Racket Business - Publisher's Notes for November, 2025

Placeholder - Things that make me go hmmm...

Author

Rich Neher
October 31, 2025

Hello, dear readers, friends, and racquet sports enthusiasts.

October was a hectic month for me, writing articles and getting my new CongaX website finished. More about CongaX next month.

I want to mention Ashley and Tim Owens of CourtReserve twice right at the start of my Notes. First to thank them for renewing their ad in Racket Business for another year. Appreciate this a lot. But I also want to congratulate them for getting funded by Mainsail Partners.

From Mainsail’s website: “You bootstrapped a software company. We're here to help you realize its full potential.”

Fantastic news for the two hardest-working people in racquet sports software. Congratulations to you and your team! I’m sure you have huge plans to put the investment funds to good use. How about expanding worldwide?

Padel

What happened to Cage91? This used to be a huge Padel publication with lots of articles. Then Taktika Padel invested in them or bought them. Look at them today on our Padel page. Two new articles in all of October. Hmmm…

Speaking about Padel, we have two very interesting articles on that page this month. One is about the Swedish Padel crash, and the other talks about the Rise of Performative Padel.

So, I’m noticing, while Pickleball is going strong as always, Padel seems to be slowing down, and honest conversations about real challenges are being made public. Hmm…

Robert Landsdorp book

Tennis personality, teaching pro, author, and friend of Racket Business Bill Patton sent me a link to a new book he helped write and put on Amazon: Robert Landsdorp’s ‘Building A Champion.’

Robert's unfinished, unvarnished thoughts on coaching tennis in the most polished form you can get. Get an inside look at the transparent Coach Lansdorp, though you won't see his softer side. Truly, this was a fun, caring man who didn't discriminate on wealth or talent. At the heart of his mission was giving children an opportunity to have what he did not have growing up: a great coach.

ATP/WTA Merger

Did you hear? The Daily Playbook reported:

  • The proposed joint organization will be named ‘Tennis Ventures’. 

  • It will combine key commercial assets, including broadcast, data, and sponsorship rights. 

  • If approved, the new entity is expected to become operational by early 2027.

RacquetX - See you in Atlanta

Please check out the RacquetX content in this issue of Racquet Business: RacquetX - Our Industry's Greatest Show is Getting Bigger and Better.

I’m looking forward to attending the RacquetX Club City Series in Atlanta on Nov 9. I always look forward to traveling to the greatest racquet sports city on the planet, the first and only true tennis capital of the world!

If any of our local readers want to join up and share a cup of coffee (or something stronger) with me, let me know here. I’ll come in the night before and stay at The Starling.

Monday Morning Club Quarterback

I enjoyed listening in on Ed Shanaphy’s 20-minute podcast/webinar/exchange of ideas every Monday morning. More on our Webinar Watch page.

I sincerely hope you find value in the November issue of Racket Business. Our aim is to provide you with insights and strategies that will contribute to the growth and success of your business in the ultra-competitive racquet sports industry.

Rich Neher
Co-Publisher

2026 PTR/PPR International Racquets Conference

Things that make me go hmmm…

Winners or Losers - You decide!

Scott Baxter on LinkedIn

“I am top 1% in the world when it comes to teaching tennis.”

Play Your Court CEO Scott Baxter during ‘CourtReserve Unscripted’ interview with Ashley Owens.

Hmmm… Somehow, I was reminded of several examples where business owners and CEOs made claims just before they experienced somewhat epic downfalls. But that’s just my opinion. I wish Scott only the best for his business.

Scott Baxter on LinkedIn

“We’re working on making Play Your Court into an educational platform where me and Nate will do most of the teaching.”

Play Your Court CEO Scott Baxter during ‘CourtReserve Unscripted’ interview with Ashley Owens.

Hmmm… Does that mean the 4,200 teaching pros Scott claims are his clients will not be getting any more business from Play Your Court because “he and Nate” are selling courses directly to their 25,000 player members? Ouch!

Megan Rose on LinkedIn

“We really need enough great coaches and people delivering the sport.”

Megan Rose, Managing Director, USTA Coaching on the Racquet Fuel Podcast with Kim Bastable and Simon Gale.

Hmmm… Big smiling Megan certainly talks as good a game as her boss Craig Morris. And the interviewers didn’t stop her, didn’t give her anything but seemingly pre-authorized softball questions. No “Why did the NGB start USTA Coaching?” No “Did you think RSPA and PTR don’t do a good enough job?” No “Does that not look like the typical USTA money grab on the back of two established organizations?” No “Why should we believe this is not another fly-by-night idea gone tomorrow like so many other USTA programs?” No “What makes you think the unrealistic goal of 35/35 is attainable?”

And the juiciest of all questions: No “Why doesn’t USTA Coaching offer SAM insurance for coaches?” Instead, they let her ramble on about herself and her position.

I have the utmost respect for Kim and Simon, but the entire “interview” looked more like a big, low-budget USTA promotional video to me.

Craig Morris on LinkedIn

“If tennis starts with love, coaches are the beating heart. That’s why this National Coaches Day, during Coach Appreciation Month, we’re celebrating their tireless dedication to excellence.”

USTA Coaching CEO Craig Morris, in his “Message from the CEO,” blasted to all USTA members.

Hmmm… When was the last time a USTA Executive’s statement was either true or sincere? Do you think Morris really cares about coaches? Or are they just a source of new income and power? Will we see more announcements soon that will push PTR and RSPA coaches into deciding to either join USTA Coaching or get shunned as not qualified to teach tennis? After all, “we had to step in and create real coaches for our sport,” seems to be the mantra nowadays.

Jannik Sinner on the HEAD website

"If I have a good week, I always eat a hamburger with French fries, one Coke, and tiramisu or ice cream". 

Jannik Sinner on his dietary habits after winning.

Hmm… I could get used to that diet if it makes me win more matches…

Shout-Outs + One Revealing Quote + One Funny Tweet


Big Shout-Out 

and congratulations to Tim and Ashley Owens, for securing a large investment for CourtReserve and showing us all who is number one in U.S. racquet sports club management software.


Big Shout-Out 

to Sarah Stone for securing the Director of Racquets position at the prestigious Mauna Lani Auberge Collection resort in Hawaii, a Cliff Drysdale Tennis-managed property.

Check out Sarah’s new office:

(Scott, you guys lucked out!)

Cliff Drysdale

Big Shout-Out

to the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for receiving a $10 million 5-year grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Big Shout-Out

to Valerie Camillo for taking over the new chair of the WTA Tour and WTA Ventures. Her career has taken her from IBM to the NBA to the Washington Nationals, the Philadelphia Flyers, to the WTA.

Nice!

One Revealing Quote - seen on Instagram.

One Funny Tweet/Reddit