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January 2012
Volume 40 Number 1 $5.00
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
CHAMPIONS
OF TENNIS2011Our annual awardshonor those whocontinue to make
this sport a winnerWestern Racquet Club Todd Mobley Leslie Coatings Lee Sponaugle
All About Tennis Mike Woody
Jeff Rothstein Brenda Gilmore
Roger Scott Tennis Center Tualatin
Hills Park & Rec Jeremiah Yolkut
Hinding Tennis Cadwalader Park
Bucks County T.A. Jorge Capestany
Feisal Hassan Jim Neal & Jim
Solomon USTA Middle States PGA Tour Superstores
CHAMPIONS
OF TENNIS2011Our annual awardshonor those whocontinue to make
this sport a winnerWestern Racquet Club Todd Mobley Leslie Coatings Lee Sponaugle
All About Tennis Mike Woody
Jeff Rothstein Brenda Gilmore
Roger Scott Tennis Center Tualatin
Hills Park & Rec Jeremiah Yolkut
Hinding Tennis Cadwalader Park
Bucks County T.A. Jorge Capestany
Feisal Hassan Jim Neal & Jim
Solomon USTA Middle States PGA Tour Superstores
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FEATURE
DEPARTMENTS
R S I J A N 2 0 1 2
INDUSTRY NEWS
7 3,000th youth-size courtdedicated in Atlanta
7 CTDW in New Orleans7 PTR Symposium set for
Orlando
8 Ashaway offers soft powersquash string
8 Adidas launches Barricade7.0 tennis shoe
8 Indoor event chooses sun-glasses to cut glare
8 Dunlop adds Biomimetic 600Tour frame
9 Cardio Tennis AuthorizedProviders coming in 2012
10 Peoplewatch
11 USTA offers funding for 10Ulines on clay
11 New nomination proceduresfor USTA awards
12 Short Sets13 Schedule changes coming to
US Open?
4 Our Serve7 Industry News15 Court Equipment16 Retailing Tip
18 TIA News44 Ask the Experts46 String Playtest: Wilson NXT Control48 Your Serve, by Mary Helen Sprecher
2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
CoverphotobyBobKenas
29Wheelchair TennisChampion of the YearJeremiah Yolkut
29 10 and Under Tennis FacilityDeveloper of the YearHinding Tennis
30 Public Park of the YearCadwalader Park
30 Community Tennis Associationof the YearBucks County Tennis Association
31 PTR Member of the YearJorge Capestany
31 USPTA Member of the YearFeisal Hassan
32 High School Coaches of the YearJim Neal and Jim Solomon
32 USTA Section of the YearMiddle States
33 Chain Retailer/Mass Merchantof the YearPGA Tour Superstores
ContentsContents
21Person of the YearPat Freebody
24 Private Facility of the YearWestern Racquet Club
24 Stringer of the YearTodd Mobley
25 Builder/Contractor of the YearLeslie Coatings Inc.
25 Sales Rep of the YearLee Sponaugle
26 Pro/Specialty Retailer of the YearAll About Tennis
26 Tennis Advocate of the YearMike Woody
27 Junior Tennis Champion of the YearJeff Rothstein
27 Grassroots Champion of the YearBrenda Gilmore
28 Municipal Facility of the YearRoger Scott Tennis Club
28 Park & Recreation Agency of the YearTualatin Hills Park & Rec District
Our annual awards honorthe people, businessesand organizations thatare making a differencein the tennis industry.
35 String SelectorUse our exclusive charts to find the perfect strings for your customers
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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
Technical Editor
Jonathan Wolfe
Contributing Editors
Robin Bateman
Cynthia Cantrell
Joe Dinoffer
Greg Moran
Kent Oswald
Bob Patterson
Cynthia Sherman
Mary Helen Sprecher
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
Corporate Offices
330 Main St., Vista, CA 92084
Phone: 760-536-1177 Fax: 760-536-1171
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.racquetTECH.com
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.,8 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time
Advertising DirectorJohn Hanna
770-650-1102, x.125
Apparel Advertising
Cynthia Sherman
203-263-5243
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. Periodcal postage paid at
Vista, CA and at additional mailing offices (USPS
#004-354). January 2012, Volume 40, Number 1
2012 by USRSA and Tennis Industry. All rights
reserved. Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and logo are
trademarks of USRSA. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone
advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation
and editorial: 760-536-1177. Yearly subscriptions
$25 in the U.S., $40 elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to Racquet Sports Industry, 330
Main St., Vista, CA 92084.
RSI is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA,and ASBA
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
The Champions Around Us
4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012
I
had an unusual pleasure on a recent trip to FloridaI met up
with two tennis industry friends and spent a wonderful few
hours talking about tennis history, the business of tennis,
and where things seem to be headed. Carlos Goffi has coached
for nearly 40 years, mostly junior players, including John and
Patrick McEnroe, Mary Carillo and Peter Fleming, among many
others; he and Fleming developed a resort in South Carolina into
a top tennis destination; and he wrote the tennis bestseller
Tournament Tough with McEnroe. Marketing and p.r. expert
and tennis insider Randy Walker, who is with New Chapter
Media, is, well, one of the most knowledgeable people about the
sport Ive ever had the pleasure to meet.
Over dinner at an excellent Brazilian restaurant in Orlando, Carlos told us
about growing up in Sao Paulo, his time on the pro tour, meeting and working
with the legendary Harry Hopman (who introduced him into coaching), the time
when the students he coached were turning pro (Carlos was the pro at South
Orange where Fleming-McEnroe began their dominant career as a doubles team),
and the business of coaching and running tennis camps. Carlos clearly loves this
sport, and he is extremely proud that his son Josh is in this business as the mens
tennis head coach at the University of South Carolina.
One theme that seemed to run through our conversation is how, in the tennis
business, you often keep running back into people you had met years before.
Those of us who have been in this industry for a while, like Carlos, Randy and
me, see that all the time. Its one of the nice things about the tennis industrythe good people who keep rotating back into your life.
And that got me thinking about this issue of RSI and our Champions of Ten-
nis award winners, and how great it is to recognize those in the tennis business
who have been doing some amazing things.
Were now into our 11th year of these awards, which have grown to 20 cate-
gories, and theres a good chance that you know someone who has won one of
our awards over the years. Maybe its someone you worked with years ago at a
tennis facility, retail store or manufacturer, or someone you currently deal with
in a national or local tennis organization.
But sitting with Carlos and Randy, I realized that our Champions of Tennis
awards are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the great people who
champion this sport in one way or another. On a practical level for RSI, that can
be an overwhelming thoughtthere are so many great people out there, how do
we know who to choose for our awards?
On the other hand, Im certain well never run out of great people who are
truly Champions of Tennis.
Peter Francesconi
Editorial Director
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Indoor Event Chooses Sunglasses
Maui Jim was the official sunglass supplier of the ATPWorld Tour Valencia Open 500 in Spain in November.All line judges for the indoor tournament wore Maui Jim
sunglasses, which the company says cut glare from the
indoor lights and enhanced depth perception and con-
trast on the court."This is a first for any sunglasses manufacturer," said
Linda Glassel, vice president of marketing for Maui Jim.
"Our customers who play indoor tennis have known for
a long time that
wearing our HCL
Bronze or Maui HT
lenses for indoor
play makes your
vision more clear
and improves defi-
nition." For more
information, visit
MauiJim.com.
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2
IND
USTRYNEW
S
8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Dunlop Adds Biomimetic 600 Tour
Dunlop has added the 600 Tour to its Biomimetic 600Series. The Tour is heavier and stiffer than its two siblings(the 600 and 600 Lite) and features the three core Biomimetic
technologies: HM6 Carbon, which enhances feel; Aeroskin,
which reduces aerodynamic drag; and the Gecko-Tac grip,
says the company.
"With Tommy Robredo playing the 600 and Dominika
Cibulkova playing the 600 Lite, the 600 series has exceeded
our expectations since its introduction last November. Theone request we've had, though, is for a heavier version,"
says Hunter Hines, tennis product manager for Dunlop
Sports Group Ameri-
cas. "It is designed
for players looking
for tremendous
power with added
control and forgive-
ness."
The 600 Tour is
102 square inches
and 11.11 ounces strung, with a 16 x 19 string pattern. Sug-
gested retail is $210. Visit dunlopsport.com.
Clarification
The Ask the Experts col-umn in RSI November/December 2011 (page 37)
listed the suggested retail
price for Uniques Tourna
StringMeter rather than the
wholesale price, which is
$19.
Ashaway Offers Soft Power Squash String
Ashaway Racket Strings says recent advances in Zyex materialtechnology have allowed it to offer squash players a new per-formance characteristic for their string: "soft power." According
to Ashaway's Steve Crandall, soft power stems from the combi-
nation of new Zyex multifilament cores and the textured, high
tenacity monofilament nylon jackets available in the company'srecently introduced UltraNick 17- and 18-gauge squash strings.
For more information, visit ashawayusa.com.
Adidas Tennis Launches Barricade 7.0
For the first time, Adidas Tennis has launched two versions of itsBarricade shoe. The mens version of the Barricade 7.0 weighs anounce less than its predecessor without sacrificing stability, durability
and comfort, says the company, and the new womens version fea-
tures a subtle design and weighs 10.4 ounces.
The shoe is worn by tour players Andy Murray and Andrea
Petkovic, and Adidas says it collaborated with
elite players in the development of the
shoe. Over a period of more than 18
months we tested the shoe with
more than 30 professional
and semi-professional play-
ers. Our product testing
department spent roughly
2,500 hours with athletes to
make sure the shoe is the
best Barricade ever, says
Graham Williamson, Adi-
das vice president of business unittennis.
Adidas says the hallmark Barri-
cade claws and a specially
constructed chassis add stabil-
ity, and SprintWeb and
adiPrene+ technologies add
flexibility, cushioning and com-
fort in the forefoot area. The
womens 7.0 has a more ele-
gant design, a softer forefoot
flex and reduced weight. The Barri-
cade 7.0 will retail for $140 (mens) and $130 (womens).
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Cardio Tennis Authorized Providers Coming in 2012
CardioTennis.com has been revamped and improved, and with the new website comesa newly developed platform for tennis professionals and facilitiesthat want to become Cardio Tennis Authorized Providers.
Coming in early 2012, Authorized Providers will have instant
access to the new Cardio Tennis Invitation System, allowing them to
easily create Cardio Tennis class information and post it for consumers onCardioTennis.com, or mark it as private to only invite players at your facility. The invita-
tion system allows you to prioritize: Send to your primary group first and if you don't fill
your class, the system will automatically invite your secondary list, then a tertiary list,
making it easy to fill all your classes. Another time-saving feature is the class administra-
tion tools: You can require payment as soon as customers sign up online, and they pay
right through the system.
To become an Authorized Provider, complete the application at CardioTennis.com and
sign up and pay online. For questions, contact the TIA at (843) 686-3036 x223 or email
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
January 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9www.racquetsportsindustry.com
USPTA Player Develop-ment Conference Set
The USPTA Competitive PlayerDevelopment Conference will be Jan. 20-22 at Club Med Sandpiper
Bay in Florida. The conference will
allow attendees to learn the Spanishmethod for developing players. Fea-
tured speakers include
Emilio Sanchez Vicario,
Luis Mediero and Gabe
Jaramillo.
Sanchez Vicario, who is
a USPTA Master Professional, is the
former captain of the 2008 champi-
onship Davis Cup team for Spain
and a former tour player ranked No.
7 in singles and No. 1 in doubles.
Mediero is a USPTA Master Pro-
fessional and the founder of Reg-
istro Profesional de Tenis (RPT) in
Madrid, Spain. Mediero, who is also
the president of the International
Coaches Institute, has a lifetime of
coaching experience that he has
shared through courses, clinics and
conferences in 80 countries.
Jaramillo is a renowned internation-
al tennis coach. He was the director
of the Bollettieri junior tennis pro-
gram for 26 years and trained such
tennis greats as Andre Agassi andMonica Seles. Jaramillo, who is a
USPTA-certified P-1 member and an
RPT International Master Pro, is
now the tennis director for Club
Med Academies.
Early registration, through Dec.
31, is $300 for USPTA members and
includes all materials. Visit
uspta.com, or contact florida@
sanchez-casal.com or 239-641-
0010.
Aussie One-Ups OtherSlams in Prize Money
The 2012 Australian Open willhave the richest purse in protennis, at $24.7 million (US) and
the mens and womens singles
champs will take home $2.3 mil-
lion each. Singles champs at the
2011 US Open took home $1.8 mil-
lion, at Wimbledon $1.7 million,
and at the French, $1.6 million.
CardioTennis.com now has more detailed information for both providers
and consumers about the expanding Cardio Tennis program. The
enhanced functionality and technology features of the new site are cru-
cial components to growing the base of Cardio Tennis providers and play-
ers, says the TIA. For consumers, CardioTennis.com makes it easier to find
providers, as well as learn more about the program. In early 2012, con-
sumers will be able to not only search for a Cardio Tennis session online,
but also will be able to sign up and pay for their sessiona seamless
transition from learning about Cardio Tennis to hitting the courts.
Visit the New CardioTennis.com
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10RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2
IND
USTRYNEW
S
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Brian Barth is the new territory manager forDunlop Sports in Northern California and North-
ern Nevada, including the San Francisco and
San Jose markets. He'll be based out of Mill
Valley, Calif.
Wilson Tour player and Wimbledon champPetra Kvitova of the Czech Republic won her first WTA
Championships in Istanbul recently, beating Victoria Azarenka of
Belarus 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Kvitova, the world No. 2, plays with the Wil-
son Tour BLX racquet.
The Grand Prize winner of Heads Use Your Instinct to Play withMaria Sharapova essay contest is 15-year-old Nadia Hilton-Adams
from Greenville, S.C. Her essay was chosen from among over 750
entrants. She and two friends will have a hitting session with
Maria Sharapova and will take home three YouTek IG Instinct Rac-
quets, Head tennis bags, and Head shoes and shirts. Nadia is the
No. 1 varsity player at Southside High School.
The U.S. womens tennis team collected the gold medal and thebronze medal in singles at the Pan American Games in Guadala-
jara, Mexico. No. 2 seed Irina Falconi, 21, of Atlanta, captured the
gold, and No. 1 seed Christina McHale, 19, of Englewood Cliffs,
N.J., won the bronze.
Larry J. Franklin, president of Franklin Sports Inc., has been re-elected as the chairman of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers
Association for a one-year term.
Dillon Pottish, a senior from Emory University, and Annie Hwang,a junior at BYU-Hawaii, received the 2011 James O'Hara SargentSportsmanship Awards, presented by Rolex Watch USA.
At the 2011 Pan Am Games held recently in Guadalajara, Mexi-co, Head racquetball players Rocky Carson won the gold medal in
mens singles, Samantha Salas brought home a gold in womens
doubles, and Shane Vanderson won bronze in mens doubles.
Ivan Rojas has joined Adidas America in the tennis specialty salesforce managing the Florida territory. For the last seven years, Rojas
worked for Prince Sports, where he was recognized as the Region-
al Rep of the Year in 2009.
Anastasia Myskina of Russia is the recipient of the 2011 Fed CupAward of Excellence, presented by the International Tennis Hall of
Fame and the ITF.
The WTA has extended for five years the contract of CEO StaceyAllaster.
Ken Meyerson, agent to players including Andy Roddick, MardyFish and Agnieszka Radwanska, died Oct. 19 in his sleep, appar-
ently due to a heart attack. He was 47. Meyerson was president of
Lagardere Unlimiteds tennis division.
Brian Earl Bauer, 67, a partner and owner in Agile Courts Con-struction Co. of Miami, died Oct. 15 following a long battle with
cancer. Donations may be made to a memorial fund that will be
forwarded to Brian's surgeon. Email [email protected] or call
305-667-1228 for details.
The Pro Squash Tour has signed Australia's No.1 squash playerand two-time PSA World Champion David Palmer. Also, Georgetta
Morque joint PST as director of media relations.
Christine Frost has been named to the new posi-tion of chief development officer at the Internation-
al Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Frost comes to
the Hall of Fame with 20 years of experience in
fundraising, strategic planning and marketing.
New York Junior Tennis League presented its annual LeadershipAwards to Cantor Fitzgerald Chairman and CEO Howard Lutnick
and to tennis legend John McEnroe in November.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and the ITFhave presented the 2012 Golden Achievement Award to
Shamil Tarpischev, president of the Russian Tennis
Federation. The award is presented annually to an
individual who has made important contributions
internationally to tennis in the fields of administra-
tion, promotion or education.
Dunlop Squash Tour Team member Nick Matthewclaimed the World Open squash title for the second consecutive
year when he defeated fellow Dunlop Tour Team member Greg
Gaultier in Rotterdam. USTA Executive Director Gordon Smith is the recipient of the2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Darlington School in
Rome, Ga.
Mitchell Frank of the University of Virginia and Marta Lesniak ofSMU won the mens and womens singles titles at the USTA/ITA
National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in November, held
at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In addition,
three-time ITA All-Americans Denise Dy of the University of Wash-
ington and Eric Quigley of University of Kentucky were named the
2011 USTA/ITA Sportsmanship Award winners.
IMG owner Ted Forstmann, 71, died of brain cancer in New YorkCity on Nov. 21. He bought the sports agency in 2004.
Inductees into the 2011 Texas Tennis Hall of Fame are: Jim Chaf-fin of Dallas, Ron Woods of Corpus Christi, Dick Landenberger of
Dallas, and the late Quinn Connelley.
Diane Fishburne Barker of Charleston, S.C.; Emmett Par of NewOrleans, and Dr. Don Varga of Louisville, Ky., will be inducted into
the 2012 USTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame.
PEOPLEWATCH
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12RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2
IND
USTRYNEW
S
> The USTA has donated two tenniscourts to the Charlie Norwood Veterans
Administration Medical Center in Augus-
ta, Ga., for its tennis therapy training pro-
grams. The donation of the courts is part
of the USTAs ongoing outreach to sup-port U.S. military service members and
their families. The two courts, designed
and installed by Sport Court, were built
last year to help kick-off First Lady
Michelle Obamas Let Move! program
on the White House Lawn.
> The USTA has sold the U.S. Mens ClayCourt Championships in Houston to an
investor group led by billionaire Fayez
Sarofim. Terms were not released. The
tournament, to be played in April, will
remain at the prestigious River Oaks
Country Club.
> USPTA members who want to partici-pate in the 2012 Head equipment pro-
gram must submit their contracts by Jan.
31. For more information, call 800-237-
5497 or e-mail [email protected].
> Tennis Channel and the WTA haveextended their programming agreement
through 2016, keeping at least a dozen
Premier-level tournaments on the net-work each season, as well as the WTA's
year-end Championships, which will take
place in Istanbul through 2013.
> The U.S. wheelchair tennis team cap-tured three gold, one silver and one
bronze medal at the Parapan Am Games
in Guadalajara, Mexico, Nov. 13-18.
Mackenzie Soldan, 19, of Louisville, Ky.,
won the gold in singles, defeating silver
medalist, and her doubles partner, Emmy
Kaiser, 21, of Fort Mitchell, Ky. The pair
then captured the gold in doubles. The
mens team of Jon Rydberg, 34, of St.
Paul, and Steve Welch, 34, of Arlington,
Texas, also won gold, and Welch won the
bronze in singles.
> The health club chain Sports Club/LAannounced a partnership with Fila. The
partnership will launch at five Sports
Club/LA locations in Boston, Miami, New
York-Upper East Side, San Francisco and
Washington D.C., and include Fila cloth-
ing in the clubs retail shops, creation of new
and exclusive staff uniforms, and promo-
tional events.
> The USTA has agreed to a new three-year
contract to host its annual Australian OpenWild Card Playoffs at the Racquet Club of
the South (RCS), a USTA Certified Regional
Training Center in Atlanta.
> The latest DVD by Kultur is 2011 USOpen Men's Final: Nadal vs Djokovic. Run
time is 200 minutes, price is $24.99. Visit kul-
tur.com.
> Recreational tennis teams from Califor-nia, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri and New
Jersey captured national championship titles
at the World TeamTennis Rec League
National Finals in November, held at the Indi-
an Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells,
Calif. A field of 54 recreational tennis teams
representing 15 states competed in 12 divi-
sions during the three-day tournament. Visit
WTT.com/recleagues.
> The Womens Tennis Association hasdonated $25,000 to USANA Health Sci-
ences Ace Out Hunger program, a chari-
ty that raises money for some of the worlds
neediest children. During Wimbledon,USANA Health Sciences, the official health
supplement supplier and official partner of
the WTA, donated $10 for every ace served
at a WTA event. To date, more than 3,500
aces have been hit by WTA players at tour-
naments.
> The 19th annual WTT Smash Hits, held inCleveland in October, raised more than
$500,000 for the Elton John AIDS Founda-
tion and the AIDS Taskforce of Greater
Cleveland. Team Elton rallied to win the
match over Team Billie Jean 19-18. In its 19-
year history, WTT Smash Hits has raised
more than $10.5 million.
> Luxury Italian Tours will offer a specialtravel tour of Rome in conjunction with the
2012 Italian Open tennis championships.
The tour will be May 13-20 and will include
tickets to the historic tennis championships
where Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova
will be defending their titles, as well as spe-
cial VIP and private cultural and culinary
activities. Visit LuxuryItalianTours.com.
> The Department of Veterans Affairsawarded $7.5 million to the U.S. Olympic
Committee for recreation and sport activ-
ities for disabled Veterans and disabledmembers of the Armed Forces. Funds are
provided to the USOCs member organi-
zations, Paralympic Sports Clubs and Vet-
eran and military organizations to start
community-based, physical activity pro-
grams. Disabled members of the Armed
Forces can locate adaptive sporting events
at www.usparalympics.org.
> The BBCs current contract as the hostbroadcaster and UK rights holder for
Wimbledon has been extended three
years from 2015 to 2017.
> Organic yogurt maker Stonyfield hasentered into a two-year sponsorship
agreement to support USTA League play-
ers through online health and fitness con-
tent, sampling for members at USTA
League National Championships, and
ongoing promotions and programs.
> The USPTA raised $6,587 from itssilent auction held at the USPTAs Tennis
Buying Show during the World Confer-ence on Tennis in September. The auction
benefits the USPTA foundation, which
through grants supports various pro-
grams in the community that help to
grow tennis.
> Peter Burwash International will directthe tennis program at Hayman, a private,
five-star island resort on the Great Barrier
Reef in Australia.
> Racquet Depot has been selected forthe 2011 San Diego Award in the Sport-
ing Goods category by the U.S. Com-
merce Association. The USCA "Best of
Local Business" Award Program recog-
nizes outstanding local businesses.
> Tennis Channel and Wimbledon haveagreed to a multi-year extension of
Wimbledon Primetime through 2023.
Also, the French Tennis Federation has
extended Tennis Channels French Open
rights agreement through 2022.
SHORT SETS
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January 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13www.racquetsportsindustry.com
I N D U S T R Y N E W S
Schedule Changes Coming to US Open?
The USTA apparently is considering moving the US Open mens championship final toMonday, following the fourth year in a row rain pushed the Open to a 15th dayandcaused players to complain about scheduling. The potential move is one option the USTA
board of directors is exploring, says a spokesman.
Considerations include shortening the first two
rounds of the men's competition from three to two
days, moving the men's semifinals from Saturday to
Friday, or keeping the semis on Saturday and moving
the final to Monday. The Open is the only Grand Slam
that does not have an off-day between the semifinals
and finals, for both men and women. Thats drawn
criticism from players, but has been favored by CBS,
which has televised the Open since 1968 and has the
contract through 2014.
The Australian Open and Wimbledon both have
retractable roofs over their main stadiums and are able to avoid the rain-delay problems the
US Open has experienced. Without the roof, I just don't think Saturday-Sunday is feasible
any longer, said five-time US Open champ Roger Federer. "Might as well just make it a Mon-
day final, right?
Penn Launches New Pro Penn Marathon Ball
Penn recently introduced its new Pro Penn Marathon tennis ball, which the company saysoffers greater longevity, durability and visibility for all tennis players. Pro Penn Marathon
has Encore Technology for a 22% longer lasting core and high-tenacity LongPlay felt for
extended play, according to Penn.
The company also says the Smart Optik treatment in the felt keeps the balls
cleaner on the court, picking up less dirt particles and making the felt highly visible
for longer periods of time.
Our ultimate goal is to offer all tennis players, regardless of their playing style,
a ball that will help them play their best tennis, says Jeff Ratkovich, Senior Business
Manager for Penn Tennis Balls. Pro Penn has been the official ball of the USPTA for
over 37 yearsthe longest running endorsement in tennis history. The Pro
Penn Marathon will be offered in Extra-Duty (for hard courts), Regular-Duty
(for soft courts) and Extra-Duty High Altitude.
Top-Selling Tennis Stringsat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date units,
January - September, 2011
1. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex
2. Babolat RPM Blast
3. Wilson NXT
4. Wilson Sensation
5. Prince Lightning XX
Top-Selling Racquetsat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date dollars,
January September, 2011
Best Sellers
1. Babolat Aero Pro Drive GT (MP)
2. Babolat Pure Drive GT (MP)
3. Babolat Aero Pro Team GT (MP)
4. Babolat Aero Pro Drive+ GT (MP)
5. Babolat Pure Drive Lite GT (MP)
Hot New Racquets
(introduced in the past 12 months)
1. Wilson BLX Blade (MP)
2. Prince EXO3 Red (2011) (OS)
3. Head YouTek IG Speed 18x20 (MP)
4. Prince EXO3 Blue (2011) (OS)
5. Head YouTek IG Speed 16x19 (MP)
Tennis Racquet PerformanceSpecialty Stores
January - September, 2011 vs. 2010
Units 2011 558,662
2010 561,825
% change v. 10 -1%
Dollars 2011 $79,563,0002010 $79,573,000
% change v. 10 -0%
Price 2011 $142.42
2010 $141.63
% change v. 10 1%
Top-Selling Tennis Shoesat Specialty StoresBy year-to-date dollars,
January September, 2011
1. Prince T22
2. Adidas Barricade 6.0
3. Nike Air Breathe 2K10
4. Babolat Propulse 3
5. Nike Court Ballistec 3.3
(Source: TIA/Sports Marketing Surveys)
Bob Larson LaunchesTiered Tennis Jobs Service
Bob Larson, owner of Bob Larson Tennis, isexpanding his tennis employment coveragewith a three-tiered tennis jobs news service. The
expanded service will be called Bob Larsons
Tennis Jobs and consist of a good, better,best approach to viewing available employ-
ment in the tennis industry.
Tier 1 will list every known job available in
the U.S., at all levels, published five days a week
for $17/month or $177/year. Tier 2, published
weekly, is designed for people in the tennis
industry looking for a better job and excludes
entry-level positions; cost is $10/month or
$100/year. Tier 3 will be jobs that are six-figures
and will be emailed to subscribers when
announced; price is $100/month or
$1,000/year. Contact [email protected].
TIA Court ActivityMonitor Shows Gains
In all four categoriesNew Players, TotalCourts Used/Booked, League Play and Tour-nament Playmore tennis facilities noted
an increase than a decrease during the late
season of 2011 (July to end of September),
according to the 2011 TIA Court Activity
Monitor, which surveys 500 facilities across
the country.
Some 54% of facilities reported New
Players increased, vs. 9% noting a decrease.
In Total Courts Used/Booked, 51% of facili-
ties reported an increase vs. an 11%
decrease. League Play showed 43% of facili-
ties reporting an increase vs. 14% reporting
a decrease, and 22% reported Tournament
Play increased vs. a 19% decrease.
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14RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2
IND
USTRYNEW
S
Congratulations To the FollowingFor Achieving MRT and CS Status
New MRTs
Allison Wood Prescott, AZBrendon Travis Elicott City, MDEdward Visaya Honolulu, HIJose Miletti New Market, MDNicholas Bergman New Canaan, CT
Philippe Azar Davie, FLXunlong Zhang Queens, NY
New CSs
Matt McDonald Rock Hill, SCJacob Kobzi San Diego, CATom Paris San Diego, CATamara Zubatiy San Diego, CA
USPTA and ThanksUSA JoinForces to Thank the Troops
As part of Tennis Thanks the Troops,the USPTA and ThanksUSA haveteamed up to encourage USPTA profes-
sionals to fund scholarships for the fami-
lies of military men and women.How will USPTA members be able to
help? By donating a portion of their les-
sons or clinic fees taught during Memori-
al Day Weekend 2012 (or any other
weekend/date). USPTA Professionals can
provide the opportunity for their stu-
dents and club members to donate $5
for the cause; or they can run a simple
round robin or other event with all or a
portion of the proceeds being donated to
ThanksUSA. For more information visit
uspta.com or ThanksUSA.org.
We encourage our teaching pros to
give to important causes through tennis
and Lessons for Life and I cant think of
a better way to show the troops how
much we appreciate their sacrifice than
providing them with the gift of education
for their families, says USPTA CEO Tim
Heckler.
Sanchez Honored with Davis Cup Award
Spains Emilio Sanchez received the 2011 Davis Cup Award of Excellence, presentedby the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the ITF. ITF President Francesco RicciBitti and 1984 Hall of Famer Manolo Santana, a previous recipient of the Davis Cup
Award of Excellence, presented the award to Sanchez in Seville, Spain, during the 2011
Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Final, in which Spain defeated Argentinaa
re-match reminiscent of 2008, when Sanchez captained the Spanish team to victory."Emilio Sanchez was a great contributor to the Davis Cup for nearly two decades,
as a player, captain, and dedicated supporter of the event," said Ricci Bitti. "In recog-
nition of his achievements and in appreciation for his contributions to the sport and to
Davis Cup, we are proud to present him with the Davis Cup Award of Excellence."
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January 2012 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 15
Court Equipment
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
of Tennessees tennis program in early
2011 and is on all 12 courts at the uni-
versity. Tennessee has been fortunate
to use the TNT Gauge all season, said
Vols Head Coach Sam Winterbotham. I
believe it is the first time we have been
able to say confidently that the nets are
all the same tension. In men's tennis we
play let cords, so knowing that the
bounce off the net will be uniform really
helps. It is a fantastic product.
Studies by the USTA and Interna-tional Tennis Federation suggest that
400 to 550 pounds of tension is a good
playable range, says Glass. The TNT
Gauge has a green-colored area on the
unit that covers that range. Its not dic-
tating a tension; its a tool to let officials
set the tension.
Glass, a longtime recreational 4.0
player who has an engineering degree
from the University of Tennessee, says,
I was always the guy who had the cres-
cent wrench in my bag. I just couldntstand loose nets.
The TNT Gauge (www.tightcable.net)
is manufactured in Knoxville and avail-
able with club or team logos imprinted.
There are two models, which ensure
compatibility with all net posts with
external anchors. Price for seven or
more units is $139 each, but contact
Glass for details at [email protected]
or 865-307-0474. Were trying to make
it fit club and school budgets too, not
just pro events, he says. w
The TNT Gauge
also was used at five
2011 US Open
Series events,
including on all eight
competition and
eight practice courts
at the Linder Family
Tennis Center in Cincin-nati, home of the combined mens and
womens Western + Southern Open. It
was also used at the Winston-Salem,
Los Angeles, Atlanta and New Haven
events.
During the 2011 season, World
TeamTennis used the TNT Gauge in four
cities, and its been used at NCAA
regionals in Knoxville and for Division 1
dual matches. In addition, the gauge has
been installed at the Malaysian Open in
Kuala Lumpur, a mens pro tour event,
and is being evaluated at Asian andEuropean ATP events.
Glass says the TNT Gauge was devel-
oped in cooperation with the University
hen it comes to the tennis
court, everything is stan-
dardized and consistent
except in one area: net tension. While
there are recommended tension ranges,
there never has been an effective, easy
way to measure the tension of the net,
and thats important when a ball strikes
the net cord. If a tournaments net ten-sions are all over the map, players will
have no idea from court to court how a
ball may react.
For facilities, too, its a practical mat-
ter. If the net cable is pulled too tightly,
it can ruin the net, net posts and foot-
ings, causing cracks in the courts and
causing the net posts to lean inrepairs
that can cost thousands of dollars and
result in down court time.
Now, though, David Glass (above) of
Knoxville, Tenn., may have hit on an
affordable solution to the inconsistentnet-tension problem. Glass is the CEO
of Cable Tension LLC and has invented
the TNT Gauge (which stands for Ten-
nis Netcord Tension), a device that
installs on the anchor hook on the out-
side of a net post and measures the ten-
sion of the net.
We believe we are removing the
last variable from the tennis court,
says Glass. The TNT Gauge is proving
to be the first inexpensive, practical and
user-friendly method of measuring net-cord tension before and during play, an
especially useful factor when the rules
include playing all lets.
Glass obtained a patent for the TNT
Gauge in November 2010, and so far he
has been adding to a list of impressive
credentials. In fact, after testing the TNT
Gauge on two outer competition courts
at the 2011 US Open, the USTA has
decided to buy 18 more, equipping all
20 competition courts at the 2012
Open with the device.
W
Removing the Tennis
Courts Last Variable?B Y P E T E R F R A N C E S C O N I
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16RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012
Retailing 106
www.racquetsportsindustry.com
This is part of a series of
retail tips presented by
the Tennis Industry
Association and writtenby the Gluskin Townley
Group (www.gluskintownleygroup.com).
available from the TIA to assist with devel-
oping the required consistency, but it
comes down to looking at every aspect of
your business as marketing your store
brand to consumers, and focusing on con-
sistently delivering a good to great retail
shopping experience.
The keys to making sure everything
you do is marketing, and helps build posi-
tive collective consumer memories of your
store brand, are:
w Make everyone who walks into your
store feel truly welcome, and comfort-
able!
w You have to ask if your customers had a
great shopping experience, or not. If not,
find out why and do everything you can
to make it right. If they were satisfied,
ask them if they will recommend your
store to friends, family and co-workers.
w Present one consistent face of your
business to the public. Use your logo
and graphics consistently acrosseverything that touches your cus-
tomers in any way!
w Your website is the hub of your mar-
keting and promotion, and use Face-
book, Twitter and other social media
to amplify your marketing message
and image and your direct response
outreach.
w And last, but not least, be proactive in
generating positive word-of-mouth
about your store brand.
For more details, contact the TIA and
ask for the podcast of the recent Every-thing You And Your Staff Dois Market-
ing webinar.
Coming Up:Manufacturers representativesa tennis
retailers best resource. w
Back in the time before the New Nor-
mal, a specialty retailer could almost get
away with some not so good shopping
experiences, but not in todays market-
place. Shoppers have too many choices,
including the internet, and they will no
longer tolerate simply adequate!
A satisfied shopper wont volun-
tarily tell you he or she is satisfied
unless you ask them. Likewise,
an unhappy shopper wont tellyou eitherbut dissatisfied
customers will tell 11
to 13 other people
about the unsatis-
factory or bad
experience
they had at
your store.
Keep in mind that we all tend to be
passive in person, yet aggressive online.
We are reluctant to tell store staff or amanager about a bad experience, but we
will aggressively tell everyone we know on
Facebook, which can make social media
either a minefield or our best word-of-
mouth marketing tool.
Its About ConsistencySpecialty tennis retailers need to focus
on the consistency of their overall market-
ing, which translates to the consistency of
the experience they provide to shoppers.
There is a whole toolbox of services
arketing is not a task, and
its not a job function!
Many specialty retailers
dont completely understand what
marketing is. Peter Drucker is no
longer with us, but in addition to
being remembered as the father of
modern management, he offered
this definition of marketing:
Marketing is so basic that it
cannot be considered a separate
functionit is the whole business
seen from the point of view of its
final result, that is, from the cus-
tomers point of view.
Powerful words, but what it boils
down to is the simple fact
that everything you and
your employees do
today is marketing.
Research has discov-
ered that consumers
perceive retailers andretail brands as the
sum total of all their
experiences with that
retail brand over time.
If you are in the
specialty tennis retail
business, you already have
a brandand consumers
remember your store brand
as the sum total of everything they
have seen, read, heard or otherwise
experienced about your store
everything!
Not Good EnoughOne of the changes that came along
with the New Normal consumer
economy and marketplace is a shop-
per that is no longer satisfied with
adequate service from retailers. The
end result is that there are no neu-
tral retail experiences todaya
shopper will either have a good, or
hopefully, great experienceor a
bad experience.
M
Everything You Do Is Marketing!Consumers remember your brand as the sum total of everything they
have seen, read, heard or experienced about your store.
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Sometimes, early jobs are enjoyable, but just not thatmemorable compared to what happened next. A long
time ago, Pat Freebody had a position in Chicago.
"It was with a manufacturer," she says vaguely, then her
voice brightens, becomes sharper. "But tennis took over."
It's probably more accurate to say Pat Freebody'spassion
for tennis took over. It was the passion that she brought to all
aspects of tennisfrom competitive play, to the business side
of the sport, to helping to guide its future through her work
at the USTAthat has helped shape her life and shape the
game. And its that continuing passion that has helped to
make her RSIs Person of the Year for 2011.
During her tenure in the sport, Freebody has been in-volved on all levels: athlete, club manager, coach, section ex-
ecutive director, World TeamTennis exec, and finally the
position from which she most recently retired: a managing
director of the USTA. Throughout it all, she has never lost sight
of the sport's most important and basic need: bringing in new
players.
"Pat loves tennis and her impact on the sport during her
career is pretty remarkable," says Kurt Kamperman, USTA's
chief executive for Community Tennis. "She is someone who
has definitely made a difference in growing tennis participa-
tion in the U.S."
www.racquetsportsindustry.com RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 21
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22RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
Motivated and InvolvedFreebody was born in Melbourne, Australia, and traces of the
accent still cling to her voice. She tends to recall the years in
tennis by what she learned from them, and what she classifies
as the most important developments during those times.
As general manager at Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago
from 1980 to 1988, for example, she became acutely aware of
the essential role indoor facilities could play in keeping players
engaged and active throughout the year.
The community activist, with her absolute dedication to
growing the sport, shows for a minute. "Some clubs were very
fancy and expensive, but some were affordable, and they were
the ones who were willing to work things out so that people
could play."
And that sentiment, says Kirk Anderson, director of recre-
ational coaches and programs
at USTA, is one of the mosttelling. "Pat has always been
great at encouraging and sup-
porting the absolute beginner
and has always found fun
ways to keep them moti-
vated, happy and involved."
The implementation of the
National Tennis Rating Pro-
gram (NTRP) in the early
1980s was another develop-
ment Freebody advocated.
"In the beginning, there were
no levels, so this was a won-
derful thing, a huge thing for
adults. You could find some-
one at your level and play and
have fun, and actually have
competition. From that came
the adult leagues."
The first national league
championships were held at
Midtown, and Freebody re-
calls having to buy court timeback from regular players in
order to host the tournament.
"We had 18 courts," she
notes, "and that was enough back then. Now you could never
do that. You'd need at least 25 to 30 courts just to host the di-
visions."
In 1989, Freebody became executive director of World
TeamTennis, where she would stay until 1992. "Pat shared Bil-
lie Jean Kings vision and passion for tennis as a team sport
where men and women could work together, compete equally
and have fun," recalls WTT national director Delaine Mast,
whom Freebody originally hired in the 1980s to help build rec
leagues. "Today, over 500,000 players have played in the WTT
Recreational Leagues, and Pat helped it all begin."
Recalling her years at WTT, Freebody laughs. "I remember
what it was like getting players to accept the tiebreaker. We re-
ally worked with that, and it was a big breakthrough. Of course,
I didn't say people understood it, I just said they accepted it."
The fact that Freebody could get people behind what
seemed to be a radical new rule, says Karen Ford of USTA
Serves, was indicative one of her greatest strengths. "She knew
how to manage people, and she was the one who could always
get a group to work together toward a common goal."
Technology AdvocateFreebody worked as executive director of the USTA's Midwest
Section from 1993 to 1996, then moved to the USTA's national
office in White Plains, N.Y.
There, says Kamperman, shewas instrumental in "just about
everything on the Community
Tennis side of the house." As
managing director, she was
charged with overseeing meet-
ings and with managing USTA
Leagues, Junior Team Tennis
and Flex Leagues, wheelchair
tennis and adult tournaments.
Implementing technology
on every level became a per-
sonal goal since she saw it as
the doorway through which
more players could enter the
game. An initial program
known as Touch Tone Tennis
allowed players to register for
events and programs over the
phone. Today, TennisLink en-
ables online tournament regis-
trations. Freebody was also
instrumental in helping USTA
launch mobile applications al-lowing players to sign up for
leagues and tournaments using
Smartphones, her final accom-
plishment before retiring.
"I know we used to live in a simpler time, but we've come
a long way, and this makes things so much easier," she says.
"Before, if someone had two or three kids, and the kids wanted
to be involved in different tournaments, the parents would
have to drive them all over and register them for things. Now
you get can online and use your credit card."
Throughout her career in the industry, Freebody has been
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www.racquetsportsindustry.com RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 23
honored for everything from
her skill as an athlete (she and
doubles partner Billie Jean King
won two USTA Gold Balls in
1986 and 1987, and she re-
ceived district, section and na-
tional rankings in the U.S. and
national rankings in Australia),
to her dedication to the sport
itself. She won the USTA Merit
Award in 1976 for her work
with junior players, and in
1978 became the first woman
president of the Chicago Dis-
trict.
In 1986, Freebody won the
USTA Midwest's Stanley Mal-
less Award and coached theU.S. Tennis Team at the Tokyo
World Games. In 1989, she
was honored with Midwest's
Mel Bergman Award in recog-
nition of more than 10 years of
continuous and distinguished
service. She was also pre-
sented the Western Tennis As-
sociation's 20-year Service
Award and in 2003, was in-
ducted into the Midwest Sec-
tion's Hall of Fame.
Pat always did a great job,
no matter what her role in ten-
nis, and she always managed
to have a good time in the
process, says PTR CEO Dan
Santorum. Shes made a dif-
ference in our industry.
Bringing inNew Players
But throughout her journey,Freebody never forgot the im-
portance of ushering in the
next generation. Early on, she
coached the Chicago District
Tennis Association girls teams
to 10 national titles, and these days, she is a strong advocate
of 10 and Under Tennis and the QuickStart Tennis play
format.
"Its time has come and everyone should be getting behind
it, she says. There is nothing better, nothing, nothing nicer
than to see people learning to play, and with this, a grandparent
go out and play tennis with a
grandchild."
Programs that keep players
in the game, she adds, are as
important as the ones that
bring them in. Tennis On Cam-
pus, with its WTT format, is a
personal favorite and, in her
opinion, "is going to bring kids
back to tennis and turn them
into future league players."
Freebody, says Kirk Ander-
son, is focused on "making
sure everyone has an opportu-
nity to play tennis. No ques-
tion about that. Isn't that what
we are all about?"
One of her greatest con-cerns about the future of the
game is that it continue to
have quality instruction. "We
need to do so much more to
attract people to look at being
a teaching professional as a ca-
reer. The problem now is that
a lot of young people are look-
ing at it as a summer job, but
we want them to be asking
how they can get into tennis
and stay there."
Sort of like Pat Freebody
herself?
"I don't know that I ever re-
ally intended that to happen,"
she says, laughing again. "Ten-
nis became a habit for me.
Eventually, I knew the only
way out of it would be to re-
tire."
Colleagues say for Free-
body, there's really no wayout.
"She's never going to be
able to walk away," says Ford.
"That would be too hard for
her to do. She's part of the
sport. I hear people are already trying to pull her back in as a
volunteer."
"I'm still playing," says Freebody, sounding content. "I'm
still volunteering, too. I really should get started doing more of
that now."
Mary Helen Sprecher
Pat Freebody's Advice For... the USTA: Stay focused. "I would say not to have too
many new ideas. Concentrate on three or four things at a
time like leagues, keeping the US Open the top tournament
in the world for fans and players, staying with QuickStartand Tennis On Campus. Keep those things moving along."
CTAs and Sections: Get people involved. "There are a
lot of people who are interested, but they think they need
more expertise before they're welcome, and that's wrong.
Everyone can do something. They may be busy, so just ask
them for one thing: I need help with this tournament, I need
a lawyer for this problem, whatever it is. You don't need to
be asking for 20 years from them, unless they're willing to
give that. Of course, you can always not let them out of the
room until they say yes."
anyone who wants to volunteer: Don't wait to be
asked. "Call up your local CTA or whatever tennis group is
around and say, 'I'd like to help.' It won't be too long until
someone has a job for you to do."
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24RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
T
imon Corwin gets excited when he talks about Western
Racquet Clubs future. We have an active adult league
program, a lot of opportunity in 10 and Under, and
plenty of room for more
social tennis events, in
addition to growing the
competitive side. Plus, we
have one of the finest
teaching staffs in the Mid-
west, he says of the pri-
vate club in Elm Grove,
Wis.
Corwin, the general
manager, COO and managing director of tennis, came to the
facility in early 2010, bringing with him his long and successfulexperience in the tennis business. By and large, were a family
club, but we serve all demographics, he says. Its a tennis-
crazy membership. Add to that the depth of programming and
staff, active competitive and recreational teams and leagues,
10 and Under Tennis programs, and more, and Western Rac-
quet Club is RSIs 2011 Private Facility of the Year.
In July, in an event that fea-
tured Patrick McEnroe, WRC
dedicated four 36-foot courts.
Western is a leader in Wiscon-
sin with its 36-foot courts and
how it adopted 10 and Under
Tennis, says Andrea Calvert-
Sanders, USTA Midwest Section
director of junior & adult com-
petition. Its a great example
for other facilities. The club
also has more than 50 juniors who hold state and sectional
rankings.
Established in 1960, WRC has 14 outdoor courts (including
three clay) and four indoor, and it owns nearby Moorland Park,which has eight indoor courts. It also offers a state-of-the-art
fitness center, dining and banquet facilities, swimming and
more. In addition, WRC works with outside groups to provide
tennis to kids in the community.
Were really proud of whats happened here, Corwin says.
Peter Francesconi
Tips for Successw Get everyone rowing in the
same direction. Corwin says
the growth of WRCs tennis
program recently reflects the
fact that members and staff
all understand, and are sup-
portive of, the importance of
initiatives such as 10 and
Under Tennis.
w Surround yourself with se-
cure, talented, hard-working
and motivated individuals,
and support and assist them
as needed.
When you think about an expert racquet stringer and
customizer, consistent, service-oriented, de-
pendable, knowledgeable and solid come to
mindwords that describe Todd Mobley perfectly.
Todd understands the value of customer service, says Ron
Rocchi, Wilsons global tour equipment manager, who also runs
the Wilson/Luxilon tournament stringing
team. Hes excellent at matching up players
with the right strings, and the right racquets.When hes not stringing at a pro event, hes very
much in demand with recreational players.
Mobleywho owns and operates the com-
pany Stadium Tennis, located within James
Creek Tennis Center in Cumming, Ga.
strings at professional tournaments about 14
weeks a year, including being a co-captain of
the Wilson team at the US Open. He doesnt make mistakes,
is extremely consistent, and is always on schedule, says Rocchi.
But Mobley, who is RSIs 2011 Stringer of the Year, also has
a very successful business among rec players. I use the same
methods in my shop locally as
I do on the pro tour, and I
think a lot of my customers
appreciate that, he says.
A USRSA Master Racquet
Technician, Mobley has been
stringing for about 25 years;
he started out teaching tennis
full-time but got burned out,then started offering stringing
services to different compa-
nies. He estimates hes strung
over 40,000 frames in his ca-
reer. Locally, he strings 150 to
250 racquets per month (the
most strung in one day is 52);
on the pro tour, hes strung 406 at one tournament alone.
Todds not about the bravado, says Rocchi. Hes just a
rock-solid fantastic stringer who wants to do well for his
clients. Peter Francesconi
Tips for Successw It helps to be an avid player. I
love to play tennis, Mobley
says, so I try different stringcombinations myself.
w With recreational players, be
prepared to make changes and
adjustments in strings and ten-
sions as their games improve.
By contrast, tour players gen-
erally have been using the
same strings and tensions for
years and dont need to make
major changes.
w The customer knows best. Rec
players are always looking to
gain an edge, and they want
to experiment. You may know
that something isnt right for
them, but often you have to let
them try it for themselves.
GinaBowerPhotography
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www.racquetsportsindustry.com RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 25
A
lot happened in 1954. RCA made its first color TV. Bill
Haley and the Comets recorded "Rock Around the
Clock." And Leslie Coatings Inc. built its first asphalttennis court.
Color TV is still the standard, rock and roll is here to stay,
and so is Leslie Coatings, of Indianapolis. The company is still
making tennis courts, along with running tracks and other
sports facilities. So
what's the secret?
Being a pioneer, in
part. The Leslie brothers
(Jack, Richard and
Robert) started out as
home builders, but
quickly moved into as-phalt emulsion applica-
tions. When tennis
started booming in the early 1970s, the company began serv-
ing the burgeoning sports construction industry.
Something else pivotal happened in the 70s: Jerry Gray and
David Nielsen came on board. Since that time, they have be-
come co-owners, and both have served on the board of the
American Sports Builders Association and become Certified
Tennis Court Builders. The com-pany has won numerous honors
in ASBA's awards program, and
Gray received the Industry Merit
Award, ASBA's highest honor, in
1997.
"When you look at companies
that have a real history in the in-
dustry, and have contributed so
much in so many ways, one of the
first that comes to mind is Leslie
Coatings," says Mark Brogan,
ASBA's Tennis Division president.While there's no doubting the
company's standing in the indus-
try, its principals are also known for their friendliness and sense
of humor. As Nielsen likes to say, "I love this industry. I came
into it 36 years ago, and I've spent the last 35 trying to figure
out how to get back out." Mary Helen Sprecher
Tips for Successw Set a standard: Have a high
level of ethics and live up
to it.
w Serve the industry itself:
Sponsor local tennis events,
serve on boards and stay
involved.
w Stay updated with educa-
tional associations and manu-
facturers in order to stay on
the front edge of emergingtechnologies.
Lee Sponaugle appears to have a tough sell. Hes the di-
rector of corporate accounts for Connor Sport Court In-
ternational, which manufactures a modular sports
surface. In tennis, modular tile surfaces have not mounted a
substantial challenge to hard, clay and grass courts.
But Sponaugle is hoping to change that, and hes linked up
with one of this sports most visible cam-
paigns: 10 and Under Tennis. Sport Court,
headquartered in Salt Lake City, is the Of-ficial Modular Court for the USTA and 10
and Under Tennis, and Sponaugle has
been traveling the country selling the idea
of a modular tile surface for tennis. For all
his efforts, and along the way promoting
10 and Under Tennis, Sponaugle is RSIs
choice for 2011 Sales Rep of the Year.
The ability of the USTA to use our sur-
faces to bring tennis to places where it typically isnt seen
makes it a win-win, says Sponaugle, who has placed courts in
nearly every USTA section. Were really gaining acceptability
of modular as a playing surface
for tennis. Sport Court tiles also
are portable, which makes it
ideal for the USTAs national
SmashZone tour.
Lee Sponaugle and Sport
Court have really embraced ten-
nis and shorter courts, says Vir-
gil Christian, the USTAs directorof Community Tennis Develop-
ment. Hes helped convinced
Sport Court dealers that tennis is
a priority.
Its not just a piece of plastic
you throw downits how its
engineered, Sponaugle says.
What I see next for Sport Court
is getting more involved in resur-
facing.
Peter Francesconi
Tips for Successw Sell all the angles. Sponau-
gle says Sport Courts prod-
uct reduces stress on the
bodyimportant not just
for kids, but also for seniors
and teaching pros, who
spend hours on court.w See the possibilities.
Theres a consistent need
to resurface courtsits a
built-in market. The worst
thing for tennis is to have
unplayable courts.
w Dont make it just about
selling product. We feel re-
ally strongly that we can
help people, Sponaugle
says.
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26RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
P
am and Jesse Ponwith have been outfitting tennis play-
ers for nearly 20 years, and their Scottsdale, Ariz., shop,
All About Tennis, is a direct reflection of their lives. Bothare tennis teaching pros and top players, and their sons are top-
ranked juniors. As Pam says, We promote tennis all the time
were tennis junkies.
Their 5,500-square-foot
store can easily accommo-
date a vast inventory. They
carry every major brand,
and also stock racquetball
and squash. An extensive
demo program keeps
more than 700 racquets circulating. Their five-person staff is
made up of longtime employees who know their products andcustomers thoroughly, which Pam says makes for superior serv-
ice and trust. That, coupled with competitive pricing, even in
tough times, has kept their customers coming backand it all
makes the store RSIs Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year.
Jesse and Pam have one of the best-looking shops in the
country; its merchandised and presented exceptionally well,
says Greg Mason, Heads VP of
sales and marketing. Plus they
understand retailing and how tobuild business with key people
in the community. The store
also recently improved its web-
site design and content.
All About Tennis is involved
in every corner of the Phoenix
tennis marketfrom retailing
and offering stringing services
in-store and at tournaments, to
grassroots efforts, fundraising
for community groups, teaching
tennis in schools, and sponsor-ship of events.
Theyve done a wonderful
job in the community as a tennis family and as a business,
says Jeffery Adams, the national sales manager for Wilson Rac-
quet Sports. They are very committed to the greater Scottsdale
area. Cynthia Sherman
Tips for Success
w Hire knowledgeable staffand treat them well. It will
pay off with continued sales
and loyal customers.
w Maintain a large and varied
inventory, and carry a large
racquet demo selection, so
players can choose the best
racquet for their game.
w Know your customers
wants, provide superior cus-
tomer service and prices,
and provide incentives forloyal customers.
Kirk Anderson, director of recreational coaches and pro-
grams for the USTA, describes Mike Woody of Mid-
land, Mich., as one of those special lifelong learners
who seems to have a knack for identifying what is important
and rallying his staff and volunteers around his vision.
The beneficiary of this vision is his com-
munity and its tennis players. For his efforts,
Woody is RSIs Tennis Advocate of the Year.
As executive director of the Midland Com-munity Tennis Center, Woody leads a 35-
member staff in delivering creative tennis
programs to players of all ability levels. He is
a USPTA- and PTR-certified teaching pro, as
well as a USTA Master Trainer for QuickStart
and Recreational Coach Workshops.
In fact, he was an early adopter of the QuickStart Tennis
play format, with the innovative programming and events at
his club attracting hundreds of young players. He also is a club
consultant for 10 and Under Tennis, working with club owners,
managers and teaching pros to involve and retain youngsters.
Woody, who manages the
annual Dow Corning Tennis
Classic (a USTA Pro Circuit
event), was instrumental in
leading the drive that resulted
in Midland being named the
USTAs Best Tennis Town in
2009. The $100,000 award
funded a free wheelchair ten-nis program, sponsored free
summer lessons and organ-
ized play for adults, trained
gym teachers in tennis in-
struction and provided equip-
ment for 8,000 students.
We celebrate the suc-
cesses, but we dont rest,
Woody says. We have a great
opportunity to do even better.
Thats what gets me up in the morning. Cindy Cantrell
Tips for Successw Eliminate barriers. If costs are
keeping players away, offer
free introductory programs. Ifits lack of equipment, provide
loaner or donated racquets.
Once players are hooked, they
will find their own solutions.
w Teach players about life along
with the game. Like life itself,
tennis is an individual sport in
which you must take responsi-
bility for your performance. You
cant just want to win; you
have to fight to win.
w Build it and they will comedoesnt work. If you dont have
the programs to attract and re-
tain players, youll have empty
tennis courts.
w Embrace the big picture. Learn
from best practices and try
new things. Risk-taking re-
quires more work, but it often
produces more highlights.
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www.racquetsportsindustry.com RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 27
D
avid Abrams, executive director for the USTA Eastern
Section, is succinct when he talks about Jeff Rothstein:
Hes one of our all-stars.Rothstein is the director of junior development and Quick-
Start Tennis at Centercourt Ath-
letic Club in Chatham, N.J. If
Abrams praise isnt endorsement
enough, Larry Dillon, manager
for 10 and Under Tennis for USTA
Eastern, says, Jeff dramatically
changed the participation of 10
and Under Tennis in his region.
Dillon, who trained Rothstein and
the Centercourt team, believes the site is one of the most solid
in terms of junior programming in the Eastern section, if notthe country. Jeff developed the programs, helped with the mar-
ketinghe organized the whole operation.
Rothstein is no stranger to the industry. He found himself
on court coaching in 1977 and never looked back. And he par-
ticularly enjoys working with juniors, which is why he is RSIs
2011 Junior Tennis Champion of the Year.
Jeff is my resource for
QuickStart programming, says
Katrina Adams, executive direc-tor of the Harlem Junior Tennis
Education Program. When-
ever I have a question regard-
ing 10 and Under Tennis, I can
always rely on Jeff.
In addition to his position at
Centercourt, Rothstein is a
USTA high performance coach,
national QuickStart trainer, cur-
rent head coach for USTA East-
ern summer National Zonal
boys & girls 16s team, andchair of USTA Easterns Junior
Competition QuickStart Committee.
And he is a firm believer in 10 and Under Tennis. We take
every parameter seriously, Rothstein says. As a result, players
progress faster and gain a stronger technical base for their fu-
ture development. Robin Bateman
Tips for Successw Get total club buy-in, so every-
one works together to achieve
a common goal. At Center-
court, everyonefrom man-
aging partners to teaching
prossupports 10 and Under
Tennis.
w Get instant parental buy-inthrough personal entrance
evaluations. New kids at Cen-
tercourt undergo an on-court
evaluation with three direc-
tors, so parents immediately
understand the significance of
using correct equipment.
w Assess each childs motor and
tennis skills, enthusiasm and
aptitude, so you can place
them in programs best suited
for their ability.
Growing tennis from the ground up is something
Brenda Gilmore not only knows, but lives every day.
She started the Prince Georges Tennis and Education
Foundation in 1993 to provide tennis and life skills to the chil-
dren of Prince George's County, Maryland. Nearly two decades
later, the organization offers tennis and edu-
cational programs for every skill and ability
level, and has benefited more than 30,000
children.One thing she wants to make clear: The
road to success has been a winding journey.
Those getting their own programs off the
ground need to hold fast to their goals and
not give up, adds Gilmore, who won the
prestigious Eve Kraft USTA Community Service Award in 2011.
"Sometimes people think that, 'If we start it, they will come.
But its not always that easy," says Gilmore, who is the PGTEFs
executive director. "Thats where patience, tenacity, the willing-
ness to serve and love for the game come into play. You need
to just buckle up and get ready for a ride you never expected,
but one of the most rewarding
you have ever experienced."
Gilmore has been a tireless
advocate to students with an
array of challenges. She has
worked with her local Para-
Olympic Academy to offer
weekly tennis and life skills les-
sons to wheelchair students, andwith the Maryland-National Cap-
ital Park and Planning Commis-
sion to facilitate the training of
tennis professionals and offer
Junior Team Tennis and Wheel-
chair Tennis across the county.
Her message that "tennis is
one of the coolest sports out
there" obviously resonates. Many graduates of her program
have returned as instructors, teaching her lessons to the next
generation. Mary Helen Sprecher
Tips for Successw Join the USTA and take ad-
vantage of the volunteer, ed-
ucational and training
opportunities offered.
w Get your instructors certified
(if they arent already).
w
If you are a non-profit, makesure you have a strong
board, and reliable, trained
volunteers.
w Build partnerships in the
community with the schools,
parks, businesses and local
government.
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28RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 www.racquetsportsindustry.com
To say the Roger Scott Tennis Center has a lot going on is
like saying Novak Djokovic had just an OK year on the
pro tour. The largest tennis facility in Pensacola, Fla.,
with 18 hard courts and 10 clay courts (all lighted), RSTC is a
hotbed of tennis programming
for players of all ages and abili-
ties. Bruce Caton is the director
of tennis, and he and his tal-
ented staff of seven pros admin-
ister adult and junior clinics,
leagues (24 USTA league teams),
10 and Under Tennis programming (12 of the hard courts have
permanent 10U lines), private lessons, a junior academy and
much more. A free junior clinic every summer attracts 200 to300 kids.
The facility has numerous tournaments for players of all
ages and hosts many charity events, including, in January, the
10th Annual Pink Ribbon Tennis Tournament to help fight
breast cancer. RSTC, which was the 2007 USTA Florida Facility
of the Year, also hosts the Pensacola Futures Championships,
National Open tourneys for
juniors, and the large Pen-
sacola Open Wheelchair tennis
tournament, among other
events. The tennis center also
has two backboards and a pro
shop that offers stringing.
With its vast array of pro-
gramming and events, youd
think the Roger Scott Tennis
Center has enough going on.
But Catons motto is, Sur-
round yourself with good peo-
ple and then get out of theway. So the improvements
just keep on comingyet an-
other reason the center is RSIs
2011 Municipal Facility of the
Year.
Cynthia Sherman
Tips for Successw For seamless integration of
programs and support, work
with community liaisons.
Caton says Pensacolas di-
rector of Neighborhood
Services was instrumental in
helping the facility build its
clay courts.
w Surround yourself with great
people and acknowledge
their contributions. Caton is
quick to thank the hard-
working staff that makes it
all happen.
w Its all about giving back to
the community and its
residents.
When it comes to developing grassroots tennis pro-
grams and cultivating relationships with tennis or-
ganizations, its hard to beat the Tualatin Hills Park
and Recreation District. THPRD covers 111 tennis courts at 36
sites and serves 220,000 people within a 55-mile radius in the
Beaverton, Ore., area.
Tualatin is our go-to organization for all our programs, says
Ruth Turner, director of community tennis for the USTA Pacific
Northwest Section. And its this devotion to tennis that hasmade THPRD the inaugural winner of RSIs Park & Rec Agency
of the Year Award.
THPRDs general manager,
Doug Menke, has a history
rooted in tennis. He has served
on numerous local, district and
section USTA committees, and
currently he is on the USTAs na-
tional Tennis in the Parks Com-
mittee. He also encourages all his employees to develop
relationships in the community. There is no better way to un-
derstanding community needs
than by being active in the
community, he says.
Since THPRD is a stand-
alone agency, free from the
pull of other municipal serv-
ices, it can concentrate all its
energy and resources on parks
and recreation. In addition, theagency has received awards
six years in a row for its finan-
cial management.
As far as promoting and
growing tennis, THPRDs connections are what its all
aboutthe agency is hooked up with USTA staff, local tennis
associations, players, facility owners and managers, teaching
pros and more.
We are one of many thriving arms of the parks district,
says THPRD tennis supervisor Brian Leahy, but tennis doesnt
get lost in the shuffle. Robin Bateman
Tips for Successw As a park agency, reach out to
everyone. Many facilities see
adult programming as vital,
but for THPRD, that meant
also embracing 10 and Under
Tennis.
w Open your doors to other ten-
nis organizations. THPRD
wants everyone to play, and
Leahy, a Tennis in the Parks
Peer Advisor for Oregon, will
work with organizations look-
ing to run programs.
w Get out of the office, see whatyour peers are doing, and get
involved in your community
and other tennis organizations.
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www.racquetsportsindustry.com RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY January 2012 29
If Jeremiah Yolkut has a specialty, its getting things to run
smoothly. Thats what I love doingmaking things go off
without a hitch, he says. One of the things he helps to a
smooth ride is wheelchair tennis.
Yolkut, the USTAs manager of competitive play and techni-
cal programs, has been working with the USTAs wheelchair
program for the last four years.
Hes had a hand in helping
wheelchair events from the
grassroots to the highest levels
of international competition.
Jeremiah has a passion for
wheelchair tennis at all levels
that rivals anyone, says Dan
James, the USTAs national manager for wheelchair tennis.
Yolkut (at left above) has been instrumental in pushing
grassroots grants for local wheelchair programs. The grants pro-
gram started about three years ago and continues to grow; the
USTA in 2011 increased to $50,000 the amount available for
wheelchair tennis grants, which go to organizations such as
CTAs, hospitals, businesses, etc.
The grants deal with either
coaching, court time, equipment
or events, says Yokut. Its one
of the best things we do to spur
growth in the community. You
make a lot of connections when
youre giving out grants like this.
But he also specializes in lo-
gistics. What is it going to take
for U.S. teams to go to interna-
tional events and be successful?
he says. He deals with it all:
travel, food, clothing the players
will need, security, anticipating
health issues, hotel relationships
and more.
Jeremiah makes it so we dont have to worry about any-
thing other than the tennis, James says. He always goes far
beyond the job. Peter Francesconi
Tips for Successw Anticipate everything. Yolkut
takes care of everything off
the court, so players and
coaches can focus on the
court.
w Take the time to make con-
nections. You learn about
local programs and what
works and what doesnt.
w Always follow up. Yolkut
makes sure grant recipients
have what they need to
make the most out of their
award.
Sarah Boone, club manager at the Guilford (Conn.) Rac-
quet & Swim Club, was skeptical at first. Weve had a
strong junior program for years and have used tempo-
rary 10 and Under lines and nets, she says. But now, we re-
alize adding permanent blended lines is the next step in
building the ability and confidence of our
youngest players.
Tom Hinding of Hinding Tennis in West
Haven, Conn., helped convince Boone thatpermanent lines were the way to go, and he
helped her shepherd a funding request
through to the USTA. With the grant
process, the USTA is paying for 50 percent of
the project [and most USTA sections also pay
a portion of the lining fee], so its really a no-
brainer for a club, he says.
But Hinding has gone well beyond simply suggesting fa-
cilities add either blended lines or permanent 36- and 60-foot
courts. Tom has really taken the initiative on developing courts
for 10 and Under Tennis, says Virgil Christian, the USTAs di-
rector of Community Tennis De-
velopment.
In New England, Hinding ac-
tively campaigns for 10 and
Under Tennis. For his total in-
volvement in the process of bring-
ing tennis to youngsters, Hinding
Tennis is the winner of RSIs inau-
gural 10 and Under Tennis FacilityDeveloper of the Year Award.
We started educating facility
owners a few years ago, Hinding
says. There were a lot of skeptics,
but today theyre putting 10 and
Under lines on multiple courts. I
dont know of a single club we did
this year that we didnt do either
36- or 60-foot lines or courts. Im
really excited for the next year.
Peter Francesconi
Tips for Successw While there may not be a
huge profit margin in lining
10 and Under courts, it
gets you in the door for fu-
ture surfacing work at a
tennis facility, says Hinding.
w
A key selling point to clubowners with 10U is theyll
get more kids on one court
at a time, and make more
money.
w Maintain a good relation-
ship with the USTA at the
district, section and na-
tional levels and know
what resources they can
provide to tennis facilities.
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I
n Septemberafter three years and some $800,000Cad-
walader Park in Trenton, N.J., celebrated a grand re-open-
ing. Hundreds of families came out to play on the new
public courts. The park now has dibs on the title of largest
short-court facility in the nation.
Cadwalader opened its courts in the early 1930s. But the
original 18 tennis courts be-
came victims of weather, wear,
budget constraints and a de-
cline in interest; 12 of the courts
were converted into basketball
courts. When the tennis courts
showed aggressive cracks in re-
cent years, NJTL-Trenton became concerned for player safety
and spearheaded the project to bring Cadwalader back to life.We now have 14 36-foot, seven 60-foot and seven regular-
sized courts, says Dan Faber, executive director of NJTL-Tren-
ton, which serves about 2,500 young players. The community
came out and embraced what we are trying to do.
And theyre not done yet. Lights, bleachers, a learning pavil-
ion and landscaping are still to come. The project tapped sev-
eral funding sources, including
local and state governments,
USTA and the private sector.
Its great for the city, says
Dave Haggerty, the USTAs first
vice president, whose father
managed the Cadwalader courts
when Dave was a junior. Now,
Trenton has one of the finest jun-
ior centers in the world. The
NJTL has a place to run its pro-
grams and the high school can
play matches on home courts.
The facility also provides a
blueprint for other tennis cen-ters. Its a combination of sev-
eral things, says Haggerty, the
number of permanent short
courts, how they are used and
how the project raised its
money. Robin Bateman
Tips for Successw Have the local non