Big Bucks In Play

This Week in RADL Wire: From Saudi Arabia to center court, major capital is flowing into racquet sports at unprecedented levels. The Public Investment Fund’s SURJ Sports Investment has partnered with the ATP to launch an all-new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia — marking the first expansion of the elite tournament tier in the ATP Tour’s 35-year history. Meanwhile, Heineken® 0.0 is joining the action, becoming the global beer partner of Premier Padel and tapping into the sport’s social and wellness-driven community. We also take a look at fresh investment rounds in club management technology reshaping facility operations — and in this week’s People Spotlight, we turn to Changing Courts, the new film chronicling Jack Sock’s remarkable transition from tennis stardom to professional pickleball, capturing his resilience, reinvention, and rediscovered love for the game.

• Big Bucks In Play

• People - Federer, Nadal and The Jack Sock

• Kohler Wisconsin, scores The Server, a premier racquet sports facility.

BIG BUCK IN PLAY

PIF’s SURJ Sports Investment Partners With ATP in First Ever Expansion of the Masters 1000 Category in ATP Tour’s 35-year history

SURJ Sports Investment, a PIF company, and ATP announced the launch of an all-new ATP Masters 1000 tournament to be hosted in Saudi Arabia.

In what is the first ever expansion of the tournament category, Saudi Arabia will become the tenth ATP Masters 1000 host, joining the existing nine tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris. The Saudi tournament will begin as early as 2028.

The agreement marks a new era for global tennis and a major sports transformation in Saudi Arabia, bringing the most celebrated names in the sport to the country and delivering an unforgettable experience for fans.

Heineken® 0.0 signs global partnership with Premier Padel, marking its debut in the world’s fastest-growing sport

Heineken® 0.0 announces the expansion of its global sponsorship portfolio with a landmark global partnership with Premier Padel, the leading official professional padel tour worldwide. The partnership will make Heineken® 0.0 the Global Beer Partner for Premier Padel and establish itself in the world’s fastest-growing sport.

Heineken® 0.0, a champion of quality socializing, will celebrate padel’s vibrant social DNA by activating at Premier Padel’s events starting in 2026. With its refreshing taste and accessibility, Heineken® 0.0 is a natural fit for padel’s established social community and appeal to wellness seekers. In fact, more than 70% of padel players say they play for the social experience and often continue to socialize after matches—frequently over a beer—making this partnership a seamless extension of the sport’s culture.  LEARN MORE

PodPlay Technologies Raises $8 Million Series A Led by Frontier Growth to Power the Future of Sports Venues

PodPlay Technologies, Inc., the fast-growing vertical SaaS platform for participatory sports venues, announced its spin-off from PingPod Inc and the close of an $8 million Series A led by Frontier Growth. Frontier partner Dave Pandullo will join PodPlay’s board.

PodPlay combines software, hardware, and automation to help sports clubs run more efficiently and deliver premium player experiences. Its full stack platform integrates reservations, memberships, coaching, events, and payments with proprietary technology for video replays, digital scoreboards, and autonomous access. Clubs using PodPlay have reduced labor costs by up to 66% while unlocking new digital revenue streams and social engagement.

CourtReserve Secures a $54 Million Growth Investment from Mainsail Partners to Accelerate Innovation in Racquet & Paddle Club Software

CourtReserve, a leading club management software platform used by more than 2,000 racquet clubs and paddle sports facilities and five million players, announced that it has secured a $54 million strategic growth investment from Mainsail Partners, a growth equity firm investing in vertical SaaS businesses. The investment will help fuel accelerated product development, enhance customer service and support, deepen integrations, and expand the company’s market reach to sports facilities across North America. LEARN MORE

PEOPLE

The Jack Sock Story

The film chronicles Jack Sock’s evolution from a tennis prodigy and Grand Slam/Olympic champion to his reinvention as a professional pickleball player. But more than that, it tells the story of an athlete rediscovering his passion and chasing redemption in a new sport. Viewers get an unfiltered look at the challenges, pressures, and perseverance behind his quest to reclaim championship glory on the pickleball court. Changing Courts gives fans an intimate look at the man behind the paddle — his drive, humility, and commitment to growing within the sport he’s fallen in love with. WATCH HERE

Roger Federer Foundation Partners with OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation to Bring Vision Care to Thousands of Zambian Schoolchildren

The Roger Federer Foundation and the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation have successfully completed their first joint outreach program in Zambia, bringing free vision care to thousands of schoolchildren. In October, timed to coincide with World Sight Day on 9 October, the initiative provided vision screenings for more than 2,700 learners across community schools in the Mazabuka, Mbala, and Nyimba districts, where the NGOs Reformed Open Community Schools (ROCS) and Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS) are implementing early childhood education initiatives. More than 200 beneficiaries from the schools received prescription eyewear or sunglasses on-site, free of charge.

The WEMP Foundation and Rafa Nadal Foundation are joining together to Support Total Wellbeing of Children and Youth through Play

The WEMP Foundation (WEMP, which stands for “Wellbeing”, “EQ”, “Mental Health”, and “Parenting”) and the Rafal Nadal Foundation (RNF) are delighted to announce their alliance for supporting the total well-being of children and youth around the world through Play. Dr. Adrian Cheng, founder of The WEMP Foundation, and Mr. Rafael Nadal, founding patron of the Rafa Nadal Foundation, co-hosted “The Children Ball — A Night of Hope, Strength and Inspiration”, which was held at Rosewood Hong Kong on 24th October 2025. They are reimagining geographic boundaries in their shared mission of creating an inclusive world for every child and adolescent.

COURTS & CLUBS

Kohler, Wisconsin Resort Announces Additions of Purebred Farm Golf Course, The Serve Racquet Facility, and Carriage House Renovation

Kohler, Wisconsin, the luxury hospitality offering from the globally recognized Kohler Co., continues a multi-year journey in the evolution of the resort with the announcement of the groundbreaking of The Serve, a premier racquet sports facility. The Serve, which broke ground earlier this month. The impressive facility will feature six indoor pickleball courts, two heated outdoor platform tennis courts, and an elevated social lounge. The new venue will host tournaments, lessons, and recreational play for guests of all ages and skill levels. Once open, The Serve will create a vibrant, year-round hub where the community and visitors can gather, compete, and enjoy racquet sports.