a $107 billion yearly retailer, caters to America’s middle class. While shopping there yesterday, I visited the sports section and noticed an increasing amount of retail space dedicated to pickleball. As the USTA's lead salesperson, it troubles me that its CEO has no issue lying to the public about participation rates and imaginary growth plans, which are mathematically impossible to achieve if you understood elementary-level school math and tennis
Read the entire article here.