RacquetX - Our Industry's Greatest Show is Getting Bigger and Better

I’ve been to RacquetX 2024 in Miami and was blown away by the learning and networking opportunities the event provided, in addition to some awesome Padel and Pickleball action. Tennis was basically an afterthought, but that was OK. The other sports created so much excitement, and we all wanted to learn more about them.

My April 2024 article was titled RacquetX - A world-class festival of thought, connection, and experiential learning. I had great discussions with industry heavyweights like Scott McCulloch, Brian Dillman, Ramona Husaru, Jonathan Fralick, Mitch Kutner, Marcos Del Pilar, Tim & Ashley Owens, to name just a few.

Pickleball vendor Knox had a replica of the famous DeLorean from “Back to the Future” at their booth.

This year, we actually had a booth at RacquetX 2025.

After RacquetX ‘25 we learned that company CEO Robyn Duda planned more events under the RacquetX brand: The City Series in Partnership with The Directors Club of America.

The RacquetX website states: “The RacquetX City Series takes the energy and insights of our flagship Club Summit and brings them to you in a powerful, one-day format designed to elevate the careers of racquet sports professionals. Hosted in key cities across the country, each City Series stop delivers high-impact sessions, curated networking opportunities, and actionable strategies from industry leaders — all tailored to the needs of today's top club pros. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve, grow your professional network, or bring fresh ideas back to your club, the City Series brings the RacquetX experience straight to you.”

The first City Series event was held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 29. The next event took place closer to my office, at The Griffin Club in Los Angeles, on August 18, where I experienced firsthand the exceptional quality that Robyn Duda and her team deliver in their events.

Below: The top image shows Robyn Duda with Griffin Club Director of Racket Sports, Cari Buck. The bottom image shows a discussion panel moderated by CourtReserve’s Ashley Owens. More details in my September article “RacquetX City Series Los Angeles. Out.Of.The.Balpark.Good.”

“The Racquet X City Series stop in Austin, Texas, hosted by Austin Country Club, delivered a high-energy experience centered on education, connection, and community. Around 50 racquet sports professionals and enthusiasts gathered for a full day of engagement, supported by 10 vendors who helped sustain the lively atmosphere.

A highlight of the event was a panel discussion featuring Jarrett Chirico and Chris Gale from the Directors Club of America, joined by Fred Viancos, Executive Director of USTA Texas. Their conversation explored leadership in racquet sports, current challenges around compensation, and the importance of mentoring staff and emerging professionals.

Throughout the day, the relevance and growth of all racquet sports remained a central theme. Pickleball was well represented by Tom Webb of the APP Tour and Rod Davis of NPL Pickleball. Padel also had a strong presence, with sessions led by William Boyce of Padel39 and Andres Osorio of Padel Club Austin. Kelly Marshall, RSPA Regional Vice President, and Logan Palenske, Director of Racquets at Indian Springs Country Club, contributed valuable insights on club programming and member engagement.

Lunch provided more than just a break; it became a meaningful opportunity for attendees from across Texas to share ideas and to network. The event served as a powerful reminder of the dedication and drive among Texas racquet sports professionals to create better opportunities for themselves and the communities they support.”

The next event in the City Series will be at the Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta (I will be able to make that one) on November 9, followed by Orlando on January 22nd, 2026.

Then it’s March again, and the new RacquetX is coming to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from 3/13 to 3/15. If you haven’t made your reservation yet, I suggest you do it now. Look us up at our booth.

Here is another reason to come to RacquetX 2026: Our friends from INTENNSE will hold their first-ever Pro Tennis Draft on Friday, March 13, the first day of the show. Should be quite interesting. Here is the INTENNSE website.

I am sure we will be able to tell you more about RacquetX 2026 as soon as they release that information. I’m looking forward to seeing many of our readers at the show again.