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USA Wins Junior Billie Jean King Cup For Record Seventh Time

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The United States brought home its record-extending seventh Junior Billie Jean King Cup title, while the American boys finished runner-up in the Junior Davis Cup as the world’s premier 16-and-under team competitions were held last week in Antalya, Turkey. 

Team USA defeated the Czech Republic, 2-0, in the final, capping off an undefeated campaign for the team consisting of Clervie Ngounoue (16; Washington, D.C.), Valerie Glozman (15; Bellevue, Wash.) and Iva Jovic (14; Torrance, Calif.). The U.S. team was captained by USTA national coach Lori Riffice. 

The U.S. Junior Davis Cup squad that fell to Brazil in the final included Alex Razeghi (16; Humble, Texas) and Meecah and Kaylan Bigun (16; West Hollywood, Calif.). The team was captained by USTA national coach Jon Glover. 

The title comes as the U.S. senior Billie Jean King Cup team is in Glasgow, Scotland preparing for this week’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals. That team includes former Junior Billie Jean King Cup champions Coco Gauff (2018), Taylor Townsend (2012) and Caty McNally (2017). 

To read more on Team USA’s performance, click here. 

Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center To Go To The Dogs

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The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan, America’s second-longest continuously held sporting event, will be held May 8-9, 2023, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City. This historic event is the centerpiece of Westminster Week. The 2023 canine celebration also marks the 10th Anniversary of the ever-popular Masters Agility Championship.

“As we march towards our 150th Anniversary in 2026, the Club is excited to bring the dog show to a venue that has always celebrated world-class athletes, and these champion dogs are no exception,” said Westminster Kennel Club President, Darrell W. Crate. “The sprawling complex will give spectators a truly memorable experience as they meet thousands of purpose-bred dogs that each have a rich history and background.”

America’s Dog Show will again attract top-winning dogs from across the country for this iconic event. In addition to the 10th Anniversary of the Masters Agility Championship, the 2023 schedule includes the 8th Annual Masters Obedience Championship, Junior Showmanship, 200+ Breed competitions (for Champions only), 7 Group competitions, concluding with Best in Show being crowned in the center of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Additional family-friendly events are held throughout Westminster Week and will be announced soon. Tickets for all Westminster Week events will be on sale in early 2023.

Schedule of Events

  • Saturday, May 6 – 10th Anniversary of the Masters Agility Championship
  • Saturday, May 6 (pending) – 8th Annual Masters Obedience Championship
  • Monday, May 8 – 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – Day 1
  • (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Breeds and Group judging)
  • Tuesday, May 9 – 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – Day 2

(Sporting, Working, Terrier Breeds, and Group judging followed by Best in Show)

“This is an incredibly unique and prestigious event that we’re thrilled to host at our venue,” said Danny Zausner, Chief Operating Officer, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. “After hosting All Elite Wrestling each of the last two years and the Fortnite World Cup in 2019, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is increasingly becoming a marquee event destination for non-tennis related events. And the sight of dogs roaming the grounds at the home of the US Open is certain to put a smile on everyone’s faces.”

Although Westminster is the pinnacle of competition in the dog world, the event remains a family-friendly experience. “Accessibility, education, and connection are at the core of this event. Spectators are always surprised that they get to meet and pet these exceptional dogs, but the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was created to engage with the public. We encourage people to come and learn about dog breeds from the owners, handlers, and preservation breeders. For over a century, this celebration of dogs has thrilled people, and our 2023 events will continue that tradition,” says Westminster Director of Communications Gail Miller Bisher.

Additional event information, FOX Sports’ telecast, and streaming schedules will be available on the website as they become available: westminsterkennelclub.org.

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About the Westminster Kennel Club

The Westminster Kennel Club,established in 1877, is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs. It hosts the iconic, all-breed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the second-longest, continuously held sporting event in the U.S. after the Kentucky Derby, and since 1948, the longest nationally televised live dog show. The Club’s mission, which enhances the lives of all dogs, celebrates the companionship of dogs and promotes responsible dog ownership and breed preservation. The Club advocates for purpose-bred dogs, with an understanding that each dog has a legacy and history that deserves to be taught, honored, and preserved. The Club uses education to raise awareness and encourage owners to conscientiously select dogs that are the right match for their families. The annual dog show—a conformation competition for purpose-bred dogs—and the Masters Agility Championship and Masters Obedience Championship—where dogs from all backgrounds are eligible to compete—make Westminster Week with over 3,000 dogs from the U.S. and around the world, a pinnacle experience for any dog lover. America’s Dog Show has captivated canine enthusiasts for more than a century. WESTMINSTER. There’s only one.® Visit us on, westminsterkennelclub.org, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

About USTA

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking seven summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 120 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

About Nestlé Purina PetCare 
Nestlé Purina PetCare creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations. Purina manufactures some of the world’s most trusted and popular pet care products, including Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Fancy Feast and Tidy Cats. Our more than 8,700 U.S. associates take pride in our trusted pet food, treat and litter brands that feed 51 million dogs and 65 million cats every year. More than 500 Purina scientists, veterinarians, and pet care experts ensure our commitment to unsurpassed quality and nutrition. Purina Pro Plan is a leader in the advanced nutrition category, with more than 140 targeted formulas to help your pet thrive throughout every stage of life. It is also the food of choice for 15 of the past 16 Westminster Best in Show winners*. For more information, visit www.proplan.com or follow @ProPlan on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. 

Purina promotes responsible pet care through our scientific research, our products and our support for pet-related organizations. Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help our communities and environment thrive. 

Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For more information, visit purina.com or subscribe here to get the latest Purina news. 

*The handler or owners of these champions may have received Purina Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors.

U.S. Open Celebrates 15 Years Of Sustainability

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The United States Tennis Association (USTA) celebrates the 15th year of its US Open sustainability initiative, continuing the tournament’s decade-plus commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the US Open and helping to create a more sustainable future for our planet.

Since the program’s inception in 2008, working with environmental consultant eco evolutions llc, these initiatives have allowed the US Open to reduce its harmful greenhouse gas emissions by more than 130,000 metric tons. More than 6,500 tons of waste generated during the US Open has been diverted from landfills, saving over 6,400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of 1,390 passenger cars being driven for a year. Through composting leftover organic matter, nearly 830 tons of food waste has been converted into nutrient-rich compost for gardens and farms, along with more than 185 tons of food being donated to local communities. 

In 2019, the US Open became one of the first major North American organizations to sign the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, joining a group of international sports properties that have committed to drive climate awareness and action. As part of the US Open’s continued commitment to climate-intelligent humanitarian initiatives, returning in 2022 is a carbon offset program that provides improved cookstoves in Uganda. The US Open will offset the estimated carbon generated to run the event as well as from player travel to compete in the event, employee travel to work the event and fan travel for Finals Weekend. This equates to approximately 10 million miles traveled by airplane, car or subway. This initiative provides strong environmental benefits as the reduced consumption of biomass will result in emission reductions and decrease deforestation. 

Also returning in 2022 is the US Open’s collaboration with reforestation non-profit One Tree Planted, which is an initiative that was introduced at last year’s tournament. Working with One Tree Planted, the USTA will make a donation to ensure a tree is planted for every player that will be competing in the US Open, amounting to approximately 650 trees. The trees will be planted as part of ongoing reforestation projects in California to help replenish U.S. National Forests that have been impacted by recent forest fires.

US Open sponsors and partners are also making significant contributions to sustainability at the US Open. For example, evian is on a mission to make all its bottles from 100 percent recycled plastic by 2025 (excluding cap and label) the brand is Certified Carbon Neutral by the Carbon Trust.  This helps the US Open recycle nearly seven tons of plastic during the event and divert 97% of waste from landfill.

Continuing its commitment to sustainability, the Polo Ralph Lauren ball crew Polos will be made from yarn derived from recycled plastic bottles. The fabric will also have functional performance features, like stretch & moisture-wicking properties, all constructed for active play. In addition, tennis ball cans used at the US Open will feature Wilson’s Eco Overcap, which reduces the amount of plastic by half and leaves a smaller footprint on the environment after it has been used.

The US Open is proud to have earned LEED Silver certification for Louis Armstrong Stadium, which premiered at the 2018 US Open. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green-building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. A number of sustainable design elements were incorporated into Louis Armstrong Stadium, including fixtures that use 40% less water than standard buildings, landscape that is designed to use 55% less water than traditional landscaping and low-emitting paints and finishes. In addition, during construction, 95% of waste was recycled. This is the third LEED certified structure at the home of the US Open, the others being the Grandstand Stadium and VIP/Transportation Building.

Additional components of the US Open sustainability initiative include:

  • Recycling and Composting
    • New for the 2022 US Open, the USTA will be recycling the clean plastic wrap consumed by vendors throughout the site of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the event.
    • At the conclusion of the 2022 US Open, the USTA will be donating the metal lids from the tennis ball cans used during the event to the Ronald McDonald House in Valhalla, N.Y.  These metal lids will be recycled to benefit the Ronald McDonald House’s Pull Tab Collection Program for that home. 
    • The USTA collects the tennis balls used during the matches and players’ practices to reuse in USTA tennis programs and to donate to various community and youth organizations throughout the United States.  A large portion of the balls from the 2022 US Open will be donated as a part of Wilson’s initiative with Recycleballs.
    • More than 70 tons of food waste from the US Open kitchens will be collected to be process by an anerobic digester to produce renewable electricity.
    • Ballpersons are provided with reusable water bottles to reduce the use of single use plastic water bottles.
  • Construction and Grounds
    • The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is home to three LEED certified structures including: Louis Armstrong Stadium (LEED Silver); Grandstand Stadium; and the Transportation Building.
    • Louis Armstrong Stadium:
      • Louis Armstrong Stadium uses 40% less water than is used in standard buildings.
      • Landscaping around Louis Armstrong Stadium is designed to use 55% less water than traditional landscaping.
      • During construction of Louis Armstrong Stadium, 95% of the waste was recycled.
      • Louis Armstrong Stadium is designed to use nearly 30% less energy than is used in standard buildings.
      • More than 10% of the materials used in Louis Armstrong Stadium’s construction were made from recycled materials.
      • Louis Armstrong Stadium is located close to public transportation, encouraging fans to take mass transit and help reduce the carbon footprint.
      • Low-emitting paints and finishes were used in Louis Armstrong Stadium’s construction to reduce the emission of pollutants.
      • Waste generated in Louis Armstrong Stadium is recycled and composted to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
    • Grandstand Stadium:
      • During the Grandstand’s construction, more than 80% of waste was recycled.
      • Primarily due to LED lights, the Grandstand uses 15% less energy than is used in standard buildings.
      • The Grandstand makes use of a rainwater treatment system to remove contaminants before the rainwater is discharged into the environment.
      • The Grandstand uses 40% less water than is used in standard buildings.
      • The Grandstand’s white roof reflects heat to keep the stadium cooler.
      • More than 10% of the materials used in the Grandstand’s construction were made from recycled materials.
      • Low-emitting paints and finishes were used in the Grandstand’s construction to reduce the emission of pollutants.
    • Foam glass, made from 1.3 million recycled glass bottles was used under the foundation of the new US Open broadcast building.
    • Refill water stations are located throughout the site to encourage re-use of water bottles.
    • LED court lights have been installed and will save a total of 90,000 kWh; 50% more efficient than regular stadium lighting. 
    • Vendors are provided with a US Open Green Cleaning Policy specifying preferred cleaning products to be used during the US Open.
  • Food Service
    • Paper or compostable straws will replace plastic straws across the site.
    • The majority of the service ware throughout the site is compostable, comprised of bio-based materials. 
    • US Open food concessionaire, Levy Restaurants, is locally sourcing approximately 20% of its produce and ingredients for the food offered on site.  In addition, Levy Restaurants offers 60% naturally-raised protein.
    • The US Open expects to donate almost 15 tons of food to the local community.
  • Paper Products
    • The 2.4 million napkins in the general concession area are comprised of 100% recycled material.
    • The US Open Daily is printed on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and printed on machines with dual-printing capabilities. 
    • US Open tickets are exclusively electronic.
    • All US Open digital event cards are provided electronically in place of the over 48,000 plastic versions purchased in the past.
  • Transportation
    • The USTA will continue to welcome more than 50% of its fans via mass transit or through rideshare. 
    • The US Open will offset the estimated 3.5 million miles players travel to compete at the US Open; the 3.8 million miles employees travel to work the event; and the 2.7 million miles traveled by fans to attend Finals Weekend.
  • Fan Awareness
    • 2022 US Open Sustainability Initiatives are featured in the official 2022 US Open Program.
    • US Open Sustainability Program facts will be highlighted in-stadium.
    • Environmental facts related to the construction of Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand are displayed throughout those areas.
  • US Open Merchandise
    • The US Open Collection will feature for sale a reusable tote made from 80% post-consumer waste.

US Open Raises $1.2 Million For Ukraine Relief Via “Tennis Plays For Peace” Event

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‘Tennis Plays for Peace’ event at the US Open saw the tennis world and New York City band together to help the 2022 US Open surpass $1.2 million raised for Ukraine relief. 

The event featured some of the biggest names in the tennis world, including Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, John McEnroe, Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Leylah Fernandez, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jessica Pegula, Matteo Berrettini, Maria Sakkari, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton. 

Ukraine was strongly represented on court inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, by players Dayana Yastremska, Katarina Zavatska and Daria Snigur and former players Sergiy Stakhovsky and Olga Savchuk. Twelve-year-old Ustyn Chornyy, from the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York, sang the Ukrainian national anthem, and representatives from Manhattan traditional Ukrainian restaurant Veselka also made a special appearance and got to hit with the players.

One-hundred-percent of the ticket revenue from the event was donated to GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, which supports humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled. To learn more or to donate, visit TennisPlaysforPeace.com.

Wednesday’s event was part of the US Open’s tournament-long effort to raise awareness and aid for Ukraine, which will include the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York performing during the Opening Night Ceremonies on August 29.

Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Sebi Korda Highlight U.S. Davis Cup Team For Face Colombia In Reno

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The USTA and United States Davis Cup Captain Mardy Fish today announced that Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Sebastian Korda, Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram will represent the U.S. for its Davis Cup by Rakuten Qualifying tie vs. Colombia March 4-5 in Reno, Nevada.

Davis Cup is the World Cup of Men’s Tennis and is the largest international team competition in world sport, with nearly 150 nations competing each year. The Qualifier vs. Colombia is a best-of-five match series played over two days, beginning with two singles matches on Friday, March 4. A doubles match and two reverse singles matches will follow on Saturday, March 5. The first to win three of those matches will advance to the 2022 Davis Cup Finals – a 16-nation, multi-city competition held later this year with dates and locations to be announced. 

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at usta.com/daviscup or via Ticketmaster.

The U.S. team competing in Reno is full of the sport’s top young rising stars and established Grand Slam champions.

Fritz, 24, is the top-ranked American man at No. 20 and reached the final 16 at the Australian Open this year. The Californian has competed for the U.S. in Davis Cup since 2019, when, at 21 years old, he became the youngest American to debut in the Top 25 since Andy Roddick in 2004.

Paul, 24, is ranked No. 42 and will be making his second Davis Cup appearance. A former junior French Open champion and 2020 Tokyo Olympian, Paul earned his first career win over a Top 5-ranked opponent and won his first ATP singles title in 2021.

Korda, 21, is ranked No. 43 and will be making his Davis Cup debut. A former junior world No. 1 and one of the sport’s top young rising stars, Korda rose from outside the Top 300 to inside the Top 40 in a span of less than two years and won his first ATP singles title in 2021.

Sock, 29, has been ranked as high as No. 2 in doubles and No. 8 in singles and has been playing Davis Cup since 2015. A three-time Grand Slam doubles champion and 2016 Rio Olympic men’s doubles gold medalist, Sock is 9-4 overall in Davis Cup play with a 5-1 mark in doubles.

Ram, 37, is ranked a career-high No. 4 in doubles and is making his second consecutive Davis Cup appearance. A two-time U.S. Olympian and 2016 Rio silver medalist in mixed doubles, Ram won his second Grand Slam and third ATP Masters 1000 doubles titles last summer at the US Open and Toronto, respectively, and owns 22 career ATP doubles titles.

This is the first time Davis Cup has been played in Northern Nevada. Davis Cup has only come to Nevada once before, a 1995 matchup between the U.S. and Sweden at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas that the U.S. won en route to winning the title that year. The United States owns an all-time record of 114-19 when playing at home and last won the title in 2007.

The U.S. and Colombia have split their four Davis Cup meetings, with the Colombians winning the latest matchup in the group stages of the 2021 Finals last fall in Turin, Italy.

Deloitte is the official sponsor of the U.S. Davis Cup Team. Wilson is the official ball of the U.S. Davis Cup Team.

For more information, including access to player and historical records, visit www.usta.com/daviscup or www.daviscup.com.

Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz

“Pioneers of the Game” Book By Marshall Happer Documents History of Men’s Pro Tennis Administration

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“Pioneers of the Game: The Evolution of Men’s Professional Tennis,” the comprehensive tennis history book written by Marshall Happer, is now available for sale.

The book is the culmination of many years of research and work from Happer, who was the first and only “commissioner” of men’s professional tennis as the head of the Men’s Tennis Council, the first and last unified governing body of men’s tennis from 1974-1989.

“Pioneers of the Game” documents the saga and history of the inside struggles and conflicts of a surprisingly small group of international visionaries and activists who shaped the business, administration, and governance of men’s professional tennis from 1919 to 1990 and beyond. The book details the pioneer’s 40-year competition between amateur and professional tennis which eventually forced the approval of Open Tennis in 1968, followed by the creation and development of the business, administration, and governance of men’s tennis as a professional sport between 1968 and1990 and beyond, with the divided governance and the advent of the ATP Tour.

This historical volume profiles, honors, and ranks these administrative legends which include Jack Kramer, Phillippe Chatrier, Lamar Hunt, Herman David, Derek Hardwick, Robert Kelleher, Donald Dell, Mike Davies, Stan Malless, Tony Trabert, Arthur Ashe, and Cliff Drysdale, among others.

“I am proud that I had the opportunity to meet and work for and with many of the Pioneers of the Game,” said Happer. “I wish I had known all of this history when I was privileged to be involved in men’s professional tennis.”

Steve Flink, the Hall of Fame tennis writer and historian, contributed the Foreword to the book, writing, “In this compelling and immensely significant book,  Marshall Happer—a central figure in the evolution of pro tennis and one of its most crucial citizens— writes the definitive historical account of how (men’s pro tennis) all transpired, of those who contributed most mightily to the growth and wellbeing of the sport, of why the many challenges confronted by the those in and around the establishment were ultimately successful in their quest to turn the men’s game into a place of growing prominence along the landscape of sports.”

The book, which has suffered through some supply chain delays but be ordered now here XXXX via Amazon.com, has also already captured the attention of some of biggest names from the board rooms to the courts over the last 50 years.

Said five-time U.S. Open champion Jimmy Connors, “This is about the development of men’s tennis from the beginning. The Pioneers molded the game, but did those involved have their own agendas? Marshall Happer had to deal with all the ‘players’ – those on the court and those behind the scenes. This is a story that needs to be told – to understand how tennis has gotten to where it is now. Many questions will be answered, and maybe, just maybe, a few more will be asked.”

Said three-time U.S. Open champion Ivan Lendl, “I was opposed to many of the rules that Marshall held us to and we fought all the time, but looking back he had an impossible job which he tried to manage in the fairest way possible.”

Said Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia and the tournament director of the Australian Open, “Success is optimised by having respect and a better understanding of the past. Marshall’s book will help everyone in tennis reflect and gain greater knowledge of what came before them.”

Said Cliff Drysdale, the first President of the ATP, “There were so many moving parts to this interesting story. At that time tennis organizations and players in this drama were staking their claim to a place at the table.  Marshall Happer was in the right place then, and he led the game thru its formative stage when there was no clear end in sight. He steered the discussion forcefully but gently through those turbulent times. Indeed, for a long while he was the lead pioneer. Marshall has done diligent research so this book is a definitive historical account. It is a great trip down memory lane and a fascinating tale of the birth of pro tennis.”

Said Miami Open Founder and Former ATP Executive Director Butch Buchholz, “Men’s professional tennis today owes a huge thank you to Marshall Happer who was the Administrator for the Men’s Tennis Council, the first and only unified governing body for men’s professional tennis. Professional tennis needed someone with Marshall’s passion for tennis and legal background to build the foundation for the sport we enjoy today.”

Said long-time Indian Wells tournament owner and tournament director Charlie Pasarell, “As a founding member of the ATP and later a member of the Men’s Tennis Council representing the North American Tournaments, I had the privilege of spending many hours in meeting rooms with Marshall….Much of the success that Tennis has achieved is due to some sound fundamentals that were established under Marshall’s leadership then. This book tells the accurate historical story of that period. It is a must read for Tennis fans, and should be mandatory reading for all players, tournament directors and tennis officials.”

Said Micky Den Tuinder Lawler, President of the WTA, “Pioneers of the Game provides the reader with a unique and inside personal insight into the fascinating world of tennis. This game is as competitive and intense behind the scenes as it is on the court.  The thick plots that evolved on the international stage rival any adventure in Ian Fleming’s James Bond series.”

Said Tennis Channel President Ken Solomon, “Marshall Happer has written the definitive history of one of the most unlikely and least understood origin stories of any major sport, chronicling the tumultuous 40 year birth of men’s, and eventually all, professional tennis. Commissioner Happer’s meticulous, fascinating and thoroughly entertaining narrative has never before been told, and is a must read for any tennis fan or player seeking the unique origins of the professional game.”

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “Juan Martin del Potro: The Gentle Giant” by Sebastian Torok, “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All-Time” and “Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited” by Steve Flink, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “The Pros: The Forgotten Era Of Tennis” by Peter Underwood, “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was” by Sidney Wood, “Titanic: The Tennis Story” by Lindsay Gibbs, “Macci Magic: Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others” by Rick Macci with Jim Martz, “The Secrets of Spanish Tennis” by Chris Lewit, “Andy Murray, Wimbledon Champion: The Full Extraordinary Story” by Mark Hodgkinson, “Cattle To Courts: A History of Tennis In Texas” by Ken McAllister, “Sport of a Lifetime: Enduring Personal Stories From Tennis” by Judy Aydelott, “Trojan Tennis: A History of the Storied Men’s Tennis Program at the University of Southern California” by S. Mark Young, “Absolute Tennis: The Best And Next Way To Play The Game” by Marty Smith, “How To Permanently Erase Negative Self Talk So You Can Be Extraordinary” by Emily Filloramo, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf, “Your Playbook For Beating Depression: Essential Strategies For Managing and Living with Depression” by Cliff Richey and Mary Garrison, “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer, “The Days of Roger Federer” by Randy Walker, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker, “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Court Confidential: Inside The World Of Tennis” by Neil Harman, “A Backhanded Gift” by Marshall Jon Fisher, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “Internet Dating 101: It’s Complicated, But It Doesn’t Have To Be” by Laura Schreffler, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “Bone Appetit: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Suzan Anson, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According to Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin among others.

2021 U.S. Open Completes “Greatest Return”

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Following a 2020 US Open that was contested without spectators for the first time, the 2021 US Open welcomed back fans and all competitions for an event that lived up to its billing of the ‘Greatest Return,’ on the court and off.

Among the highlights from the 2021 US Open:

On-the-Court
• Two new MAJOR singles champions were crowned in 25-year old Daniil Medvedev (RUS) and 18-year old Emma Raducanu (GBR). Raducanu defeated 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez (CAN) in the first all-teenage US Open women’s final since 1999 to become the youngest US Open women’s singles champion since Serena Williams that year. Medvedev defeated Novak Djokovic (SRB), who was bidding to win the first ‘Calendar Grand Slam’ since 1969.
• Led by Raducanu and Fernandez, teenagers took the US Open by storm, including 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who became the youngest man to reach the US Open quarterfinals in the Open Era. Further, 17-year-old American Robin Montgomery won the girls’ junior singles and doubles titles, the first American to accomplish that since Lindsay Davenport in 1992.
• Dylan Alcott (AUS) and Diede de Groot (NED) each completed the ‘Golden Slam’ in wheelchair tennis, having won their respective events – Alcott in quad singles and de Groot in women’s singles – in all four majors and the Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, the British wheelchair men’s doubles team of Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett became the first team to win the Calendar Grand Slam in wheelchair men’s doubles.
• Marking one of the most competitive tournaments in history, 36 five-set matches were played – the most ever at a US Open.

Attendance
• Total attendance for the 2021 US Open was 631,134 – 85 percent of 2019’s record-setting attendance of 737,919.

Digital and Social
• The US Open’s social media channels set a record with over 500 million total interactions and video views, while the US Open’s Instagram account surpassed 2 million followers.
• Nearly 9 million (8.9 million) unique devices visited USOpen.org and the US Open App over the two weeks, while total traffic to USOpen.org was up by 1 percent over 2019.
Food and Beverage
• 189,942 signature Honey Deuce drinks were sold throughout the two weeks of the main draw.


Celebrities
• The tournament opened and closed in star-studded fashion, beginning with the USTA Foundation’s Opening Night Gala, which raised a record $2 million amid the likes of Alec Baldwin, Vera Wang, Daymond John and Lindsey Vonn.
• Meanwhile, Sunday’s men’s final featured a celebrity lineup befitting a Gala event, featuring Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper, Kate Hudson, Lupita Nyong’o, Gayle King, Rosario Dawson, Spike Lee, Frank Ocean, Jon Hamm, James Corden, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Rami Malek, Claire Danes, Megan Rapinoe, Maria Sharapova, Diane von Furstenburg, Sharon Stone, John Krasinski, Rosario Dawson and Jamie Foxx, among many others.

US Open 2021
US Open 2021

U.S. Davis Cup Captain, Olympic Silver Medalist Mardy Fish May Have A Court Named After Him In Hometown Of Vero Beach, Florida

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There is Arthur Ashe Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, but how about Mardy Fish Court?

It may happen in Vero Beach, Florida, the hometown of the U.S. Davis Cup captain and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Mardy Fish.

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the charitable organization founded by Fish in 2007, has been in discussions with the City of Vero Beach and the U.S. Tennis Association about refurbishing the town’s Riverside Tennis Complex in its harbor-side location on its central beach island area into a new state-of-the-art tennis complex that would rival many of the nation’s top tennis facilities. The facility would serve as a hub not only for all the local resident tennis players but also for many Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation funded youth programs, as well as junior and adult tournaments, special population programming such as Special Olympics, Wheelchair Tennis, Love Serving Autism as well a potential professional events on an intimate Mardy Fish Court. The Mardy Fish Court would be a beautifully landscaped natural Amphitheatre that would be located on the exact court where a young Fish first learned to play tennis with his father Tom and first dreamed of one day playing at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.

“Riverside Park is where it all started for Mardy and him starting to love the game of tennis, hitting balls with me on that court in the northeast corner of the facility,” said Tom Fish, Mardy’s father and the President Emeritus of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “We look forward to hosting many young people in Vero Beach to Riverside Park where they can be inspired by the dreams and successes of Mardy and realize their own hopes and dreams while able to gain important exercise in a safe and healthy environment.”

The USTA worked with the Fish Foundation with a site plan, rendering and business plans for the facility’s operation. It also promised to help fund the project via special grants, but also via special presentation to mega donors during the U.S. Open. However, progress on the project went on a standstill with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the USTA’s finances taking a major hit with a fan-less U.S. Open last year, significantly cutting into its revenue that is used to annually fun tennis in the United States, including projects such as this effort for the Fish Foundation. However, as the country starts to slowly emerge from the pandemic, the Foundation has started to revamp its efforts, including fundraising, to revitalize the facility and increase programming.

“We also see this as being a beatification project,” said Lynn Southerly, executive director of the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation. “Improving the courts and surrounding buildings and land would make it as pleasant to look at as our art museum and the Riverside Theatre. It would enhance the couple block area of our charming sea-side town for all our residents to enjoy. A beautiful-looking tennis facility would be a real feather in the cap for our Vero Beach community.  A facility of this stature improves our ability to serve our youth and community at large, gives us a place to hold income generating events that would benefit all our residents and local business owners and honor Mardy Fish, one of our great homegrown heroes and role models.”

The Riverside Tennis Complex is also the hub of the newly-created Treasure Coast Tennis Association, founded by former Baylor University women’s tennis coach Tim Palmer. The TCTA in conjunction with the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation completed a wildly-successful free program for Vero Beach children called “Whack-It Wednesday” in the fall of 2020, introducing kids to the sports of tennis and providing them important recreation and exercise. The holiday surge in COVID-19 cases prevented the program from immediately continuing in early 2021, but the program will return this summer. Palmer also has had deep discussions with the USTA Florida office in Orlando about bringing Love Serving Autism and Wheelchair Tennis programming to Riverside Park starting this summer.

Randy Walker, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation’s tournament director for its annual USTA pro circuit event, plans to start to hosting competitive tournaments for juniors and pros this summer and believes that a refurbished hard court facility would be able to host pro tournament, exhibitions and practice and training events for top pros, especially since Florida’s two biggest pro events, the ATP Tour’s Delray Beach Open and the ATP and WTA Tour’s Miami Open, are both played on hard courts. Current top pros Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia and Alexander Zverev of Germany have both recently considered hard-court training in Vero Beach.

The annual Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships ITF World Tennis Tour event brings in an estimated $500,000 in economic impact annually into the Vero Beach community.

Vero Beach is regarded as one of the most enthusiastic tennis communities in the country. It is also the home of Hall of Fame legend Ivan Lendl and former French Open runner-up and top 10 star Mikael Pernfors.

Riverside Park is also the home of the boys and girls tennis teams at St. Edwards School. Walker has made inquiries already received initial interest from a few college programs about playing special dual matches at Riverside Park on the six courts on the west side of the footprint.

Riverside Park Tennis Court Refurbishment Plan In Vero Beach, Florida
Riverside Park Tennis Court Refurbishment Plan In Vero Beach, Florida, courtesy of the U.S. Tennis Association

World’s Best “Wild Card” Event Set For Sea Oaks Club In Vero Beach, Florida

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The Sea Oaks Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida will once again host a main draw singles wild card tournament for the The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour event, Wednesday February 26 to Friday, February 28.

Players from around the world will compete in the event where the winner will receive a direct entry into the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships, the $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour event to be held April 26-May 3 at The Boulevard tennis club. This marks the third straight year that Sea Oaks has hosted this special wild card tournament. The last two years, Matthew Segura, the teenage great nephew of Hall of Fame tennis legend Pancho Segura, has won the event. Christian Vinck, a former standout ATP player from Germany who reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2000 and who defeated Andre Agassi in the final of the 1997 USTA Las Vegas Challenger, has already committed to play in the 2020 event. With crowds of hundreds of fans daily, the event has been dubbed “The Greatest Wild Card Tournament In The World” – at least on the ITF World Tennis Tour and U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit.

Players can enter the event on the UTR platform here: https://myutr.com/events/15462?_ref=randywal270 (Deadline to enter is February 20) Matches will be best-of-three set matches with a 10-point Match Tiebreaker played in lieu of a third set. Admission to this event is free.

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships is the USTA’s $15,000 ITF World Tennis Tour tournament played in Vero Beach since 1995 and is regarded as one of the best entry-level professional tennis tournaments in the world. Proceeds from the event benefit the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation, the non-profit tennis foundation benefiting at-risk children, named for Vero Beach native son Mardy Fish, the former top 10 tennis star and the current U.S. Davis Cup captain.

Tournament tickets and sponsorships for the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships are now on sale and can be purchased at www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org  Tickets for the April 26-May 3 are $20, with “night session” tickets starting at 5 pm from April 27 – May 2 costing $10. Season tickets for every session of the event are $100. Admission for children 18 and under is free. Fans can follow news and developments on the tournament on Facebook and on Twitter at @VeroFutures. Detailed sponsorship information can be obtained by emailing Tom Fish at Ttfish10s@aol.com, Randy Walker at RWalker@NewChapterMedia.com or Lynn Southerly at LSouth1072@aol.com. Approximately 3,000 fans annually attend the event, which is seen as one of the best-attended entry-level professional events in the world.

Founded in 2007, the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation (www.MardyFishChildrensFoundation.com) currently supports over 2,400 children in conjunction with several other nonprofit organization as well as 15 elementary schools and six middle schools in Indian River County, Florida by funding after-school exercise, nutritional and enrichment programs in a safe environment to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives. The Foundation introduced the “Six Healthy Habits” in 2012 which are Get Sleep; Drink Water; Exercise Daily, Eat Healthy; Brush and Floss; Make Friends. The Foundation’s story can also be seen in a video here: https://www.mardyfishchildrensfoundation.org/a-message-from-mardy/ 

Some of the past competitors at the USTA Vero Beach Futures have gone on to succeed at the highest levels of professional tennis, winning major singles and doubles titles, Olympic medals and Davis Cup championships and earning No. 1 world rankings. Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion who attained the world No. 1 ranking and helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 2007, competed in Vero Beach in 1999. Thomas Johansson of Sweden, who reached the second round of the Vero Beach Futures in 1995, won the Australian Open seven years later in 2002. Nicolas Massu, the 1998 singles runner-up in Vero Beach, won the singles and doubles gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, beating Fish in the gold medal singles match. Kyle Edmund, the 2013 champion in Vero Beach, helped Great Britain to the Davis Cup title in 2015. Other notable former competitors in Vero Beach include former world No. 2 Magnus Norman, former world No. 4 Tim Henman, 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and most recently world No. 50 player and teen sensation Denis Shapovalov, who played in Vero Beach in 2016. Former Vero Beach competitors have combined to win 19 titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles at Grand Slam tournaments. Seven former Vero Beach players have gone on to play Davis Cup for the United States – Roddick, Fish, Taylor Dent, Jared Palmer, Donald Young, Ryan Harrison and Frances Tiafoe.

Sea Oaks Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida
Sea Oaks Tennis Club in Vero Beach, Florida

Aussie Open Star Kenin Joins Serena Williams, Coco Gauff on U.S. Fed Cup Team

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The USTA and United States Fed Cup Captain Kathy Rinaldi today announced that 23-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 9 Serena Williams, No. 15 Sofia Kenin, No. 19 Alison Riske, No. 67 Coco Gauff and former doubles No. 1 Bethanie Mattek-Sands will represent the U.S. in its Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifying tie vs. Latvia February 7-8 at Angel Of The Winds Arena in Everett, Wash.

World No. 33 Anasasija Sevastova, No. 45 and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, No. 263 Diana Marcinkevica and No. 492 Daniela Vismane will represent Latvia for Captain Adrians Zguns in the best-of-five match series, which will be played on a hard court inside Angel Of The Winds Arena.

Play will begin at 7:30 p.m. local time (10:30 p.m. ET) on Friday and 3:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday. Friday’s two singles matches will pit each country’s No. 1 player against the other’s No. 2. Saturday will feature the two reverse singles matches – No. 1 vs. No. 1; No. 2 vs. No. 2 – followed by a possible fifth-and-decisive doubles match. A revised schedule for Saturday may take place if a team clinches in the third or fourth match.

The matchups and order of play for the weekend’s matches will be determined at the official draw ceremony, which will be held at noon local time on Thursday, February 6, at Angel Of The Winds Arena. Team captains may substitute up to two of their nominated players prior to Thursday’s draw.

Tickets are available at USTA.com/fedcup. Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage nationally in the U.S.

The winner of this matchup advances to the 2020 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals April 14-19 in Budapest, Hungary – a new format for the Finals similar to the World Cup in which 12 nations converge on one venue to compete for the title.

The USTA has partnered with local sponsors Amazon Prime Video, Funko and Avis. Fed Cup events have had demonstrative effects on the local communities they’ve visited in recent years. The U.S. hosted Fed Cup in Asheville, N.C., in 2018, an event that generated nearly $5 million in economic impact for the region and prompted Asheville to host Fed Cup again in 2019. San Antonio hosted a Fed Cup tie in April 2019, with an estimated economic impact of $3.5 million.

Williams, 38, last played Fed Cup in February 2018 in her competitive return to tennis following the birth of her daughter. She’s 13-0 in singles and 3-2 in doubles over 10 Fed Cup ties played since 1999, when she and sister Venus were a part of the Americans’ Fed Cup title-winning team. Williams won her 73rd career WTA singles title recently in Auckland, New Zealand.

Kenin, 21, is ranked No. 15 and has reached the Australian Open semifinals in Melbourne this week. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 12 in 2019, a breakout year in which she won three WTA titles and led the WTA in hard-court match wins (38).

Riske, 29, is ranked No. 19 and reached the 2019 Wimbledon quarterfinals, defeating world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the process. Riske finished 2019 ranked No. 18 in the world after beginning it ranked 63rd.

Gauff, 15, is ranked 67th but is projected to rise into the Top 50 after her run to the fourth round of the Australian Open, where she defeated defending champion Naomi Osaka. The youngest player in the Top 100 by nearly three years, Gauff made her splash debut on tour in 2019, becoming the youngest player to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon since Jennifer Capriati in 1991. She would be the second-youngest American Fed Cup representative ever, after Capriati.

Mattek-Sands, 34, is a five-time women’s doubles and four-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion. She’s currently ranked No. 23 in the world in doubles and won her 27th career WTA doubles title in with Kenin in Beijing last year. Mattek-Sands is 7-1 in Fed Cup doubles over 10 ties played for the U.S. since making her debut in 2009.

Fed Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with approximately 100 nations taking part each year. The U.S. holds an overall 152-38 record in Fed Cup competition with a 42-7 record in home ties. For more information, including access to player and historical Fed Cup records, please go to www.usta.com/fedcup or www.fedcup.com.

Keep up with Team USA using hashtag #TeamUSATennis on Facebook (@USTA), on Twitter (@USTA), and on Instagram (@USTA). Wilson is the official ball of the U.S. Fed Cup team. Deloitte is the official team sponsor of the U.S. Fed Cup Team.

Sofia Kenin
Sofia Kenin