In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, we sit down with former World No. 8 Diego Schwartzman to discuss his move into the business side of tennis as a partner in INTENNSE, a new team-based league rethinking how the sport is played and consumed.

We get into why tennis may be due for innovative new approaches, what newer formats can unlock for fans and players, and how INTENNSE is creating new opportunities beyond the traditional ATP pathway.

We also dive into:

• Why shorter, faster-paced formats may be key to engaging the next generation

• The challenges facing players outside the top 200 and how new leagues can help

• How the INTENNSE draft and team model opens new pathways for emerging talent

• Why former players are increasingly stepping into ownership and business roles

If you’re interested in where tennis is headed next, this is a conversation worth listening to.

🎧 Listen now and follow Racket Sports Weekly for more conversations at the intersection of racket sports, business, and innovation.

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, we sit down with Ben Nichols, Founder & CEO of Padel 22, to break down how padel is being built, branded, and taken mainstream in the U.S. and around the world.

Ben shares his journey from Wimbledon, the ATP, and WADA to launching a global PR agency focused entirely on padel.

The conversation covers:

• How padel is being positioned to media and new audiences

• Why the U.S. market is the biggest opportunity

• The role of storytelling in scaling an emerging sport

• What brands need to know before entering padel

If you’re interested in the business of racket sports, this is a must-listen.

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, we sit down with U.S. Blind Tennis Association President Murray Elbourn to explore how blind and low vision tennis is being built in the United States.

A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of tennis, accessibility in sports, and how inclusive models can unlock entirely new communities of players.

The episode also covers this week's headlines that you won't want to miss, including:

- Padel in Pakistan and Indonesia

- Australian Open viewership

- Public school pickleball

- And more!

🎧 Listen now and follow Racket Sports Weekly for weekly coverage of the business, technology, and culture of racket sports.

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Tags: tennis news, pickleball news, padel news, racket sports business

This week on Racket Sports Weekly, we’re joined by Daniel Quinones and Jeff Contreras, co-founders of ⁠Pickleball Power Play to break down their new approach to pickleball tournaments that is catching on across the country (8:45).

In this week’s headlines, we’ll cover:

• The global reach of padel’s Hexagon Cup

• Pickleball Kingdom’s expansion into the EU

• The emergence of AI in fan experience at the 2026 Australian Open

Whether you’re a player, founder, club operator, investor, or industry insider, this episode delivers a front-row seat to the trends shaping the future of tennis, pickleball, padel, and beyond.

🎧 Listen now and follow Racket Sports Weekly for weekly coverage of the business, technology, and culture of racket sports.

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Tags: tennis news, pickleball news, padel news, racket sports business, Infosys, Hexagon Cup, Pickleball Power Play, Australian Open, Pickleball Kingdom

This week on Racket Sports Weekly, we share our biggest news yet with the official launch of racketsportsweekly.com. We’re also joined by Alessandro Bennett, co-founder and CEO of Pura Padel, for an in-depth conversation on building a padel club in Los Angeles and what the sport needs to truly break through in the U.S.

In this episode:

• Alessandro Bennett on opening a padel club in LA, attracting new members, and what padel needs to reach the masses

• AO Ventures invests in Padel Haus, signaling growing institutional interest in padel

• Derek Jeter captains a Reserve Cup team

• A new global pickleball tour is on the horizon

• And more stories driving the money, media, and momentum behind racket sports

Whether you’re a player, founder, club operator, investor, or industry insider, this episode delivers a front-row seat to the trends shaping the future of tennis, pickleball, padel, and beyond.

🎧 Listen now and follow Racket Sports Weekly for weekly coverage of the business, technology, and culture of racket sports.

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Tags: tennis news, pickleball news, padel news, racket sports business, AO Ventures, Derek Jeter, Reserve Cup, Padel Haus, Pura Padel, Australian Open, sports media

This week on Racket Sports Weekly, we have American tennis star Tommy Paul on to talk about the MGM Slam on March 1. We’ll also touch on some of the biggest stories shaping the business of racket sports.

In this episode:

• Tommy Paul joins us to talk about the MGM Slam, how it feels to play his best friend, and what he looks for when partnering with a brand

• The Pro Padel League makes a big splash with a new team minority owner and mega sponsorship deal

• A group of California high schoolers start first HS pickleball league

• And more of the stories driving the money, media, and momentum behind racket sports

Whether you’re a player, founder, club operator, investor, or industry insider, this episode gives you a front-row seat to the trends shaping the future of tennis, pickleball, padel, and more.

🎧 Listen now and follow Racket Sports Weekly for weekly coverage of the business, tech, and culture of racket sports.

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Tags: tennis news, pickleball news, padel news, racket sports, pro padel league, PPL, high school, DUPR, Australian Open, pickleball business, tennis industry, padel industry, sports media, athlete marketing, Tommy Paul

This week on Racket Sports Weekly, we break down the biggest stories shaping the business of racket sports.

In this episode:

• Kate Daggett, Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer of CourtsApp, joins us to explain how her platform is modernizing court booking and club operations across racket sports

• Major sponsorship deals make splash in pickleball and padel as brands race to capitalize on the sport’s explosive growth

• ESPN faces a major shakeup just ahead of the Australian Open

• And more of the stories driving the money, media, and momentum behind racket sports

Whether you’re a player, founder, club operator, investor, or industry insider, this episode gives you a front-row seat to the trends shaping the future of tennis, pickleball, padel, and more.

🎧 Listen now and follow Racket Sports Weekly for weekly coverage of the business, tech, and culture of racket sports.

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Tags: tennis news, pickleball news, padel news, racket sports, sports technology, sports startups, pickleball business, tennis industry, padel industry, CourtsApp, ESPN tennis, sports media, athlete marketing, club management software

This week, we’re breaking down the hottest racket sports business predictions for 2026. Tune in to hear what’s ahead for the rapidly evolving world of tennis, pickleball, padel, and beyond, in addition to where the biggest opportunities are emerging.

We also sit down with award-winning padel leader Marcos del Pilar (8:07) to discuss the current state of padel in the U.S., the sport’s biggest growth opportunities, and what entrepreneurs need to know to succeed in the years ahead. (Be sure to check out his new book, The Secret Code of Padel!)

Whether you’re a player, founder, club operator, investor, or just racket-sports obsessed, this episode keeps you up to speed on the moves, money, and momentum shaping racket sports worldwide.

Listen now and follow for weekly updates.

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Tags: tennis news, pickleball news, padel news, racket sports industry, 2026 predictions, racket sports innovation, sports technology

This week, we break down the biggest stories shaping the business of racket sports:

• Interview with Cassandra Toroian and Tracy Thomas, cofounders of Volleybird and Ruley

• Naomi Osaka makes a surprising move, leaving Evolve

• Racket-sports platform Playtomic raises roughly $6M

• Elon Musk and Tesla jump into pickleball with a limited-edition Selkirk paddle

• And more!

Whether you're a player, founder, club operator, investor, or just racket-sports obsessed, this episode keeps you up to speed on the moves, money, and momentum shaping tennis, pickleball, padel, and other racket sports worldwide.

Listen now and follow for weekly updates.

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Tags: tennis news, pickleball news, padel news, racket sports industry, AI line calling, racket sports innovation, tennis facilities, sports technology

This week, we break down the biggest stories shaping tennis, pickleball, and padel:

• Ben Shelton launches a behind-the-scenes YouTube docuseries
• DUPR takes center stage with two partnerships. One with CourtsApp, a newly launched AI-powered court booking and marketing platform, and another with USA Pickleball
• The MGM Slam announces its elite field for the $1M Las Vegas event
• WTA strikes a historic global partnership with Mercedes-Benz
• Heineken® 0.0 x LÖK debut a padel racket with a built-in bottle opener
• No Strings Padel adds Barry’s executive chairman Joey Gonzalez as advisor

Whether you're a player, coach, club operator, industry exec, or just obsessed with racket sports, this episode keeps you up to speed on the innovation, deals, culture, and tech shaping the game.