March 17, 2023

Here’s your roundup of the five most interesting things I’m enjoying or thinking about this week in tennis.

1.) Indian Wells Final Weekend

Indian Wells is close to wrapping up, with the ladies’ semifinals kicking off the weekend, followed by the men’s semifinals tomorrow and the finals on Sunday. Check here if you’re curious about where it’s being broadcast.

Find out Who’s In the Semis

2.) World’s Largest Racquet Facility

In June, Swing Racquet & Paddle will break ground on a new 45-acre campus in Raleigh, NC, featuring 60 tennis, pickleball, and padel courts, the largest of its kind. The venue will also feature food and drink, like a Top Golf for racquet sports. Their team will open its first facility and track performance for a year before opening new locations with the goal of launching 59 over ten years.

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3.) WTA Private Equity Deal

Flying somewhat under the radar, the WTA announced a partnership with CVC Capital Partners last week, giving up 20% ownership as part of the deal. I hadn’t dug into it much, but Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated helped paint a picture of the implications, which I found insightful for those who might be curious.

Read the Sports Illustrated Piece

A new era ????

Welcoming our new partner, CVC, who will join us in building upon the legacy the WTA has established over the last 50 years. This partnership will look to accelerate commercial growth for fans, players and tournaments.

Learn more at https://t.co/7zWlmmmWbz pic.twitter.com/tHVlK12zVu

— wta (@WTA) March 7, 2023

4.) TrueTennisVR for Training

Designed for the Meta Quest 2, a virtual reality headset, TrueTennisVR aims to help players improve their skills away from the court with immersive software for practicing their groundstrokes, volleys, and overheads. It’s in beta, with the full subscription software planned to launch mid-year.

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5.) Nadal’s Return to Tennis

During the Australian Open, Rafa suffered a grade two tear of his iliopsoas muscle, with estimates he’d be out for six to eight weeks. Last Saturday, he posted his first training video since the incident, and although he’s taking it week by week, he intends to return to tennis at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

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A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal)

If you have a moment, I’d love to hear your feedback. Which topic is your favorite? What would you like to see more or less of each week?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and have a great weekend.