Jun 4, 2019 | Facilities, Industry, Pro Tennis, Technology, Tournaments/Events, USTA
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 4, 2019 – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that it has signed the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action Framework.
The USTA, which has long been a leader in the sports industry when it comes to environmental sustainability through its US Open Green Initiative, joins a group of international sports organizations that have committed to drive climate awareness and action in support of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
The Framework’s two overarching objectives are to promote a set of principles for the global sports community to adopt in order to combat climate change and to use sports as a unifying tool to drive climate awareness and the action among global citizens. The five principles of the Framework are:
Undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility
Reduce overall climate impact
Educate for climate action
Promote sustainable and responsible consumption
Advocate for climate action through communication
“The USTA is proud to support the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and become an international voice for environmental responsibility,” said Gordon Smith, CEO and Executive Director, USTA. “Tennis is truly a global sport and we are looking forward to using the US Open as a platform to promote the important principles set forth in the Framework.”
The US Open Green Initiative, which is now entering its 12th year, was originally championed by International Tennis Hall-of-Famer Billie Jean King when the National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., the site of the US Open, was named after the legendary champion and activist in 2006.
The USTA’s decade-plus commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world has resulted in the reduction of greenhouse emissions by more than 110,000 metric tons through waste diversion, recycled paper use, carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates.
The Framework was launched in December 2018 at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP24) in Katowice, Poland, and included founding signatories: International Olympic Committee (IOC), Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, French Tennis Federation (Roland Garros), International Sailing Federation, World Surf League, Forest Green Rovers Football Club, Formula E. Since then, U.S.-based organizations including the New York Yankees, the National Basketball Association, and AEG have also signed on.
READ MORE AT https://www.tennisindustry.org/cms/index.cfm/news/usta-signs-un-sports-for-climate-action-framework/
May 30, 2019 | 10-Under Tennis, Cardio Tennis, Court Contractors, Facilities, Health/Fitness, Industry
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (May 30, 2019) — The 2019 Tennis Participation Report has been published and is available for Tennis Industry Association members. The 26-page report, produced by the TIA in partnership with the Physical Activity Council, includes the most recent data and trends through year-end 2018 for tennis participation, tennis interest, cross participation in other sports and more. Among the findings:
* The total number of tennis participants for 2018 grew by 0.9% from 2017 to 17.84 million players. Overall participation has remained fairly consistent over the past eight years, with an average annual change of -0.4% from 2010 to 2018. However, 2018 was the second straight year the tennis participation rate in the U.S. was below 6%, which has not been seen since the PAC Study was first started in 2007.
* “Core” tennis participants, those playing 10 or more times a year, increased 1.6% from 2017 to 2018, to 9.67 million. Core players account for 93% of all tennis play occasions and more than 80% of player expenditures in the tennis economy. Since 2009, core participation has decreased nearly 15% while non-core participation has grown 13.9%.
* The number of times people took to the courts decreased again in 2018. The total 17.84 million participants played 383.9 million times (an average of 22 play occasions per tennis player), which is down 3.3% from 396.9 million play occasions in 2017. As part of long-term trends toward more casual participation, persistent declines in avid player play occasions are a main driver of decreasing play occasions.
* The 2018 study indicates there are 16.32 million non-players who are interested in playing tennis, and another 14 million who consider themselves tennis players but have not played in the last two years.
* Youth tennis participation increased 1.6% in 2018 to 4.64 million players.
* Cardio Tennis continues to grow, with total participation in 2018 increasing 12.6% from the previous year to 2.5 million players.
* As an activity that includes many of the latest trends in fitness—such as social engagement, technology use and interval training—Cardio Tennis has grown 201% since it was first measured in 2008.
* The most popular alternative activities for tennis players include: walking for fitness (50% of tennis players), bowling (43%), running/jogging (42%), treadmill (38%), free weights/dumbells (36%), hiking (36%) and bicycling (32%).
The Tennis Participation Report is a part of the all-encompassing annual Physical Activity Council study, which looks at 123 different sports and activities. The PAC study is the largest single-source research study of sports, recreation and leisure activity participation in the nation. For 2018, a total of 20,069 online interviews were completed.
TIA members at the Associate level and above will receive the 2019 Tennis Participation Report as part of their membership. The report also is available for separate purchase by visiting the TIA online store. For more information on research and TIA membership, visit TennisIndustry.org or call 843-686-3036.
READ MORE AT https://www.tennisindustry.org/cms/index.cfm/news/latest-tennis-participation-report-available-from-tia/
May 28, 2019 | Facilities, Industry, Participation, Teaching Pros/Coaches, Technology
May 28, 2019 (SAN FRANCISCO, CA) – Universal Tennis, the world’s premier tennis platform, today announced that Anne Worcester, former WTA CEO & Connecticut Open Tournament Director, has joined the company as President.
As President, Worcester will be instrumental in overseeing the growth and development of UTR worldwide. Beyond her leadership at the organization, her focus at the outset will be on increasing grassroots efforts to connect communities to the sport and fostering diverse partnerships within the tennis ecosystem to build participation on the platform.
“What drew me to Universal Tennis is its digitally savvy approach to make tennis more affordable, accessible and fun for all players,” said Anne Worcester, Universal Tennis President. “Level-based play helps to break down some of the biggest barriers to our sport, so that it’s not about age, gender, where you play or how much you can afford. UTR makes it easy to find, connect and play with same level tennis partners, anytime and anywhere. This addresses many of the challenges I have experienced all my life as a recreational player, a parent and 35 years on all sides of professional tennis.”
“Anne has an exceptional career in tennis, marked by her commitment to improving the game for players and serving as a champion for tennis worldwide. Her dedication to the betterment and growth of the sport is unparalleled,” said Mark Leschly, Universal Tennis Chairman & CEO. “Anne is fully aligned with UTR’s mission and vision to create more opportunities and open pathways for players of all levels to grow the game. We are thrilled to have Anne on board.”
Worcester has over 35 years of experience in tennis, working with players, tournaments, sponsors and governing bodies. She was the first female CEO of the WTA, becoming the first woman to head any professional sports organization. Worcester served as the Tournament Director of the Connecticut Open for 21 years, developing the WTA tournament into one of the world’s best attended women’s tennis events and a player favorite.
Under Worcester’s leadership, the Connecticut Open was widely recognized as a leading example of leveraging professional tennis to build community tennis, especially among inner city youth. In addition, Worcester co-founded New Haven Youth Tennis & Education (New HYTEs), now in its 15th year, which has enriched the lives and positively affected the futures of hundreds of economically disadvantaged inner city youth. Programs include year-round tennis, education and mentoring programs.
Worcester is a graduate of Duke University. She serves on the boards of the Center for Hearing & Communication and New Haven Youth Tennis & Education (New HYTEs) and will transition to the board of Tennis Foundation of Connecticut. She will be based in Connecticut and New York City.
READ MORE AT https://www.tennisindustry.org/cms/index.cfm/news/anne-worcester-named-president-of-universal-tennis/
May 28, 2019 | Court Contractors, Facilities, Health/Fitness, Industry, Manufacturers, Media
ORLANDO, FLA. (May 28, 2019) — The 2020 Racquet & Paddle Sports Show kicks off Jan. 21-24 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., featuring the latest in racquet sports products, demos, exhibits, education and much more.
A Demo & Innovation Day will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the USTA National Campus with an added session for consumers. The Tennis Owners & Managers (TOM) Conference begins Wednesday morning at the OCCC alongside the Racquet & Paddle Sports Show (RAPS), which is co-located with the PGA Merchandise Show. Exhibits, seminars and presentations are featured Jan. 22-24 with courts set up inside the convention center so attendees can try product and view demonstrations from top experts and pros.
The Tennis Industry Association is working with Reed Exhibitions, which puts on the PGA Merchandise Show, to also produce the Racquet & Paddle Sports Show (RAPS). For more information, visit
racquetpaddlesportsshow.com.
READ MORE AT https://www.tennisindustry.org/cms/index.cfm/news/save-the-date-2020-racquet-paddle-sports-show-jan-21-24/
May 28, 2019 | 10-Under Tennis, Court Contractors, Facilities, Health/Fitness, Industry, Manufacturers
NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 28, 2019) — The 12th Annual TIA Tennis Forum will be held on Monday, Aug. 26, on the Ballroom Level of the Grand Hyatt New York City from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
TIA Tennis Forum will present the latest news about the state of the tennis industry, including participation, marketplace trends, grassroots initiatives, updates from TIA, ITF and USTA leadership, and more. Also joining this year’s event will be Andrew LaFiosca of Nielsen Sports, who will share player and consumer insights, and Tom Cove, president and CEO of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, with insights on the sports and fitness trends.
A new feature at this year’s forum is the “Discovery Challenge,” an online competition designed to showcase innovation and solutions around a problem facing the tennis industry—in this case the “retention of tennis players.”
The Challenge will be moderated by Carlos Salum, president of Salum International Resources. He will be joined by Lena Belogolova, a behavioral science expert and former Facebook manager. The Discovery Challenge is designed to be an interactive and solutions-producing session with a panel of experts.
Immediately following the Tennis Forum and Discovery Challenge, there will be a short induction ceremony to honor the 2019 inductees into the Tennis Industry Halll of Fame.
While the Tennis Forum, Discovery Challenge and Hall of Fame induction are free to attend for those in the industry, space is limited, so registration is required.
Click here for free registration to the Tennis Forum.
READ MORE AT https://www.tennisindustry.org/cms/index.cfm/news/12th-annual-tia-forum-set-for-aug-26-in-nyc/
May 13, 2019 | Facilities, Industry, Participation, Teaching Pros/Coaches, Tournaments/Events
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC — Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) is pleased to announce it has been hosting the Wheelchair Tennis Championships on Hilton Head Island for 30 years.
The world’s top players and Paralympics winners, as well as all levels, including first time players, compete in this event, which is part of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour and sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association (USTA Fall Southern Championship) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF). ITF named this event one of only seven Grade A Junior Tournaments in the world.
To assist in player development, a free clinic will be held Wednesday evening, September 18. Harlon Matthews will conduct an Instructing Wheelchair Tennis Certification Workshop on Sunday, September 22, from 9am-2pm. This course trains both able-bodied and wheelchair players the nuances of teaching tennis to people in wheelchairs.
Tournament play begins at 9 am on Thursday September 19, and continues through Sunday, September 22, with Men, Women, Quad and Junior divisions. Spectators are welcome to enjoy all of the exciting matches. Able-bodied tennis players are invited to join in a Run-Roll Round Robin on Friday evening, September 20.
READ MORE AT https://www.tennisindustry.org/cms/index.cfm/news/ptr-celebrates-30-years-of-hosting-wheelchair-tennis-chps/
