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Spotlight: INTENNSE - A Modern Take on the Sport of Tennis
Faster. More points. More emotion. More connection. More drama. Non-stop action.
Rich Neher
September 30, 2024
In late September, I had the opportunity to visit Atlanta, marking a significant step in Conga Sports' expansion strategy. While we continue to actively promote our innovative platform in California, we're setting our sights on new horizons, with Georgia emerging as our prime target. Why Georgia? Because Greater Atlanta isn't just any tennis hub - it's widely recognized as the 'Tennis Capital of the World'!
A productive meeting was held with key industry figures, including Tim Noonan of Universal Tennis Management, Shaun Boyce of GoTennis! and the Atlanta Tennis Podcast, and his wife Geovanna, a respected fitness expert. During the discussion, a notable name emerged: Patricia Jensen, widely recognized as one of the most well-connected individuals in the tennis industry and mother of the renowned Jensen brothers.
Patricia Jensen's influence in the tennis world is significant. In 2019, when Racket Business was operating under the name Tennis Club Business, we had the opportunity to interview her during her promotion of Kourts in the United States. This interview, titled "Patricia Jensen - Tireless Promoter for Kourts Software and Apps," provided valuable insights into her role in the industry and can be accessed at the following link:
Pat Jensen promptly arranged a meeting with Charles Allen and Andrew Satinoff of For The Sport, an emerging company that has recently launched INTENNSE, generating significant industry buzz. Interim CEO Charles Allen is recognized as the driving force behind the Open Source / Open Data initiative, which promotes the development of standards for representing data related to tennis and other racket sports.
In his capacity, Allen collaborated with the International Tennis Federation to establish the Tennis Open Data Standards (TODS). He also spearheaded the creation of the Competition Factory, which implements the "business logic" of tennis tournaments. It currently processes all tournaments run by the USTA, Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), and numerous other national governing bodies.
Andrew Satinoff directs the company's marketing efforts. The leadership team also includes Bruce Waschuk, former ITA Chief Digital Officer, serving as COO, and Yannick Yoshizawa as VP of Experience. This assemblage of industry veterans positions For The Sport as a formidable player in the tennis technology sector.
Waschuk writes on his LinkedIn page, Tennis needs to overhaul its support system for up-and-coming players or risk burning out the very talent that could secure its future. And that describes the overall goals of INTENNSE quite well.
 Charles Allen | 
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The INTENNSE team sees itself as the ‘flag bearer for a modern take on the sport of tennis.’ Their goal was to reengineer the sport with aggressive and competitive style changes to deliver a fan-centric experience that is healthier and more fun for all stakeholders. Reminds me a little of the sensational success the Savannah Bananas have with their approach to serving a fan-centric baseball experience.
I’m also reminded of Billie Jean King’s statements in September where she proposed 3 changes to attract more people into tennis and particularly young people:
1. Change the scoring
2. Every player should have their name and number on the shirt
3. Same number of sets for men and women
I think Billie Jean is on the right track with her suggestions and I’m seeing these kinds of changes coming through in INTENNSE. They see tennis as reborn through a team concept that introduces new strategies while increasing play intensity, interactivity, and pace. Like other sports, matches are on the clock, bringing predictability to scheduling. Scoring is easy for sports fans to follow.
The INTENNSE objective of providing professional players with a monthly salary and comprehensive health insurance benefits is crucial for the long-term viability of tennis as a spectator sport. This approach not only ensures the sport's survival but also elevates its status to be on par with other major professional sports leagues.
By implementing these measures, we aim to create a more stable and attractive career path for tennis professionals. This, in turn, will likely lead to increased player retention, improved performance standards, and a more competitive and engaging product for fans and sponsors alike.
Furthermore, this progressive stance on player compensation and benefits aligns with modern expectations for professional athletes and demonstrates our commitment to the well-being of our sport's most valuable assets - the players themselves. It sets a new industry standard that could potentially influence other tennis organizations and tournaments to follow suit, ultimately strengthening the entire tennis ecosystem.
The testing phase of the INTENSE format has yielded highly positive results, according to Charles Allen. In the coming weeks and months, an initial schedule of tournament events is set to unfold, offering a diverse range of competitive opportunities for tennis athletes.
October 26 - Georgia vs Georgia Tech*
November 2 - Windy Hill Athletic Club, Atlanta
November 9-10 - Charlotte, NC
April 202 - 18 player draft start for the 202 professional league
June 2025 - Start of professional league
As an avid tennis player and event organizer, I am thoroughly impressed with INTENNSE and recognize its significant potential for application in recreational tennis. I strongly recommend that Charles Allen and his team consider adopting some of Jesse Cole's innovative strategies, as exemplified by the Savannah Bananas, to further enhance the INTENNSE format. The current framework of INTENNSE already incorporates several progressive elements, positioning it favorably for continued innovation.
By embracing bold, forward-thinking approaches, INTENNSE has the opportunity to revolutionize the tennis experience for players and spectators alike. This could potentially lead to increased engagement, expanded market reach, and enhanced revenue streams. As the sport continues to evolve, it is crucial for organizations like INTENNSE to stay at the forefront of innovation, ensuring long-term success and sustainability in the competitive landscape of professional and recreational tennis.