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March 2010
Volume 38 Number 3 $5.00
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DEPARTMENTS
R S I M A R 2 0 1 0
INDUSTRY NEWS
7 USTA creates US OpenNational Playoffs
7 Prince debuts Lightspeedshoe at Aussie Open
7 Beach Tennis to use paddles,not tennis racquets
8 Ashaway celebrates185th birthday
8 USTA names CommunityTennis award winners
8 Babolat unveils newAero line of racquets
9 Prince updates frameswith EXO3
9 Head launchesYouTek Prestige series
9 USPTA offersTechnology Tools map
10 Wilson offers newseminar at GSS Symposium
11 USTA Serves awardsnearly $1 million
12 Upcoming Industry Schedule13 Racquet, shoe, string
year-to-date sales
4 Our Serve7 Industry News14 Tennis Memorabilia
17 Pioneers in Tennis
21 TIA Quarterly36 String Playtest: Pacific Poly Power Pro38 Tips & Techniques
40 Your Serve, by Tony Taverna
2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
ContentsContentsFEATURES18 Fashion Forming
What should you consider when fitting yourcustomers with the right tennis clothes?
26 State of the Industry:The Changing Tennis LandscapeOur upcoming series will take a hard look at whatsgood and bad in this industry, and how we can makethings better for everyone.
COURT CONSTRUCTION& MAINTENANCE GUIDE
28 Is Your Facility a Tennis Hangout?It may not take much to make sure your courtsappeal to your clientele.
30 Public EnemiesEasy-access municipal courts are a key to growingtennis. But how can you deal with vandalism andabuse?
32 All About WindscreenHeres how to care for and maintain this essentialpiece of court equipment.
33 Find What You Need at the ASBA WebsiteWhether youre upgrading your courts, building anew facility or looking for maintenance, take a tourof www.sportsbuilders.org.
34 Posting TimeLargely unnoticed until there are problems, net postsare important for play, and for aesthetics.
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I
just returned from San Diego and am all fired up. I was
at the 2010 USTA Community Tennis Development
Workshop (CTDW), undoubtedly one of the best things
the USTA does for recreational tennis. Volunteers and USTA
staff from around the country come to this workshop to
share success stories, learn about spreading tennis to all cor-
ners, bring more people into the game, and yes, even make
money at it.Seminars, presentations and workshops all are geared to the mission of
the USTA: to promote and develop the growth of tennis. And this year, USTA
President Lucy Garvin, who is dedicated to living the mission of the organi-
zation, had all of the USTA board of directors and the section leadership at
the CTDW. It was the first time that many of them actually saw how impor-
tant and wonderful this workshop is. From what I heard from a few of them,
it was quite an eye-opener.
One of the reasons I went to San Diego was as a member of my local
Community Tennis Association. We started our CTA about a year and a half
ago and still need to get our nonprofit status, but were working hard toward
that goal. Weve held a few fund-raisers and tennis nights, pushed to get new
courts built in our town, and will be pushing more for that and for program-
ming, too. A lot of the CTDW presentations apply directly to what were
doing, things like attracting volunteers, getting funding, communicating with
community members, grant writing, etc.
One thing I definitely want to push with our CTA is news about Recre-ational Coach Workshops, which are geared toward parents, coaches, park
and rec instructors, really anyone who wants to work with entry-level play-
ers, to get them going in the game. Its not meant to replace coaching or
teaching by certified pros, but simply to help grow the sport at the most basic
level. Im hoping our CTA can sponsor a Rec Coach Workshop, which
requires a minimum of 20 participants. (Visit usta.com/oncourttraining for
more info.)
To continue to spread the good things that the CTDW brings to tennis, the
USTAs national CTA Committee (of which I am a volunteer member), wants
to facilitate regional tennis development workshops, so that those who
may not be able to attend the national CTDW can go to one closer to home.Whether you are a volunteer in your local CTA, teaching pro, school coach,
park and rec employee, facility manager, or even a court builder or retailer,
youll find useful, and profitable, tips in these workshops. Contact your USTA
section to see what may be offered in your area, or to urge that they con-
sider a regional CTDW.
Lets take the time to grow the sport from the grassroots, then we all can
reap the bounty.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
Our Serve
(Incorporating Racquet Tech and Tennis Industry)
Publishers
David Bone Jeff Williams
Editorial Director
Peter Francesconi
Associate Editor
Greg Raven
Design/Art Director
Kristine Thom
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Joe Dinoffer
Liza Horan
Greg Moran
Bob PattersonCynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
Corporate Offices
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: RSI@racquetTECH.com
Website: www.racquetTECH.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
Advertising Director
John Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
hanna@knowatlanta.com
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
cstennisindustry@earthlink.net
Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per
year: monthly January through August and com-
bined issues in September/October and Novem-
ber/December by Tennis Industry and USRSA, 330
Main St., Vista, CA 92084. Application to Mail at
Periodicals Postage Prices is Pendingat Vista, CA and
additional mailing offices. March 2010, Volume 38,
Number 3 2010 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All
rights reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and
logo are trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A.
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Send address changes to Racquet Sports Industry,
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4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2010
RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Sowing Seeds at the Grassroots
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I N D U S T R Y N E W SI N D U S T R Y N E W SI N F O R M A T I O N T O H E L P Y O U R U N Y O U R B U S I N E S S
The USTA is launching the US Open National Playoffs, which will provide
the opportunity for all players 14 years of age and older to earn a wild
card into the 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament.
The US Open National Playoffs begins with 16 sectional qualifying tour-
naments held throughout the country from April through June. The mens
and womens champions from each of the sectional qualifying tournaments
advance to the US Open National PlayoffsMens and Womens Champi-
onships, which will be held in conjunction with Olympus US Open Series tourna-ments this summer.
The US Open National Playoffs makes the US Open open, where one woman and one man will
earn a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament and a chance to advance to the main draw,
says Lucy Garvin, USTA chairman of the board and president. The fact that the Playoffs are supported
by qualifying tournaments run by our sections makes this even more unique, extending the reach of
the US Open across the country.
Players, who must be USTA members, will compete in sectional qualifying tournaments hosted by
16 of the 17 USTA Sections nationwide. The entry fee for each of the sectional qualifying tournaments
is $125. Each sectional event is limited to 256 players, and players wont be seeded. Participants can
be of any playing level.
While professionals are eligible, we expect the draws to be filled with top j unior players, colle-
gians, teaching professionals and even recreational players, says Jim Curley, chief professional tour-naments officer & US Open tournament director. Olympic skier Bode Miller, who won the 1996 Maine
state singles tennis title, says hell compete in one of the sectional qualifiers.
For information schedules, visit www.usopen.org.
Beach TennisTo Use PaddlesBeach Tennis USA has adopt-ed the use of the paddle, cur-rently used in internationalcompetition, as the officialequipment for regulationtournament play. BTUSA,which formerly promoted theuse of standard, regulationtennis racquets for use at itsevents, says the move to pad-dles was primarily to facilitatethe unification of internation-al beach tennis associationsthroughout Europe, SouthAmerica, and Asia.
"By converting to the paddle,Beach Tennis USA will be ableto work more closely with ourinternational partners to grow
the sport, both on the pro andrecreational levels," saysMarc Altheim, BTUSA'sfounder and commissioner.
Altheim says he believes thepaddle will help introduce thesport to more "non-tennis"players, allowing for beachtennis to become a moremainstream common activityfor casual beachgoers.
To further its efforts in unify-
ing the sport on a globallevel, BTUSA also will adoptthe international court dimen-sions of 8 x 8 meters, and anet height of 170 cm (5 feet,6 inches).
Princes Lightspeed Shoe Debuts at Australian Open
Princes Lightspeed footwear debuted at the Australian Open this year. The shoes are designed to
be lower, lighter and faster, says the company, keeping a players center of gravity low for enhance
balance, agility and responsiveness.
We broke away from the mold of conventional tennis-
shoe design to give players a lightweight, ultra-responsive
match-day shoe, says Jerome Jackson, gobal product
manager for footwear at Prince.
A key feature in Lightspeed is its Propulsion Platea
lightweight chassis built to transfer energy from the heel
to the forefoot, resulting in quicker reaction time, better
acceleration, and a sense of being on the balls of your feet,
says Prince. The shoes also feature an ultra-low profile mid-
sole, giving players a much lower platform for stability, as
well as Princes Shock Eraser Pro heel insert for impact pro-
tection.
Lightspeed is available in the Rebel LS for men ($110 sug-
gested retail) and the Poise LS for women ($105). Lightspeed
replaces the O-Series as the new flagship model in Princes All-Court series. For more information,
visit www.princetennis.com.
USTA Creates US Open National Playoffs
R S I M A R C H 2 0 1 0
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Hit for Haiti Earthquake Relief
On Sunday, January 17, the world's best tennis playerspaused in their preparations for the Australian Open to raisefunds to support Haitian earthquake relief efforts in a mixed-
doubles exhibition called "Hit for Haiti." Roger Federer, Serena
Williams, Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, Novak Djokovic, Sam Sto-
sur, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt took part in the event,
which raised $184,700. Proceeds from the event, along with
significant donations by the ATP World Tour, Sony EricssonWTA Tour, ITF, Grand Slam Committee and Tennis Australia,
will exceed $500,000.
Ashaway Racket Strings Celebrates185th Birthday
In a ceremony held inDecember at the compa-ny's historic mill headquarters on the Ashawog River in tiny
Ashaway, R.I., Ashaway Racket Strings parent company,
Ashaway Line & Twine, celebrated an anniversary few com-panies reach: their 185th birthday.
Started in 1824 by Captain Lester Crandall, and still run
by the sixth and seventh generations of his descendents,
Ashaway Line and Twine is the oldest family-owned busi-
ness in the state and one of the oldest in the U.S., and it is
the only remaining racquet string manufacturer in the U.S.
"We are very proud of our tradition," says Steve Crandall,
Ashaway v.p. of sales and marketing. But being 'venerable'
doesn't win you any points in the marketplace. We still work
very hard to produce innovative, leading-edge products at
competitive prices."
A commercial fisherman himself, founder Capt. Crandallstarted out hand-twisting linen fishing lines during the off-
season. Subsequent generations have made products as
diverse as parachute cord, harness twine for Jacquard
looms, and whipping cord for golf club heads. During World
War II, U.S. airmen unlucky enough to be downed at sea
used an Ashaway-made Emergency Fishing Kit.
Ashaway introduced the first commercial product made
from Du Pont's NylonAshaway Nylon Bait Casting Line
in 1939, and began manufacturing racquet strings in 1949.
Ashaway was also the first to manufacture racquet strings
made from Du Pont's bulletproof Kevlar fiber, and is cur-
rently developing new lines of tennis, squash and racquet-ball strings based on recent advances in another space-age
material, Zyex.
USTA Names CommunityTennis Award Winners
The USTA honored eight winners of its annualCommunity Tennis Development Awards at theannual USTA Community Tennis Development Work-
shop held Jan. 22 to 24 in San Diego. More than 600 community
tennis leaders attended the workshop.Q 2010 USTA Eve F. Kraft Community Service Award Winners:
Helen Moser Petersen of Indianapolis and Bev Taylor of
Houston.
Q 2009 USTA/National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) Chapters of the
Year Winners: An Achievable Dream, Newport News, Va. (bud-
get $500,000 and over); MACH Academy, Augusta, Ga. (budget
$50,000-$500,000); City of Reading, Pa. (budget less than
$50,000).
Q 2009 Janet Louer USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Organizer of
the Year Winner: Lisa Bowen, Watkinsville, Ga.
Q 2009 USTA Adaptive Tennis National Community Service Award
Winner: Special Populations Tennis Program, Atlanta.Q 2009 USTA National Community Tennis Association (CTA) of the
Year Winner: Lee County Community Tennis Association (Fla.)
Babolat Aero Line Debuts Down Under
Babolats new Aero line of racquets debuted at the Australian Open, withRafael Nadal, Caroline Wozniacki and new Team Babolat member Jo-Wil-fried Tsonga playing with the Aeropro Drive, while Dinara Safina used the
Aero Storm.
The new racquets use GT (Graphite Tungsten) technology, which com-
bines braided carbon fibers and tungsten filaments throughout the frame.
Babolat says this strengthens the frame to reduce torque and provide more
precision.
The frames also feature the Cortex System, between the handle and string
bed, to filter vibrations that interfere with ball feel, says the company. The Aero
design simulates the aerodynamics of an airplane wing to minimize drag through
the air for a faster swing.
The Aeropro Drive is for baseline heavy-hitters looking for power and spin (sug-
gested retail of $189). The Aeropro Team ($185) is for baseliners looking for more
maneuverability with power and spin. The Aeropro Lite ($179) is for women and
high-level juniors looking for an extremely lightweight racquet with spin.
The Aero Storm ($185) is for well-rounded players with a full swing look-
ing for control. The Aero Storm Tour ($185) is designed for well-rounded
players with a full swing looking for extra control. There are also two jun-
ior frames, the Aeropro Drive Junior ($104) and Nadal Junior ($24.95)
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
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Aero StormAeropro LiteAeropro Drive
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Prince Updates Frames With EXO3
Prince has updated its Black and White series of frames with the new EXO3 Blackand EXO3 White. The EXO3 technology fea-tures visible holes along the frame, which
Prince says enhances speed, stability and
feel on court.
The EXO3 Black (suggested retail
$199) features EnergyChannel, a sculpt-ed groove and inlayed insert around the
frame for a crisper feel with more feed-
back for players who are most interested
in control. The EXO3 White ($179) fea-
tures EnergyBridge, a compressed carbon
insert that suspends the string bed from the
frame for a cushioned feel, for players who
want a maximum sweetspot in a more power-
oriented, comfortable frame, says the company.
Prince also introduced the EXO3 Black Team
($179), for players looking for a slightly lighter,
more maneuverable version of the EXO3 Black.Prince ATP and WTA tour pros, including
Maria Sharapova, switched to the new racquet
for the recent Australian Open.
Sharapova played with the EXO3
Black. Visit www.princetennis.com
for more.
Do You Have News?Send It to Us
Ever wonder how youget a lot of people toread your press releas-
es? Send them to us.
The RSI.com news that we run on our web-siteracquetsportsindustry.comalso is
picked up as an RSS feed on other sites,
such as TennisIndustry.org, and pops up
on search engines, too.
If you have news about your tennis or
racquet-sports related business or organi-
zationwhether youre a retail shop, ten-
n is facil it y, Com muni ty Ten ni s
Association, park and rec, manufacturer,
court builder, etc.send a press release
to us at pressreleases@raquettech.com.
Well do our best to get your releaseposted as quickly as we canand to get
your business the attention it deserves.
Head AnnouncesPromotions
In addition to the recent promotion ofKevin Kempin to CEO of Head USA, thecompany has announced more promotions
in its move to strengthen the organization.
Greg Mason, a 10-year veteran of the
racquet sports industry, has been promot-ed to vice president of sales and market-
ing for Racquet Sports. In addition, Roger
Petersman has been promoted to senior
category manager for tennis racquets.
Mike Hymer is the new business manager
for footwear.
EXO3 BlackEXO3 WhiteEXO3 Black Team
USPTA Offers Tech Tools Map
The USPTA has developed a TechnologyTools map that listsonline resources in one
place. The map, with hyper-
links, shows whats available to
help teaching pros do their job
more efficiently, says the
organization.
The hyperlinks take users to different
sites, most of which showcase members-
only benefits and require teaching pros to
enter their last name and USPTA member
number. There are nearly 30 different
instructional tools providing resources. Go to
www.uspta.com and click on the USPTA
Technology Tools button.
Head Launches YouTek Prestige Series
Head has updated the Prestige series with its new YouTek technology. YouTek incor-porates something Head calls d3o, a smart material that the company sayschanges behavior under dynamic loading or impact.YouTek, says Roger Petersman, Heads senior business manager of tennis rac-
quets, can actually sense the needs of the tennis player during different shots to
perfectly match your game.
Located in the shaft of the racquet, d3o reacts to the needs of a player within
nanoseconds, says the company, providing a softer touch and better feel on slow-
speed impacts, like slices and drop
shots, and increases stiffness
necessary to create power on
high-speed impacts, such as
serves and passing shots. The
Prestige series includes:
Q Prestige Pro, which has a
more open string pattern, for
a more aggressive tour player.
It also includes a leather grip.
Q Prestige Mid, a tour racquet that
offers touch and control with extra
stability for heavy hitters.
Q Prestige Mid Plus, which provides
touch and control for playa-
bility. Its the racquet of
choice for pro players Gilles
Simon, Stanislas Wawrinka
and Tommy Haas, who all
used it during the recent Australian Open.
YOUTEK Prestige MidYOUTEK Prestige MPYOUTEK Prestige Pro
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INDUSTRYNEW
S Wilson Offers New Seminarfor GSS Symposium
Ron Rocchi (below), principal designerfor Racquet Sports and team leaderfor the Wilson Tour Services String-
ing Team, will lead a new training
seminar, Stringing Patterns & Tech-niques for the 2010 GSS Racquet
Stringers Symposium in October.
The seminar will have a maxi-
mum 3 to 1 student-teacher ratio
with each student working on their own Wilson Baiar-
do stringing machine. The four-hour session will be
offered six times over the course of the three-day
symposium, with a focus on various stringing pat-
terns, techniques, knots, and professional tips. Joining
Rocchi will be MRT Grant Morgan, a veteran of the pro
tour stringing circuit who has served as personal
stringer for Andy Roddick, as well as being a U.S.Davis Cup stringer.
"Ron and Wilson have been a tremendous asset to
the GSS symposium, supporting us from the begin-
ning, says Tim Strawn, GSS founder. We have sever-
al other new additions and changes to the 2010 event
that I think will make this the best symposium yet.
The GSS Symposium will be Oct. 9-13 in Orlando,
Fla. For details, visit www.grandslamstringers.com.
> Babolat signed a two-year contract to become presenting sponsor ofthe Road to the Little Mo' Nationals and the Little Mo International
Open tennis tournament. The Little Mo is open to any player from
around the world who is 8 to 11 years old. The tournament has special
meaning for Babolats top U.S. mens player, Andy Roddickhe won Lit-
tle Mo in 1992 at age 10.
> Peter Burwash International marked its 35 year in business on Feb. 15.For more information on PBI and its services, visit www.pbitennis.com.
> QuickStart Tennis of Central Virginia, Inc. (QCV), has received a$5,000 grant for its Jump Start QuickStart Tennis Initiative from the
BAMA Works Fund of the Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville
Area Community Foundation. QCV is a special-purpose Community Ten-
nis Association that is taking QuickStart Tennis, the USTAs new play-to-
learn format, to 55,000 kids in 116 public elementary and middle
schools in 21 central Virginia counties over the next five to six years.
> Five-time Wimbledon champ Bjorn Borg will play his first tournament
in the U.S. since 2000 when he competes at the $150,000 Staples Cham-pions Cup, April 29-May 2 at the Agganis Arena in Boston.
> TennisLife magazine has signed a multi-year agreement to publish Ten-nisLife Kazakhstan starting with the March/April 2010 issue. TL Kaza-
khstan will now be the fourth international edition, joining TennisLife UK,
TennisLife Ireland and TennisLife en Espanol.
> Tennis.com has redesigned and relaunched, boasting more whitespace and a cleaner, easier to navigate site.
> World TeamTennis is donating hundreds of clothing items for childrenimpacted by the earthquake in Haiti to the global charity K.I.D.S. (Kids in
Distressed Situations), which focuses on the needs of children and theirfamilies. For donation links, visit www.WTT.com/Haiti.
> The Eagle Fustar Tennis Program, which operates in Northern Califor-nia on the campuses of Santa Clara University, West Valley College and
Mission College, has been named a USTA Certified Regional Training
Center.
S H O R T S E T S
USPTA Sets National
Tourney ScheduleThe USPTAs 2010 National Surface ChampionshipSeries kicks off with the $5,000 USPTA Indoor Cham-
pionships April 23-25, held at Lakeville
Lifetime Fitness in Lakeville, Minn.
The tournaments, open to Profes-
sional-level USPTA members in good stand-
ing, offer participants the chance to earn prize
money and ranking points. The 2010 surface
championship series and International Championships
feature more than $55,000, making it the largest prize-
money circuit exclusively for tennis-teaching profession-
als, says Chuck Gill, USPTA national vice president and
chairman of the Tournament Committee.
For info, contact 800-USPTA-4U, or USPTA pros can
log into the members only section of uspta.com. Other
events on the series schedule include:
Q USPTA Clay Court Chps., May 20-23, Ibis Golf and
Country Club, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Q USPTA Grass Court Chps., Aug. 26-29, Philadelphia
Cricket Club, Philadelphia
Q USPTA International Chps., Sept. 20-23, La Quinta
Resort & Club, La Quinta, Calif.
Q USPTA Hard Court Chps., Oct. 22-24, Hollytree Coun-
try Club and Tyler Tennis & Swim Club, Tyler, Texas
Wheelchair Tennis ProgramsReceive $34,000 in USTA Grants
More than $34,000 in USTA Wheelchair Program grants has been
awarded to 23 wheelchair tennis programs across the countryfor the second consecutive year. Grants were awarded to local organ-
izations that promote and develop the growth of wheelchair tennis
and use the sport of tennis to build stronger, healthier communities.
Grant amounts were based on each program's existing budget
and the future programmatic needs of the organization. Recipients
can use the award to meet the USTAs grant initiatives including
coaching, court time, equipment, recruitment and events (tourna-
ments, camps, etc.).
Additional USTA Wheelchair Tennis Grant opportunities will be
announced in 2010. Organizations that are interested in starting a
wheelchair tennis program or would like more information about
wheelchair tennis can email wheelchairinfo@usta.com
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U S R S A N E W S
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
CongratulationsTo the FollowingFor AchievingMRT Status
New MRTs
Adam Stepp New Albany, OHAdam Hunter Smithtown, NY
USTA ServesAwards Nearly$1 Million in Grants
USTA Serves, the philanthropicand charitable entity of theUSTA, announced that under its
Aces for Kids
umbrella, it has
awarded 24 year-
end grants, for a
total of $297,325.
The number of pro-
gram grants awarded in
2009 was 37, for a total amount of
$549,325. Combined with scholar-
ship awards, USTA Serves distrib-
uted nearly $1 million in 2009.
USTA Serves awards grants to
programs that successfully com-
bine tennis and education and help
children pursue their goals and
highest dreams by succeeding in
school and becoming responsible
citizens.
Aces for Kids is a national initia-
tive of USTA Serves. It strives to
promote healthy lifestyles by com-
bating childhood/adult obesity by
providing disadvantaged, at-risk
children the opportunity to learn to
play tennis and improve their aca-
demic skills in a structured format.
At Aces for Kids program sites, chil-
dren ages 5 to 18 learn about
healthy nutrition and lifestyles,
responsible citizenship, study
skills, and computer literacy; inter-
act with a mentor and other stu-
dents; attend college preparatory
sessions; and learn to play tennis
in a team format.
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Wilson players SerenaWilliams and Roger Federer
claimed singles titles at the
Australian Open in Mel-
bourne. Williams plays with the
[K] Blade Team racquet and Fed-
erer plays with the Six.One Tour BLX.Williams also won the womens doubles title, pair-
ing with her sister, Venus, who also plays with the [K] Blade Team.
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan took hometheir second consecutive mens
doubles crown at the 2010 Aus-
tralian Open. The Bryans play
with the Prince EXO3 Ignite
Team 95, which they switched
to late last year.
Vlkl Tennis has signed Liezel Huber to endorse their racquets,bags and accessories. Huber is currently a top-ranked doubles play-er on the Sony Ericsson WTA tour with her partner Cara Black.
Pro player Sania Mirza joined the Wilson team and usedthe new Pro Open BLX racquet at the Australian Open.
Maria Sharapova debuted a new racquet at the Aus-tralian Open, the Prince EXO3 Black, along with the first
piece from her new Limited Edition Prince Sharapova Bag
Collection.
USTA named Harlan Stone its chief business and marketing offi-cer in January, a new position created in the wake of an internal
reorganization. Under the new structure, all sponsorship, marketing
and communications for professional and community tennis will
report into Stone. Stone will continue to report to USTA Executive
Director & COO Gordon Smith. For the past year, Stone has served
as the chief marketing officer for professional tennis for the USTA.
Former USTA President Alastair Martin died Jan. 12 at his homein Katonah, N.Y. He was 94. Martin served as USTA first vice presi-
dent in 1967-68 and as president in 1969-70. He also was presi-
dent and chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame from
1977-79.
Fila has extended its endorsement agreement with2009 US Open champion Kim Cljisters. Clijsters
debuted Filas Spring 2010 Heritage Apparel Col-
lection at the Australian Open in January.
Kate Gordon is the new vp of corporate commu-nications for the ATP.
Chief Business Officer Pierce ONeil, who joined the USTA in1995, is leaving the organization.
Lee Schlazer is the new vice president, distribution forthe Tennis Channel. He comes to Tennis Channel from Life-
time Entertainment Services, where he was vice president of
national accounts and field sales for the western region.
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P E O P L E W A T C H
Upcoming Industry ScheduleQ Feb. 12-18: PTR International Symposium &
Championships, Hilton Head Island, SC
Q Feb. 12-14: USPTA Intermountain Div. Convention,
Denver
Q Feb. 19-21: USPTA Missour Valley Div. Convention,
Prairie Village, KS
Q Feb. 22-28: Delray Beach Intl. Championships, Delray
Beach, FL
Q Feb. 27-Mar. 1: USPTA Midwest Div. Convention,
Columbus, OH
Q Mar. 1: BNP Paribas Showdown/Tennis Night In
America, New York, NY
Q Mar. 5: USPTA Mid-Atlantic Div. Convention,
Charlottesville, VA
Q Mar. 8-21: BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, CA
Q Mar. 8-10: PTR West Coast Tennis Club & Facility
Conference, La Jolla, CA
Q Mar. 10: SGMAs 11th Health Through Fitness Day,
Washington, DC
Q Mar. 10-13: IHRSA Intl Convention and Trade Show,
San Diego
Q Mar. 19-22: USTA Annual Mtg., Dallas
Q Mar. 24-Apr. 4: Sony Ericsson Open, Key Biscayne, FL
Q Apr. 10-18: Family Circle Cup, Charleston, SC
For the numerous certification workshops available, visitptrtennis.org and uspta.org.
Semifinals Set for Showdown Event in NYC
The pairings for the two semifinal matches of the upcoming BNPParibas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup have been set for theMarch 1 event at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Serena Williams, the 2010 Australian Open champion, inaugural
BNP Paribas Showdown defending champion and the current World
No. 1, will face Kim Clijsters, who captivated the tennis world after win-
ning the 2009 US Open title only two years after retiring from the
sport. The matchup will mark the first time the two players will face
each other since the semifinals of the 2009 US Open.
The other semifinal will feature 2009 French Open champion Svet-
lana Kuznetsova and seven-time Grand Slam singles champ VenusWilliams.
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster and online at thegar-
den.com. The event will be broadcast on MSG Network and ESPN2
(check for times) and online at ESPN360.
The BNP Paribas Showdown is the featured element of the Tennis
Night in America promotion, which aims to grow youth participation in
tennis through youth registration events, where youngsters around the
country can begin signing up for spring and summer tennis programs.
Also during the BNP Paribas Showdown, the winner of the indus-
trys Racket Up, America! promotion, Christine Smith of Hurst,
Texas, will serve to try to win $1 million.
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I N D U S T R Y N E W S
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Top-Selling Tennis Stringsat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date dollars,
January-December 2009
1. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex
2. Wilson NXT
3. Wilson Sensation
4. Prince Lightning XX
5. Luxilon Alu Power
Top-Selling Racquetsat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date dollars,
January-December 2009(average selling price)
Best-Sellers1. Babolat Aero Pro Drive Cortex (MP)
2. Babolat Pure Drive GT (MP)
3. Babolat Pure Drive Cortex (MP)
4. Wilson K Blade (MP)
5. Prince EXO3 Red (OS)
Hot New Racquets
(Introduced in the past 12 months)
1. Babolat Pure Drive GT (MP)
2. Prince EXO3 Red (OS)
3. Babolat Pure Drive Roddick GT (MP)
4. Prince EXO3 Silver (OS)
5. Wilson K Three.FX (OS)
Tennis Racquet PerformanceSpecialty Stores,
January-December, 2009 vs. 2008
Units 2009 724,225
2008 795,118
% CHG v. 08 -9%
Dollars 2009 100,664,000
2008 110,539,000
% CHG v. 08 -9%
Price 2009 $139.00
2008 $139.02
% CHG v. 08 0%
Top-Selling Tennis Shoesat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date dollars,January-December 2009(average selling price)
1. Adidas Barricade V
2. Nike Air Breathe Free 2
3. Prince T22
4. Adidas Barricade II
5. Nike Air Breathe Cage II
(Source: TIA/Sports Marketing Surveys)
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Tennis Memorabilia
Trading Cards Hopeto Raise TennisProfileF
or decades, athletes have been
besieged by fans brandishing sports
trading cards for autographs.
Although tennis trading cards have been
available for years, the latest products
being launched by Ace Authentic are
designed to enhance name recognition of
the sports international stars while
enhancing fans knowledge of the historyof the game and its all-time greatest
matches.
Ace Authentic President John Reichel
says relationship-building with players has
been the key to the Georgia-based compa-
nys growing success. In exchange for the
right to use their names and images on
trading cards and other memorabilia,
Reichel says he has partnered with more
than 350 active tour players and legends
of the game by agreeing to promote their
racquet, apparel and other sponsors onAce Authentic products.
Once we got established, players
started coming up to us and asking how
they could get on a card, says Reichel, a
former Silicon Valley executive. Were
lucky to have very good, close friendships
with many of the players on both tours.
That kind of personal relationship is what
makes our business special.
In 2005, Ace Authentic
(www.aceauthentic.com)
released its
first product: the 98-
card Debut Edition,
including fan
favorites such as
Maria Sharapova, Andre Agassi, Roger
Federer, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin,
Lindsay Davenport and James Blake.
Since that time, Ace Authentic has mar-
keted several new series of tradingcardswith many sets featuring ran-
domly inserted cards with a swatch of
match-worn apparel or an autograph
as well as posters, matted photographs,
figurines, match-used items and other
memorabilia.
The newest offering, Grand Slam III,
is a limited-edition set of trading cards
that contains at least one autograph and
one match-worn swatch card in every
pack. It also features the companys
first-ever autograph and jersey cardsfrom legend Pete Sampras, as well as
newcomers Melanie Oudin and Jo-Wil-
fried Tsonga.
Ace Authentic tennis trading card
sets also showcase up-and-comers such
as Sam Querrey and John Isner, as well
as information about great moments,
achievements and Grand Slam matches.
To meet the demand for popular
hand-signed autographs, Ace Authentic
recently launched a Secret Signature
Series producteach pack contained
an autographed 8 x 10 of a profes-
sional tennis player. The Series virtu-
ally sold out within 30 days. Federer
fans have already scooped up all
500 reproductions (at $50 each) of
a 6-inch-tall figurine depicting the
tennis legend in mid-backhand
swing with his Wilson [K] Factor
racquet. Other memorabilia
items currently range in price
from a $30 Rafael Nadal mat-
ted photo to a limited-edition,
framed and autographed Wimbledon
B Y C I N D Y C A N T R E L L
Champions Memo-
rabilia piece, signed by Pete Sampras,
Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Bjorn
Borg, for $1,500. Certificates of authen-ticity are included.
While fans can buy the same apparel
styles as their favorite players from Nike,
Adidas and other clothing manufacturers,
Ace Authentic offers the actual clothes
theyve worn on court. Autographed
apparel includes a shirt worn by Lindsay
Davenport for $500; a $150 hat worn by
Bob Bryan but also signed by his twin
brother and doubles partner, Mike; and a
shirt worn by Roddick selling for $1,000.
For those who prefer to get autographsfirst-hand, Ace Authentic has booths at
about 30 tournaments each year offering
free autograph-signing sessions with
players such as Vince Spadea, Liezel
Huber, Cara Black and Bethanie Mattek.
The whole purpose is to grow the
game by getting kids interested in play-
ers other than the same few they see all
the time on TV, Reichel says. Adults
gravitate toward memorabilia, but kids
love running up to players and asking
them to sign their tennis cards. The play-
ers love it, too.
Mattek says she also enjoys partici-
pating in Ace Authentic trading-card
releases. Plus, being part of this pro-
gram allows me to feature my sponsors,
which is great for them and for me, she
says.
I think that being featured on a trad-
ing card is cool, Spadea adds. It is
amazing how many kids come up to me
during tournaments asking me to sign
my card. Now I know how all of those
baseball players feel. Q
14 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
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Pioneers In Tennis
March 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17www.racquetsportsindustry.com
hen professional engineer
Sheldon Westervelt and agroup of his colleagues in the
sports facility industry decided over
drinks that there should be a trade asso-
ciation with the goal of improving the
quality of tennis court construction, they
knew they were thinking ahead. They
just didn't know that they were thinking
several decades ahead.
It was 1964 when Westervelt, Bob
Caldwell (whose company, California
Stucco Corp., would later
become California Products),Gene Edwards of Malott
Peterson Grundy, Robert Lee
(of Lee Tennis Court Prod-
ucts) and several others held
their first official meeting in
Baltimore. They dubbed their
group the U.S. Tennis Court
& Track Builders Association.
More than 45 years down
the road, that organization is
still meeting, still has its original goals
and Westervelt is still actively involved.
The group is now the American Sports
Builders Association, and its member-
ship has grown from a handful of con-
tractors to a wide range of professionals
in the athletic facility design, construc-
tion and supply industry. ASBA meetings
have educational and technical sessions,
there are multiple certification programs
and the organization publishes a variety
of manuals, construction guidelines and
more. Quite an impressive amount of
growth for an organization invented, as
Westervelt himself likes to say, "on a
night when steamed crabs and beer
were involved."
The business Westervelt and his
father were involved in at the time of
that meeting was William C. Westervelt
& Sons. Westervelt now works interna-
tionally as a tennis consultant with Glob-
al Sports & Tennis Design Group. He
remains a key player in the industry,
having overseen the design and con-
struction of nearly 7,000 tennis projects
W
"Pioneers in Tennis," an occasional column in RSI, draws attention to trailblazers in the
sport. Have someone to suggest? E-mail rsi@racquettech.com.
Sheldon WesterveltAt the forefront of facility design
around the world, including indoor and
outdoor facilities at parks, educationalinstitutions, rehabilitation facilities,
resorts and residences.
In addition to his work in the indus-
try, for which he has won numerous
design awards, Westervelt has served on
the faculty of the Athletic Business Con-
ference, NRPA, Congress for Recreation
and Parks, USPTA, PTR, the USTA Ten-
nis Teachers Conference and USTA sec-
tion meetings. He was a founding
member of the USTA Tennis
Facilities Committee. In 2006he received the USTAs 40-
Year Volunteer Service
Award. In addition, he has
worked with the ITF and was
a member of an ASTM sub-
committee on tennis courts
and running tracks. In 1994,
he was honored with a life
membership in the American
Society of Civil Engineers.
In December, the ASBA honored its
founders and charter members, includ-
ing Westervelt, with the Industry Merit
Award, ASBA's highest honor. "I'm look-
ing around tonight," Westervelt said
after the standing ovation, "and I'm
remembering that we started this associ-
ation to make the industry better. I just
want everyone to remember that, and to
keep working for it."
"Sheldon has long been a driving
force in our industry," said Randy Futty,
who nominated Westervelt and his col-
leagues for the award. "Whether as a
tennis court builder who worked to
refine methods for building courts in the
1960s and 70s, as a founding father
and first chairman of the ASBA in the
mid-1960s, or as one of the leaders of
the world's foremost tennis design com-
panies, he has truly been a visionary
leader in our industry. If there was a hall
of fame for tennis design and construc-
tion, Shel most certainly would be
inducted on the first ballot."
Mary Helen Sprecher Q
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APPAREL
FASHIONFORMINGFitting your customers with the right clothing. B Y C Y N T H IA S H E R M A N
W
ith so many apparel choices out there, choosing the right ten-
nis clothessomething that fits comfortably and is flatter-
ingmay seem to be a daunting task, both for customersthemselves and for retailers who want their players to look their
best. To help you cut through the high fashion and the hype, we
asked retailers what they do to properly fit their customers.
Know your customers, know your inventorythose two
things are really key, says Mimzy Lynne of Michael Lynnes Ten-
nis Shop in Minneapolis. Like any type of clothing, tennis players
shop based on their own demographics, so knowing the audience
you serve and having pieces that cater to themincluding styles,
colors and fitis important if you want to
move things out of your store.
At Michael Lynnes, all store staffers wear
the clothes they sell, so customers get a feelfor how clothes look and fit and can see how
styles may look on different body types.
Mimzy suggests stocking a variety of sizes
because you never know whos going to
come in. Also, make sure you offer to special-
order outfits.
But she adds, Manufacturers need to lis-
ten to retailers when they say not all women
are jocks. There are designers who dont play
the sport coming out with the wrong styles
and fabrics. She also believes manufacturers
need to better address issues of quality and
durabilityespecially in their basic pieces.
Robert Lester of Courtside Tennis and
Apparel in Sacramento, Calif., says its impor-
tant that customers try things on to see how they fit. Every man-
ufacturers fit is different and you dont know what youre getting
if you cant try on the pieces.
Part of the problem may be due to so-called vanity sizing
some manufacturers want you to feel good, so they put a smaller
size label on their clothes. Also be aware that letter sizingS, M,
L, XL, etc.has no universal standards, so a small for one manu-
facturer can be a medium for another.
At a specialty tennis shop, says Wendy Damm of Match Point
Tennis in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., generally the staff plays tennis
and will wear clothes from different lines, so theyll be able to
offer the best guidance in choosing apparel. Even better, employ-
ees who are of similar age and have similar life experiences, andeven who may have similar skin or hair coloring, as your cus-
tomer may be able to help more in the selection and fitting
process.
Each apparel brand has a line cut to a particular body type,
says Damm, and since every customer will have different needs,
its important to know what lines look and fit the best on particu-
lar customers. Damm suggests ordering clothes that are designed
to go after different age groupsobviously choose the groups
your shop caters to. Apparel companies seg-
ment their lines, for instance some clothes
are geared to fit younger players, others are
geared to older players who may not havethat slim and trim body.
And pay attention to colors. What colors
your customer has already and what shades
flatter them is another factor in the deci-
sion-making process, says Lester. Generally,
women want colors and fashion that make
them stand outclothing thats different
from everyone elses.
Some studies indicate that the average
body shape in the U.S. has changed over the
years, from an hourglass shape to more of
a triangle. The average woman today is
more triangular or pear shaped (hips
wider than shoulders), while men are lean-
ing more toward an inverted triangular
shape (shoulders wider than hips). Some designers, however, con-
tinue to make clothes to fit the hourglass shape.
The best thing for your customer may be to forget what the
label says and just go for how a piece fits. And be honest when
your customer asks your opinion. You want repeat business, and
telling a customer an outfit looks great on her when it may not
wont build loyalty.
No one wants to walk out of the store thinking theyre going
to look great on court, only to have the look, style, fit or color not
quite right. Q
FASHIONFORMING
Tips for the Best FitQ Know your customers and your inventory.
Q Encourage customers to try on clothes.
Q Carry a colorful variety of clothing in an
assortment of sizes.
Q Special order for customers.
Q Have your employees wear the clothes you
sell, and make sure theyre knowledgeable
about how different lines and items fit.
Q Ideally, when customers try on clothes, they
should wear the same type of undergar-
ments theyll be wearing on the court.
Q Brand loyalty can be importantcustomers
will come back to a particular line if they
know the fit and style works for them. It
saves them time and reduces risk.
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I N D U S T R Y N E W SI N D U S T R Y N E W S
R S I F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 4
I N F O R M A T I O N T O H E L P Y O U R U N Y O U R B U S I N E S S
T
S P R I N G 2 0 1 0
March 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
GROW THE GAME
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
GROW THE INDUSTRY
PlayTennis Widget: Consumers can easily find programs, facilities, retail-ers, demo racquets, playing partners and lessons.
TennisConnect.com: The new Pick & Click tool can enhance your tennisshop, along with group email, court scheduling, String Center and more.
GrowingTennis.com: New business resources include the Facility Manag-ers Manual, a new Retailers Manual and a Cardio Tennis Kids manual.
CareersInTennis.com: The new website is focused on starting or buildinga career in tennis, including job opportunities, resources and internships.
Racquet Sales Start to Turn Upward at End of Year
While 2009 racquet shipments
showed an overall decline for the
year, there is a bright spot, as
fourth-quarter sales numbers from
pro/specialty moved upward, ahead of thefourth quarter in 2008.
Fourth-quarter comparisons show racquet
sales at pro/specialty stores increased in 2009
by 3% (for both units and dollars) relative to
2008.
Amid this tough overall economic climate,
its good news that racquet sales moved out of
the negative for the last few months of the
year, says Jolyn de Boer, executive director of
the TIA. We hope we can continue this trend
through 2010, especially in light of the recent
news that more than 30 million people arenow playing tennis in the U.S.
BNP Paribas Showdown/Tennis Night In America/$1 Million Serve
Serena Williams will meet Kim Clijsters while Venus Williams plays Svetlana Kuznetsova on March 1 at the
BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The win-
ners of those matches will then vie for the big prize: $1.2 million. The event will be broadcast on MSG Net-
work and ESPN2 (check for times) and online at ESPN360. For tickets and information, visit www.thegarden.com.
Also during the BNP Paribas Showdown, the Racket Up, America! winner, Christine Smith of Hurst, Texas,
will serve to a target and try to win $1 million. In addition, March 1 also is Tennis Night in America, the cul-
mination of four days of Youth Registration events to help jumpstart spring and summer junior tennis pro-
grams throughout the country. Last year, more than 750 tennis facilities signed up for Youth Registration Night.For more information go to TennisNight.com.
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Q Jon Muir, worldwide general manager
of Wilson Racquet Sports, begins two-
year term as TIA president.
Q U.S. tennis participation in 2008 is at
the highest level since 1992 with near-
ly 27 million participants in the sport.
Q The first publication of the Tennis
Retailer Health Index, introduced by
the TIA to monitor and track the pro/specialty retail mar-
ket, shows a 19% increase from the baseline year of
2003, although year-end ball & racquet shipments go flat
and retailers begin to feel the effects of the recession that
started in early 2008.
22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2010 Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
JANUARY FEBRUARY
Q The USTA/TIA Participation Sur-
vey shows that 1.8 million players
joined the game in 2008, and
charting economic indicators
show that people may actually
increase play in a down economy.
Q GrowingTennis.com site is revamped and adds a Busi-
ness Resource Section for facilities and retailers. The site
sees a 1000% increase in providers using it to post their
programs and information in online consumer searches.
Q TennisIndustryNews.org debuts and features the latest
news feeds from RSI, along with TIA member news, plus
an official tennis industry calendar, GrowingTennis
newsletter archives, and more.
Q TennisConnect Retailer debuts as a comprehensive serv-
ice for tennis merchants and pro
shop managers to enhance their
web presence.
Q Ball and Racquet shipment
reports for 2008 show an increase of 16% in ball units
and 44% in racquet units since 2003.
Q The TennisInsure program is expanded to include multi-
ple forms of coverage & experts on two sides of the busi-ness: Property & Casualty and TennisInsure Association
E-Health Programs.
Q TIA holds annual Board Meeting on March 2 and gets
behind USTAs QuickStart Tennis and Tennis Night in
America efforts to grow youth participation.
MARCH
Q Tennis is the fastest
growing traditional sport
in the U.S., according to
the SGMA, up 43% from
2000 to 2008.
Q SGMA study for the first
time records Cardio Ten-
ni s par tic ipant s at
600,000, which exceeds squash players.Q GrowingTennis system statistics show that the system is
receiving more than 4 million consumer queries every
month.
Q The first TIA Tennis Summit is held April 23 to 24 in New
York City to address the changing marketplace.
APRIL
Q TIA releases Tennis is the Fastest
Growing Sport publication to the
industry and its members.
Q The TIA partners with Rally for the
Cure and Susan G. Komen for the
Cure to have Cardio Tennis Rally for
the Cure events take place at tennis
facilities across the nation.
Q The TIA, USTA and RSI recognize
the Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers of 2008.
Q An industry-wide promotionRacket UP, America!is
developed and attracts wide partner support to help pro-
mote consumer awareness and drive traffic at retail.
MAY
Q The 2008 Tennis Marketplace is released, with highlights
on player participation increasing to nearly 27 million
and play occasions up 13% in 2008, but by mid-year
2009, racquet & balls shipments show decline.
Q The TIA Tennis Forum date is set for September 1, dur-
ing the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference and US Open,
along with the TIA Board Meeting and Tennis Industry
Hall of Fame announcement.
Q TIA initiates meeting with Sports Illus-
trateds main tennis writer.
Q Tennis growth story receives more than
421 million media impressions
throughout print, internet, TV and
other channels.
JUNE
Analysis of traditional sports, SGMA 2008
8/8/2019 201003 Racquet Sports Industry
25/44March 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org
Q The Racket Up, America!
promotion kicks off in aneffort to stimulate racquet
sales at retail shops across
the U.S.
Q Tennis participation news appears on Live with Regis &
Kelly and other mainstream media outlets.
Q The TIA reports 2,602 Tennis Welcome Centers, 1,701
Cardio Tennis Sites, and 1,221 QuickStart Tennis sites in
the U.S. year-to-date.
Q Second TIA Tennis Summit is held July 16 to 17 in New
York City and addresses need to create more frequent
players, and turn focus on industry and business health.
JULY AUGUST
Q The TIA partners
with PublicEarth tobring tennis facility
and retailer coordi-
nates and locations to GPS units and mobile phones.
Q The Court Activity Monitor shows a net increase in
Early Season 2009 vs. Late Season 2008 along with
more than 1 million online court reservations tracked.
Q The TIA joins various social media networks such as
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to promote tennis.
Q More than 1,600 facilities have been added to date to the
GrowingTennis System, pushing the total number to
20,000-plus.
Q The TIA holds its annual TIA Ten-
nis Forum at the USTA National
Tennis Teachers Conference.
Q Alan Schwartz is inducted into the
Tennis Industry Hall of Fame.
Q The TIA holds a Technology Work-
shop in New York City in conjunc-
tion with the USTA and Active
Network.
Q TIA Board meeting is held in New
York City during the US Open.
Q Racket UP, America! concludes Sept. 30 and estimates
$400,000 increase in racquet sales plus additional
$200,000 future sales.
SEPTEMBER
Q The 2008 Tennis Participation
Health Index is released,
showing an 18.1% increase
since the measure was initiated
in 2003.
Q The GrowingTennis System
adds tools for Facility Managers
to download, including a Facil-
ity Managers Manual and aGo Green section.
Q TIA attends Career Weekend at
Ferris State University in Michigan and works toward
attracting young talent into the industry through Careers
in Tennis initiative.
OCTOBER
Q The online career development tool,
Careers in Tennis, is soft-launched at
CareersInTennis.com.
Q The 2008 Play Report is generated
and presented at a conference in
Washington, D.C., and shows that
tennis continues to hold the No. 1
spot for traditional sports.
Q The 2009 Cost of Doing Business survey is sent to retail-
ers and facilities and expanded to capture data for court
contractors and designers.
Q TennisConnect registers its 200,000th player and Ten-
nisConnect Retailer offers manufacturer branded pages
in a newly released version to help retail businesses.
NOVEMBER
Q The 2009 TIA/USTA Tennis Partici-
pation study shows that total ten-
nis participation tops 30 million
players for the first time in the 22-
year history of the survey, further
mobilizing the industry to match
participation health with industry health.
Q TIA and research partners create the TIA Economic
Index, to gather top-line data from eight key sectors of
the tennis economy to improve industry health.
Q TIA develops a PlayTennis widget for consumer sites.
Q Christine Smith of Hurst, Texas, is announced as the win-
ner of Racket Up, America! and will serve for $1 mil-
lion at Madison Square Garden on March 1st, 2010.
DECEMBER
2009 YEAR IN REVIEW
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Get Involved With The NewCareersInTennis.com Website
The industrys new online career development tool
CareersInTennis.comis up and running, offering
resources, development tools, networking opportunities and
more, all designed to attract and help young talent find employ-
ment in all areas of the tennis business.
Students, recent college graduates and others can register onthe site for free and view open job opportunities and internship
positions. And they can take advantage
of other resources on the site, including
information on tennis organizations
and companies and access to numerous
industry job sites and career develop-
ment tools.
Companies and organizations can
create an account that allows them to post jobs and internships.
Employers also can view resumes and post a profile about their
company or organization. We have hundreds of job opportuni-
ties on the site right now, but we know more companies can takeadvantage of this great tool for filling positions and finding
interns, says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. Its impor-
tant for the industry to highlight the opportunities available and
the advantages to working in this trade sector.
The TIA also is working with the PTR and USPTA to help high-
light tennis-teaching opportunities. TIA surveys show that a high
percentage of college students are interested in entry-level coach-
ing and teaching positions.
Companies or organizations wishing to post job or intern
opportunities should go to CareersInTennis.com to place your list-
ings for free. For more information on CareersInTennis.com, con-
tact Ryan Melton at 843-686-3036 ext. 226 orryan@tennisindustry.org
PlayTennis WidgetComing SoonMake SureYour Business Is Listed
T
he TIA is rolling out a
PlayTennis widget
designed to reach main-
stream consumers with infor-mation on how to get started in
tennis. Any website can use this
widget so consumers can find
programs, places to play, retail-
ers, demo racquets, game-matching and coaching.
Searches are by name, city, state or ZIP code,
tapping into a database of more than 20,000
facilities and retailers. Make sure your informa-
tion is in our database, up to date and pops up
in consumer searches by going to GrowingTen-
nis.com and either log in or click First Time Vis-
itorits fast, easy and free. For more details onthe PlayTennis widget, visit TennisIndustry.org.
Let TennisConnect Pick &Click Enhance Your Shop
Now tennis retailers can add the power of man-
ufacturers branding to their stores websites.
One of the unique features of the TennisCon-
nect software is the new Pick & Click content editor.
Available at the Tennis-
Connect Retailer level,Pick & Click is one of the
easiest ways to add manu-
facturer-approved content
to your website, and to
drive consumer sales to
your store.
In the website builders Pick & Click Editor, you
can choose from a menu of itemswidgets, tem-
plates, design elements, logos and major manufac-
turer-branded messagesthat you simply click on.
The items you choose go into the page builder sec-
tion, then just hit update and its automatically put
on your website.
Pick & Click is user-friendly and the content is
constantly updated as new products, promotions and
campaigns come out. Importantly, product sales on
your website are then fulfilled in person only, at your
retail location, allowing even more chances for addi-
tional sales.
TennisConnect produces over 10,000 web pages
and generates 3.2 million page views per month. The
average Tennis Connect Retailer site receives 8,000
page views per month. If you are a retailer or manu-
facturer, please contact Marty Mohar at marty@
tennisindustry.org or 843-686-3036 x.227.
Guides Available for Facility Managers,Retailers, Cardio Tennis Kids
Whether youre a facility manager, tennis retailer or teach-
ing pro, you can find the resources that can help your
business at GrowingTennis.com/Resourcesall for free.
Under the Tools & Resources link, the new Facility Managers
Manual is a 90-page guide that covers all topics that a manager
or tennis director needs to know about to
effectively and efficiently run a tennis facili-
ty. The new Retailers Manual offers every-
thing from writing a business plan, to
creating a management team, to retail
basics and using technology. And the Cardio
Tennis Kids manual will show you how to
implement this profitable program that will
help kids stay healthy, get fit and have fun.
GrowingTennis.com also has other
resources that can help you grow your business and your profits.
Be sure to post your programs and information so consumers can
find you and your business. These postcards attract 4 million
consumer queries a every month.
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S P E C I A L R E P O R T : S T A T E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y
THE CHANGING
TENNIS LANDSCAPEOur upcoming series will take a hard look at whats good and bad in
this industry, and how we can make things better for everyone.
I
n the coming months, RSI will be running a series of articles on
the state of the tennis industry. We want to look at all areas ofthis business and try to understand whats good, whats bad,
what needs to be improved and, importantly, how we as an
industry can go about making this business better for everyone.
Our goal is to bring out the issues that matter to you and
directly affect you and your business. A lot is changing in this
industry, and we plan to examine the shifting landscape and
what it means for manufacturers, retailers, teaching pros, facili-
ties, players, court construction, tournaments, pro tours, and
more. And we hope to shed some light on ways this industry
may be able to move the needle so that everyone benefits.
Theres no question that this past year has been tough. You
hear it from nearly everybody in this business; you see it when
manufacturers lay off staff or restructure, when tennis retailers
are forced to close their doors because they cant make ends
meet, when court contractors struggle to find work. Certainly the
overall economy plays a major role in this. But is that the only
reason?
The bright spot, of course, is that according to recent
research, more people are playing tennis now than at any other
point in the last 20 years. But that itself raises even more ques-
tions: How can participation be up, yet companies and retailers
that support this industry seem to be withering away? Shouldnt
increased tennis participation translate into more business for
everybody? Where is the disconnect, and how can we fix it?
In our State of the Industry series, we want to examine both
our strengths and our weaknesses then try to figure out how we as
an industry can capitalize on whats good, fix whats bad, and beon a path toward long-term, sustained growth.
There are questions in every area that we, as an industry, need
to address honestly and dispassionately. For instance, how do
manufacturers and retailers come to terms with pricing policies,
closeouts and online sales? Are manufacturers cranking out too
many SKUs? Are product life cycles hurting retailers? What is the
ripple effect when a local retailer is forced to close? Who is serving
tennis retailers?
And what about teaching pros? Are two competing profession-
al teaching organizations helping or hurting this industry? Are they
affecting the quality of teaching pros out there? How are they
affecting relationships with other groups in this industry? Should
the USTA start its own certification program?
How do we increase the number of frequent tennis players?
What are the ramifications of an increase in league play and a
decline in tournament play? How are flex leagues and other social
tennis formats changing recreational tennis? Is QuickStart Tennis
the long-term industry cure-all some think it is? Why do pro tour-
naments seem to be having trouble attracting sponsors? How can
we generate more business for court contractors? Is a changing
media landscape affecting how we communicate to consumers?
There are, of course, a lot more questions we hope to examine.
And, as this series progresses, we hope to hear from you, too, about
your opinions and what you think is important. Now is the time for
all of us to be open and honest about this industry. Q
THE CHANGING
TENNIS LANDSCAPE
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28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY March 2010 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
It may not take much to make sure yourcourts appeal to your clientele.
B Y M A R Y H E L E N S P R E C H E R
What makes tennis courts kid-friendly? Teen-friendly? Senior-
friendly? In many cases, it's
a combination of the court
itself, and the accoutrements. And
while you can't turn your courtsinto a trip to Disneyland for chil-
dren (or a trip to the mall for
teens, or a cruise for your seniors),
you can put a few key elements
into place that make those same
courts a pleasure for the specific
populations you're trying to
entice.
CHILD-FRIENDLY COURTSThe QuickStart Tennis format has
revolutionized the way tennis is
being taught toand taken up
bychildren across the U.S. With
its shorter courts, lower nets and
low-compression foam balls (not
to mention shorter racquets), the
game is more approachable, easi-
er to teach and more fun to learn.
Many facilities have already
built permanent QST courts for
kids, others have permanent QST
lines on regular-size courts. Con-
tact a court contractor about build-
ing QST courts or putting down
the playing lines for various age groups. (Contrary to what you
may have heard, adding QST lines to a regular-size, white-lined
court is not confusing for players.
If the QST lines are in the same
color family as the court surface
say light blue QST lines on a dark
blue court surfaceadult players
probably will not notice them at all
while they play. Go to
www.usta.com to find out more.)
Already have QST? How about
a few other things that make ten-
nis fun for kids? Is there a hitting
wall or backboard? How about
designing a target on it, with vari-
ous areas kids can aim for? A fun
graphic with various spots can
entice kids and make grooving
their shots less of a chore and
more of a game.
Seen one too many children
who prefer Little Debbie to Little
League, and who think Wii Tennis
has taught them to play? Hold a
Cardio Tennis Kids challenge and
see what develops. The program
challenges children, using music
and fun games, and (bonus round)
is done in short bursts so as not to
overexert kids.
IS YOUR
FACILITY A TENNISHANGOUT?
IS YOUR
FACILITY A TENNISHANGOUT?
Ideas You Can UseQ
Harness community resources: Have a municipal tennisfacility that needs a hitting wall painted with a fun design? Find a
local Scout troop and see if there's an artistic teen looking for an
Eagle Scout project.
Q Jazz up the court surface color scheme: "Everyone likes
the color schemes they see on TV at the various tournaments, and
they want their courts the same," says Dave Baird of Industrial
Surface Sealer, Inc. of Cleveland.
Q Hold "no grown-ups allowed" activities for children who
can have fun without well-meaning parents shouting cues to
them while they're on court.
Q Setting up "teen nights" and "tennis mixers" can help
young players get to know one another and start playing.
Q The doctor is in: Ask a sports medicine doctor to hold a ses-
sion with senior players to discuss stretches and exercises for a
healthy, safe game.
Q Take photos of everyone (kids, teens, seniorseveryone)
having fun and enjoying the game. Post the photos on a bulletin
board and update it regularly to try to showcase as many players
as possible over time.
Q Hold a century tournament: It's a fun doubles tourna-
ment where the ages of the players on each side have to add up
to (or come close to) 100. It allows seniors and teens to team up,
as well as others. (Work with other numbers as well: a half-centu-
ry, a 25, etc., depending upon your demographics.)
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March 2010 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29
thetic turf or roll-down synthetic carpet-type surfaces," says
Marsden. "Also, they generally prefer a slower surface pace
with a higher ball bounce, which gives them more time to
reach the ball. Weve found that members of higher-end clubs
prefer a clay-type surface for the ease on the body plus the
fact that the club handles the maintenance aspect of clay
courts."
Other things seniors tend to like? Shade shelters with plen-ty of seats that will keep them out of the sun, and allow them
to enjoy matches in progress. Many players like to use tennis
as a social activity, and if encouraged, will sit and talk and
relax both before and after matches. Q
TWEENS AND TEENSHere's a challenge. Try to excite kids in an age group that doesn't
want to look like they're getting excited about anything. Hmmm.
Maybe it's time to amp up the level of play.
"Some clubs with a younger membership may prefer faster,
all-weather surfaces (asphalt, concrete) that lend themselves to a
serve-and-volley style of play," says Dave Marsden of Boston Ten-
nis Court Construction Co. in Hanover, Mass.(While many builders agree with the younger players/faster
courts theory, Randy Futty of Lee Tennis Products in Char-
lottesville, Va., notes, Were seeing a growing trend where
national tennis organizations such as the USTA, Tennis Australia,
and the LTA (UK) are investing in
building clay courts at their train-
ing facilities in an effort to better
develop their top junior talent.")
Think about games to help
clock players' serves, using a
radar gun. Post the high serve
score and invite other teens to tryto beat it. Hold special clinics to
help teens work on their serve
(and other strokes).
Have vending machines so
that kids have a ready supply of
snacks, sodas and other bever-
ages. (Don't forget the trash cans
and recycle bins). A radio that can
be tuned to a popular station may
also be a good amenity. (Depend-
ing upon the players' tastes and
the proximity of other courts, you
may want to keep the controls for
station and volume at the front
desk, in the pro's office, etc.)
Since teens will probably have
cell phones, iPods and other
equipment, small lockers can
help keep personal possessions
safe.
Plenty of seating will encour-
age teens to relax and watch
matches in progress. A pro shop
that includes some edgier selec-
tions may also be useful. A ping-
pong table (if it's an indoor or
sheltered area) will encourage
kids to stick around and challenge
one another as well.
SENIORSWith senior players on the court,
it's easy to identify one thing that
might come up in discussions: the
playing surface.
"Seniors generally prefer soft
courts such as clay, fast-dry, syn-
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T H E W I N N I N G edge
Ask Headline B Y L I N E ?
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C O U R T C O N S T R U C T I O N & M A I N T E N A N C E G U I D E
PUBLIC
ENEMIESB Y M A R Y H E L E N S P R E C H E R
Public tennis courts are where tennis really starts. Surveys have
shown that 70 percent of all players started playing on public
courts. Children take lessons there, students meet for friendly
matches there in the summer or after classes, and seniors meet
up to hit balls and stay in the game. It's what you as a rec man-
ager had in mind all along.
Something you didn't have in mind, though, is what seems to
be happening with increasing frequency. Players are complaining
that someone has had a fast-food picnic overnight and left food
wrappers lying around. Show up to clean up the mess and sud-
denly, you become aware of a number of other problems. Some-one has allowed their children to use one court to ride their
collapsible scooters because the surface is marked. In another
court, there is graffiti on the hitting wall.
The same thing that makes park and community courts
greatthe fact that anyone can use themis the same thing that
threatens them: anyone can use them (and unfortunately, abuse
them).
With so many municipal budgets being slashed, it's usually not
possible to hire a security force to keep an eye on your tennis
courts. But, say members of the American Sports Builders Associ-
ation, there are a few proactive measures that sports facility man-
agers can take to try to keep courts a little safer.
VANQUISHING VANDALISMWhether it's gang tag graffiti or the work of kids trying to establish
whose high school is better, you don't want it on your hitting wall
(or anywhere else). Having a mural on the hitting wall works in
some areas to deter vandals, but it depends on the area, the type
of vandalism you're experiencing, and how isolated your courts
are.
Many managers find it easier to apply anti-graffiti coatings,
which establish a protective surface that paint cannot bond to.
There are various types of such coatings on the market, and some
are more expensive than others, but when compared to the con-
stant work of having to remove graffiti, the coatings pay for them-
selves. (In many cities where large murals cover the sides of build-
ings or underpasses, these coatings are a routine part of the artis-
tic process, and work as an investment to keep the finished
product safe.)
S.O.S. (SAVE OUR SURFACE)A tennis court is built with certain traffic in mind, namely white-
soled court shoes and felt-coated tennis balls. It's not set up to
accommodate skateboards, inline skates, bikes and other uses,
and the surface is going to be marked up by basketball shoes,
street shoes and so forth.Posting signs stating the rules (court shoes only; no skates,
bikes, etc. on the surface) should be the facility manager's first
line of defense. Unfortunately, that only works for those who read
the signs and obey the rules, two ingredients that are often miss-
ing from those who are abusing the courts.
Some managers of park courts have found that rather than try-
ing to keep skaters, inline hockey players and others off all the
tennis courts, it is easier to set aside a court (or another paved
area) just for their use. That area can be simply a flat surface free
of net posts, and can be fenced to enhance safety. They should
also be surfaced in a different manner, according to Matt Hale of
Halecon Inc. in Bridgewater, N.J.
Hale recommends a surface as flat as possible, since "the
slightest crack, bump, or ridge can cause a tripping hazard, which
is very dangerous to the players. Due to the nature of these
sports, with hockey sticks constantly hitting the surface for inline
hockey, and bikes and skateboards skidding, falling and hitting
the surfaces, the surface must be tougher than a standard acrylic
surface used on tennis courts."
Damaged tennis surfaces can be repaired by a tennis-court
contractor, who may also be able to provide advice on surfacing
for adjacent areas for skating, basketball and other activities.
Make sure that other areas are marked for specific sports, and
separately fenced, to provide extra delineation.
Fencing is always a conundrum for facility managers, who
PUBLIC
ENEMIESEasy-access municipal courts are a keyto growing tennis. But how can you
deal with vandalism and abuse?
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being hit by soccer balls and so forth. In addition, if movable fence
gates lead to the tennis court, children may amuse themselves by
riding the gates back and forth, ultimately damaging the hinges
and making the gate drag on the surface of the court.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?Court lighting may help the problem. Vandals and other mischief-
makers hate an audience. If your facility doesn't have all-night
lighting, consider motion-activated sensors for lighting fixtures.
(Bonus: It increases a sense of safety for players who want to playat night or early in the morning.)
Locking the gates around courts at night is effective, but should
be considered a last resort, particularly since the point of a public
court is to invite play. However, if damage is profound, it may be
the only option.
Perhaps, say builders, the most effective way to prevent prob-
lems is, like anything else, to keep courts busy. Courts that see a
lot of player traffic are less likely to sit idle, and less likely to be
used the wrong way, or even abused.
"The key is generating tennis activity on the courtsnot lock-
ing them upthen the rest will be taken care of," says Richard
Zaino of Zaino Tennis Courts in Orange, Calif.Leagues, tennis days, clinics, camps, P.E., after-school or
recess programsit all keeps courts busy. And with activity
comes stewardshipplayers take a sense of ownership of the
courts, and are likely to report those who are misusing them.
They'll also report problems with the court itself, like cracks,
marks or aging equipment, which, with any luck, will translate
into those problems being addressed quickly, and play continu-
ing, or growing. Q
need to strike a balance between keeping courts safe and keeping
them accessible. Some courts have been designed with fence
mazes that are effective at keeping out bicycle traffic, but this
makes it difficult for wheelchair players to enter. Some court man-
agers have designed gates just wide enough for a standard wheel-
chair, but note that this also leaves the court vulnerable to other
abuses. Ask Alex Levitsky of Global Sports & Tennis Design Group
LLC in Fair Haven, N.J., how to prevent abuse in an unsupervised
area, and he simply sighs and says, "Pray."
OTHER PROBLEMSUnsupervised courts may begin to have problems with the net. It
may sag because children have been leaning on it, pulling at it or
running into itor it may be because well-meaning players have
over-tightened it prior to their game. (In some cases, an over-tight-
ened net can lead to damage of the winding mechanism, to the
post and even to the court itself.)
"We do see damage to net posts and net-post footers from
over-tightened nets," says Jonnie Deremo of General Acrylics Inc.
of Phoenix. "We always tell people with open unsupervised facili-
ties not to leave the net post crank handles on the posts, but they
seem to end up there anyway. This is a maintenance issue that ifchecked regularly, would prevent so much damage."
Tamper-resistant net posts, which have an internal wind mech-
anism, have been used in municipal installations with great suc-
cess. Nets can be set to the correct tension by a court manager,
then locked into place. Because there is no external handle for
users to turn, there's no way to over-tighten the net.
Fences and gates may be vulnerable to abuse as well. Accord-
ing to Levitsky, fences may show bulges from being leaned on,
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W
indscreen, also known as background curtain, has a variety
of uses in addition to its original and primary purpose of
reducing or deflecting wind on outdoor courts.Ask any court builder, equipment supplier, facility manager or
player, and they can tell you that windscreen also:
Q provides better visibility so players can see the ball
Q reduces glare off uncoated chain-link fence
Q provides privacy
Q reduces distractions
Q helps contain artificial light at night
Q helps courts blend into their surroundings.
The good news? Windscreen is effective at all of those. The not-
so-good news? It can't do it without some help from you. Mainte-
nance should include the following:
Q PreseasonInstall windscreens.Q As RequiredReplace damaged panels.
Q DailyCheck that windscreens are securely fastened to the
fence framework; check for tears, pulls or other damage to the
fabric.
Q WeeklyHose down or wash w