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Racket Sports Weekly

Ian Rapport 32 Episodes Aug 10, 2026

Racket Sports Weekly provides an inside look at the business side of tennis, pickleball, padel, and other racket sports. Each episode features the latest industry news and analysis, along with interviews with entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders shaping the sport. The podcast is aimed at those building brands, working in the industry, or simply passionate about sports.

Episodes

How the International Tennis Hall of Fame Is Evolving for a New Generation | Dan Faber, ITHOF CEO Aug 10, 2026 00:40:00 On this episode of the Racket Sports Weekly podcast, Ian sits down with Dan Faber, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, to discuss the evolution of the Hall of Fame, the impact of Roger Federer’s upcoming induction, and his vision for growing the organization’s reach around the world.The conversation covers:The “Roger effect” and why Federer’s induction sold out in just 90 secondsHow the

Inside the Platform Changing the Mental Side of Tennis | Jaime Sullivan & Alli Barnes of Tennis IQ Jun 8, 2026 00:44:51 On this episode of the Racket Sports Weekly podcast, Ian sits down with Jaime Sullivan and Alli Barnes of Tennis IQ to discuss how their platform is combining technology and mental performance training to reshape tennis development at every level of the sport.The conversation covers:Why the mental side of tennis has historically been overlookedHow Tennis IQ is using AI and personalization to help

How AI is Changing Racket Sports Coaching | Lauren Pedersen, SportAI CEO Jun 1, 2026 00:36:28 AI is rapidly changing the future of racket sports coaching, player development, and performance analysis.This week on the Racket Sports Weekly podcast, Ian Rapport is joined by Lauren Pedersen, co-founder and CEO of SportAI, to discuss the platform uses AI and computer vision to bring real-time coaching, biomechanics analysis, and player feedback to tennis, pickleball, and padel players around th

How Tennis, Pickleball & Padel Thrive Together | Ryan Redondo, CEO of Barnes Tennis Center May 25, 2026 00:47:07 Ryan Redondo has become one of the most influential operators helping shape the future of racket sports in America.The CEO of Barnes Tennis Center and Youth Tennis San Diego sat down with Racket Sports Weekly host Ian Rapport to talk about how he’s transformed Barnes into one of the country’s premier multi-racket sports facilities by bringing tennis, pickleball, and padel together under one ecosys

Is Tennis Ready for Its Topgolf Era? | Tyler Kelly, Tennis Social CEO + Founder May 11, 2026 00:31:49 On this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, Ian sits down with Tennis Social founder and CEO Tyler Kelly to discuss how simulator technology could reshape the future of tennis and racket sports.Tyler shares the story behind Tennis Social, why tennis can be difficult for beginners to pick up, and how gamification could help make the sport more accessible, social and fun.The conversation also covers:Wh

Building LA’s Premier Padel Club | Steve Shpilsky, Los Angeles Padel Club Founder May 4, 2026 00:46:34 In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, Ian sits down with Steve Shpilsky, CEO and founder of Los Angeles Padel Club, to discuss what it takes to build LA’s first premier padel club. Steve shares how his background in hospitality, real estate, and hotel development shaped his vision for a club built around community, player development, networking, and a high-end hospitality experience.The conver

The Original Paddle Sport | Mitch Kutner, International POP Tennis President Apr 27, 2026 00:38:54 POP Tennis has been around for more than a century, but it’s now starting to find real momentum.In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, Ian sits down with Mitch Kutner, President of the International POP Tennis Association, to break down what POP Tennis actually is, why the sport rebranded from paddle tennis, and how it fits into today’s rapidly growing racket sports landscape.They also discuss:T

Inside America’s Racket Club Empire Apr 20, 2026 00:42:27 This week, I sat down with Claude Okin (CEO and founder) and Joe Siegel (SVP and SMD) from SPORTIME, one of the largest racket sports club operators in the country.We go deep into what it actually takes to run a successful racket sports club today with an honest take on the challenges they are facing within the industry.🎾 What we cover:Why racquet sports have shifted from court rentals → programmi

Building the Padel Ecosystem in the U.S. | Racquet 360 CEO Emiliano Abramzon Apr 13, 2026 00:23:50 In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, I sat down with Emiliano Abramzon, co-founder and CEO of Racquet 360, live from RacquetX.We talked about how Racquet 360 is taking a full-ecosystem approach to growing padel in the U.S., from events and clubs to leagues and retail, and why Emiliano believes the biggest opportunity is still ahead.We also got into the bigger picture around racket sports, incl

How Tennis Gear and Brand Storytelling are Evolving | Tim Newcomb, Forbes Contributor Apr 6, 2026 00:36:48 In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, Ian Rapport sits down with tennis journalist Tim Newcomb to discuss the changing world of tennis gear, footwear, apparel, and media.Tim shares how he built his niche covering tennis equipment and sports aesthetics, what brands are standing out right now, why strings are often overlooked, and how tennis products are evolving to match the modern game.They als

How Tennis Australia Is Growing All Racket Sports (Not Fighting Them) | Callum Beale, Head of Game Expansion Mar 30, 2026 00:25:26 In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, host Ian Rapport sits down with Callum Beale, Head of Game Expansion at Tennis Australia, to discuss how one of the sport’s leading governing bodies is embracing the rise of pickleball, padel, and other emerging racket sports.Rather than viewing these sports as competition, Tennis Australia is taking a different approach. It is using them to grow overall pa

Inside TYPTI: Steve Bellamy on Building the Next Big Sport Mar 23, 2026 00:27:04 In this week’s episode of Racket Sports Weekly, host Ian Rapport sits down with Tennis Channel founder and TYPTI creator Steve Bellamy to break down one of the most talked-about new sports in the racket sports industry.After more than 30 years developing the concept, Bellamy officially launched TYPTI, a short-court racket sport blending elements of tennis, badminton, and pickleball. Viral social c

How the APP is Building Pickleball’s Future | Tom Webb, APP CMO Mar 16, 2026 00:42:09 Pickleball’s rapid growth has reshaped the racket sports landscape with the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) at the center of that expansion.In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, host Ian Rapport talks with APP CMO Tom Webb about why pickleball’s growth is unlike any modern sport, and how accessibility, community, and global expansion are reshaping its landscape.Webb discusses:Why storyt

Growing Pickleball in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East | Adel Aref, TOPSERIES Pickleball CEO Mar 9, 2026 00:30:24 Pickleball’s global expansion is accelerating and ⁠TOPSERIES Pickleball⁠ wants to play a major role in shaping what comes next.In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, I sit down with Adel Aref, CEO of TOPSERIES Pickleball, a new premium pro and amateur tour focused on building a structured competitive ecosystem across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.Aref brings a unique background to the role

Inside America’s Premium Padel Club | Santiago Gomez, Founder & CEO of Padel Haus Mar 2, 2026 00:26:29 On this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, we sit down with Santiago Gomez, Founder & CEO of Padel Haus, to talk about how he’s built the leading premium padel club. We discuss:• Why New York was the perfect launch city• The difference between “build it and they’ll come” and real community building• Why some padel clubs won’t survive long-term• Why design, location, and hospitality matter• The i

MGM Slam Player Interviews | Tommy Paul, Casper Ruud, João Fonseca & Lorenzo Musetti Feb 25, 2026 00:12:12 Leading up to the MGM Slam, we caught up with some of the top names in the game for a series of quick conversations.In this episode, hear directly from Tommy Paul, Casper Ruud, João Fonseca, and Lorenzo Musetti as they share their thoughts on the event.These are short interviews from the players, offering a glimpse into how players are thinking about the MGM Slam.The MGM Slam will take place at th

Reimagining Pro Tennis with INTENNSE | Diego Schwartzman Feb 23, 2026 00:12:56 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 oppo

How Padel Is Built, Branded & Scaled in the U.S. | Ben Nichols (Padel 22) Feb 16, 2026 00:35:49 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 audienc

Building the Future of Blind Tennis in the U.S. | USBTA President Interview Feb 9, 2026 00:35:11 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

Rewriting the Pickleball Tournament Playbook with Pickleball Power Play Feb 2, 2026 00:42:11 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 CupPickleball Kingdom’s expansion into the EUThe emergence of AI in fan experience at the 2026 A

Derek Jeter x Padel, New Pickleball Tour + Pura Padel CEO Interview Jan 26, 2026 00:33:26 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

Tommy Paul Interview + This Week’s Biggest Headlines Jan 19, 2026 00:15:05 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 brandThe Pro Padel League makes a big splash with

ESPN Shakeup, Sponsorship Boom & CourtsApp Co-Founder Kate Daggett | Jan 12, 2026 Jan 12, 2026 00:41:42 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 sportsMajor sponsorship deals make splash in pickleball and padel as brands race to capitalize on the sport’

2026 Racket Sports Predictions + Marcos del Pilar, the Godfather of Padel in the USA | Jan 5, 2026 Jan 5, 2026 00:40:58 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

The Tesla Paddle, Osaka Leaves & Interview w/ Volleybird and Ruley | Dec 22, 2025 Dec 22, 2025 00:28:06 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, foun

Ben Shelton Docuseries, Heineken Padel Racket & MGM Slam Returns | Dec 15, 2026 Dec 15, 2025 00:04:34 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 histor

AI Refs in MLP, Racketlon’s Rise & Interview with INTENNSE | Dec 8, 2025 Dec 8, 2025 00:42:02 This week, we break down the biggest stories shaking up the world of tennis, pickleball, padel and more: AI line-calling expands in Major League Pickleball with Owl AI partnership, signaling a major shift in how matches are officiatedRacketlon World Tour Finals spotlight a growing hybrid sport with table tennis, badminton, squash, and tennisPhiladelphia’s new racket-sports facility pushes the spor

Graf Joins Agassi SE • SportAI Raises $3M • Padel Safety Alert (Dec 1, 2025) Dec 1, 2025 00:06:20 This week, we break down the biggest stories shaking up the world of tennis, pickleball, padel and more:• Steffi Graf joins Agassi Sports Entertainment• AI startup SportAI raises $3 million to expand its racket-sports analytics platform• Nick Kyrgios takes an ownership and creative director role• JMTP’s “Hit Around for Opportunity” event supports NYC youth access (donate here)Whether you're a

Racket Sports Ban?! | Beer x Padel Collab | NCAA Tennis Rises Up (Nov 24, 2025) Nov 24, 2025 00:06:29 This week, we break down the biggest stories shaking up the world of tennis, pickleball, padel and more:• NCAA Tennis takes center stage• Are cities really banning pickleball and padel?• Padel has 0.0 reasons for embracing beerWhether you're a player, coach, industry pro, or just racket-sports obsessed, this episode keeps you up to speed on the business, innovation and culture shaping the game.Lis

USTA Coaching, Pickleball in India & Interview w/ John Davey (CEO/Founder of Fast Track Tennis) | EP 3 Nov 17, 2025 00:27:38 This week we break down the USTA’s new coach online learning hub, a major pickleball franchise’s expansion into India, and more (:28-5:58). Then, Fast Track Tennis founder John Davey joins us to discuss how he built a tennis training tool to learn and practice tennis anywhere (5:59-27:00).Subscribe for weekly headlines + industry interviews that go beyond the scores.

AI, Agassi & the Battle of the Sexes | EP 2 Nov 10, 2025 00:06:11 From Agassi’s AI revolution to college padel’s debut and star-studded Battle of the Sexes matchups, this week’s episode breaks down how innovation and entertainment are reshaping racket sports worldwide.Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on each week's headlines!

Investments, Innovations & a $173K Racket | EP 1 Oct 30, 2025 00:08:20 Welcome to Racket Sports Weekly, your inside track on the business of tennis, pickleball, padel and beyond.This week, we dig into the top stories shaping the racket sports industry — from CourtReserve's $54M growth investment to Lucra’s new partnership bringing peer-to-peer wagering to padel, to trends in health concerns and club expansions across the U.S. We’ll break down what these moves mea

Welcome to Racket Sports Weekly Oct 28, 2025 00:00:48 Welcome to Racket Sports Weekly! Introducing the go-to racket sports podcast bringing you industry news and insights, along with conversations with the leaders shaping tennis, pickleball, padel and beyond.

Racket Sports Weekly

Episodes

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