Racket Sports Weekly

Is Tennis Ready for Its Topgolf Era? | Tyler Kelly, Tennis Social CEO + Founder

On this episode of Racket Sports Weekly [racketsportsweekly.com], Ian sits down with Tennis Social [https://tennissocial.ai/] 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: * Why tennis has been slower than golf to adopt simulator technology * The similarities between Tennis Social and the Topgolf model * How simulators can improve training and player development * The role of data, tracking and performance analytics * Why racket sports need new ways to widen the participation funnel * Tennis Social’s upcoming rollout and simulator-based rating system A great conversation on the intersection of technology, entertainment and the future growth of racket sports.

Building LA’s Premier Padel Club | Steve Shpilsky, Los Angeles Padel Club Founder

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, Ian sits down with Steve Shpilsky, CEO and founder of Los Angeles Padel Club [https://www.thelapc.com/], 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 conversation covers: * What it actually takes to build a padel club in LA (permitting, zoning, and unexpected costs) * How LA Padel Club is designed as a hospitality-driven experience, not just courts * Why the biggest opportunity isn’t tennis players—it’s people who’ve never played a racket sport * How partnerships help build the local padel community * Why the industry is still early and who will win as operators, not just builders If you’re interested in what it really takes to build a padel club in a top market, this episode is for you.

The Original Paddle Sport | Mitch Kutner, International POP Tennis President

POP Tennis [https://www.poptennis.com/] has been around for more than a century, but it’s now starting to find real momentum. In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly [racketsportsweekly.com], 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: * The history of POP Tennis and how it dates back to 1898 * Why the name change was critical for growth in the social media era * How partnerships with organizations like Tennis Australia are accelerating global expansion * The role of recreational players in building a sustainable sport * What success looks like for pop tennis over the next 5–10 years If you’re interested in where racket sports are headed beyond just tennis/pickleball/padel, this is a conversation worth listening to.

Inside America’s Racket Club Empire

This week, I sat down with Claude Okin (CEO and founder) and Joe Siegel (SVP and SMD) from SPORTIME [https://sportimeny.com/about], 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 → programming & community * The real challenges facing pickleball clubs right now * Why kids (not adults) are the key to long-term success * How Sportime manages 20+ clubs and 300+ courts * The future of tennis, pickleball, and padel in the U.S. * Inside the growth of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy [https://www.johnmcenroetennisacademy.com/JMTA] and Johnny Mac Tennis Project [https://www.jmtpny.org/] You won't want to miss the part about pickleball. The sport is booming, but the business model is still catching up. If you're building racket sports clubs or just want to understand where the industry is headed, this is a must-listen. 👉 Listen now and follow for weekly insights on the business of racket sports.

Building the Padel Ecosystem in the U.S. | Racquet 360 CEO Emiliano Abramzon

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, including why multi-racquet venues matter, what’s holding padel back in the U.S., and how the industry can grow through collaboration rather than competition. Topics covered: * Emiliano’s background as a serial entrepreneur * Why he made the bet on padel in the U.S. * The rise of RacquetX and how it became a hub for the industry * The thinking behind Racquet 360’s ecosystem strategy * The biggest barriers to U.S. padel growth * Why club community and social connection matter so much Listen now for a smart conversation on where padel is headed and what it will take to unlock bigger growth in the U.S.