Racket Sports Briefing No. 40

WORTH A READ

Padel Just Passed 40 Million Players And €9.6 Billion In GDP

FIP’s 2026 report counts 91,000+ courts, about 40 new ones built every day, and 235,000 jobs tied to the sport across 191 countries…  read more.

The ATP Is Putting $350 Million Behind A New Tour Structure

OneVision more than doubles the bonus pool to $50M, adds pensions and a 10th Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia, and could cut doubles’ share of prize money in half… read more.

Pickleball Clubs Are Struggling, And The Chains Keep Opening Them Anyway

The six biggest chains went from 145 to 199 locations this year, while clubs listed for sale are cutting asking prices by 39%… read more.

Two Childhood Friends Built A Pro Paddle Brand On Pace For $31M In Year One

RPM Pickleball, from PPA champ James Ignatowich and former D1 tennis player Marwan Abaza, has sold 115,000+ paddles in 100 countries with zero outside funding… read more.

D.C. Is Getting Its First Dedicated Padel Club, In Anacostia

The Tennis Central team is building three outdoor courts in the Bridge District, with preview events this fall and a full launch in spring 2027… read more.

Alcaraz Has To Choose: Appearance Fees Or The ATP’s Bonus Pool

He reportedly took $1M+ to play Tokyo and skipped Shanghai media in a “mini protest,” and now the ATP wants to pay him more to show up where it says… read more.

What Do Tennis Stars Actually Pay Their Coaches?

Greg Rusedski says $2K to $25K a week plus 5 to 10% of prize money, and the coach can be gone after one bad run… read more.

Aston Martin Is The First F1 Team To Get Into Padel

Its Padeltek racket line drops ahead of the US Grand Prix with a fan event in Austin, and pickleball paddles follow in 2027… read more.

St. Regis Is Putting A Padel Court Behind Its $3M Fort Lauderdale Condos

The residents only Bahia Mar Club pairs one padel court and one tennis court with a courtside gallery and St. Regis service, delivering in 2030… read more.

Opening A Padel Club? Get The Marketing Right Before Day One

The 22’s new course packs 13 modules on PR, paid social, sponsorship and launch events, with lessons from Conquer Padel and Game4Padel operators… read more.

WORTH A LISTEN

Served: Maiden Titles, Djokovic’s Surprise Schedule Change & More

Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim on the ATP’s $350M OneVision Plan