RADL Wire Recap - This week, the spotlight shines on both the bright lights of New York and the innovators shaping racquet and paddle sports. With the 2025 U.S. Open around the corner, major brands are rallying behind tennis’s biggest U.S. stage with bold campaigns, experiential activations, and high-profile partnerships. In pickleball, the Hall of Fame reveals its 2025 class, and the Go-No-Go Machine earns official designation from DUPR and other key governing bodies to ensure fair play. On the gear front, Drop Shot launches its customizable Blitz Attack padel racquet, and Paddletek unveils the aggressive new Bantam GTO-C—two equipment releases engineered to give players an unmistakable edge.

In The News:

• Brands rally around the U.S. Open

• Industry News and the 2025 HOF Class

• GEAR: New padel tech

Big Brands Rally Around the U.S. Open

When the world’s eyes turn to Flushing Meadows for the 2025 U.S. Open, it’s not just the players who are competing for attention—big brands are serving up major campaigns, pop-ups, and creative partnerships to capture the energy of one of sport’s most-watched events. From premium wines to iconic Italian aperitifs to a nationwide deodorant casting call, marketers are aligning themselves with tennis’s summer crown jewel to engage consumers both inside and far beyond the gates of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Clos du Bois is leading the charge with a new multi-year deal as the Official Wine of the U.S. Open starting in 2025. As America’s No. 1 Premium Chardonnay, the brand plans to integrate deeply into the tournament experience, offering fans a premium courtside sip while amplifying its reach through billboards, in-store promotions, and a sweepstakes that will send two lucky winners to the 2026 Men’s Finals. The approach blends traditional sports sponsorship with retail-driven visibility, ensuring the partnership resonates long after the last serve.

Meanwhile, Aperol is returning for a third year, painting the tournament orange with a mix of signature cocktails, social moments, and Italian flair. From the Aperol Bar’s breezy indoor-outdoor patio to an authentic Apé Truck near Court 5, the brand is making itself unmissable on-site. Off the grounds, Aperol will pop up at NYC hotspots during tournament week, offering samplings, exclusive discounts, and QR code activations that extend the U.S. Open buzz deep into the city’s social scene.

In a fresher twist on brand engagement, Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant is debuting as the tournament’s Official Underarm Sponsor and launching an unconventional talent search—a nationwide casting call to find its first-ever “Underarm Ambassador.” The winner will step into the spotlight as Dove’s social correspondent for the event, bringing 72-hour sweat protection and skin-care benefits into the conversation while adding a dose of personality to the tournament’s digital storytelling.

These activations underscore the U.S. Open’s unique power as both a global sporting event and a high-profile lifestyle platform. With its blend of athletic excellence, celebrity presence, and New York energy, the tournament offers brands a rare stage to blend product visibility with experiential engagement, turning two weeks of tennis into a multi-channel marketing grand slam.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Pickleball Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Class

The Pickleball Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its 2025 inductees. This year’s class includes competitors Cammy MacGregor and Chris “Mills” Miller, and contributor Melissa McCurley. The group will be officially inducted during an awards banquet in Surprise, Arizona on November 5th and 6th. See this year’s class.

The Go-No-Go (GNG) Machine is Named by DUPR as the Official and Exclusive On-Site Deflection Testing Device

The Go-No-Go (GNG) Machine has been officially named the exclusive on-site paddle deflection testing device for professional and amateur pickleball by three major platforms: Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), the United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A), and Pickleballtournaments .com. This designation marks a pivotal advancement in the sport’s commitment to fair play, competitive integrity, and data-driven growth at the amateur level. DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) will implement the GNG Machine at its top-tier clubs and sanctioned amateur tournaments. 

Newport Pickleball Club Announces Expansion: Outdoor Padel Courts Coming to Newport County in 2026

Newport Pickleball Club (NPC), Rhode Island’s premier indoor pickleball facility, is thrilled to announce its expansion with the development of brand-new outdoor Padel courts, with plans to open in 2026. This next phase will also include an outdoor entertainment area designed to offer guests and members a new experience with live music in a vibrant, open-air setting. Located on the same 2.75-acre campus in Middletown, RI, the new facilities will include the first outdoor Padel courts on Aquidneck Island, reinforcing NPC’s commitment to growing racquet sports and creating a destination for active living and social connection.

BODYWELLE Joins Forces With Sunset Padel for Wellness Meets Performance Event in Miami Beach

BODYWELLE, a modern aesthetic and longevity clinic led by Dr. Alonso Martin, is teaming up with Sunset Padel, an elite indoor padel facility in Miami Beach, for an immersive wellness and performance event designed to introduce the community to a new standard in body care and athletic optimization. The event, titled “Strong Body, Strong Game – BODYWELLE × Sunset Padel,” will take place on Thursday, August 21, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Sunset Padel’s indoor location. 

EQUIPMENT

Drop Shot Unveils the Ultimate Game Changer in Padel Technology: The Blitz Attack Racquet

With padel surging as the fastest growing sport in the U.S., Drop Shot — known for its innovation and high-end equipment for padel, pickleball, and beach tennis — is seizing the moment with the debut of the Blitz Attack Racquet. This customizable, high-performance model delivers unmatched speed, adaptability, and precision. Designed for both seasoned players and weekend warriors, the launch reinforces Drop Shot’s place at the forefront of court sports gear. At the core of this racquet is Drop Shot’s groundbreaking proprietary Smart Balance System — a first-of-its-kind mechanism that allows players to instantly adjust weight distribution on the go, without interruptions.

Paddletek Introduces the Bantam GTO-C

The newest force in the Bantam Carbon Series has arrived—the GTO-C, built for all-court domination. This aggressive, hybrid-shaped paddle is engineered for players who thrive on taking the offensive from anywhere on the court. Its aerodynamic, tapered profile accelerates swing speed while preserving explosive power, delivering the ideal fusion of size, weight, and balance. Choose between 12.7mm and 14.3mm core thicknesses to match your playing style.