Institutional capital and celebrity-backed ownership continue to shape the next phase of racquet sports growth. The Pro Padel League (PPL) has secured a $15 million Series A round. Shep Rose has joined INTENNSE as a Pulse Partner, reflecting a parallel trend of personality-driven ownership and brand-building in emerging league formats. Plus the latest in Pickleball Footwear.

This Week’s RADL Wire:

• Investment Rounds

• Pickleball Footwear

• How much for Boris Becker’s 1989 U.S. Open Men’s Singles trophy?

INVESTMENTS

Pro Padel League Secures $15M Series A as Institutional Capital Targets Padel’s U.S. Breakout

The professionalization of padel in North America continues to accelerate, with the Pro Padel League (PPL) announcing a $15 million Series A funding round led by Rick Schnall—a move that signals growing institutional confidence in the sport’s commercial trajectory. The investment, which follows a $10 million seed round in 2025, positions the PPL to scale beyond its current 10-team footprint across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Capital will be deployed across three critical areas: league infrastructure, player development pipelines, and an expanded event calendar designed to elevate padel as a spectator product in North America.

Shep Rose, Southern Charm Star and Lifelong Tennis Enthusiast, Joins INTENNSETM Team Ownership Group as Pulse Partner for 2026 Season

INTENNSE™, the revolutionary professional tennis league redefining the sport with its fast-paced, team-based format, today announced that William Shepard “Shep” Rose III, star of Bravo’s Southern Charm and a lifelong tennis enthusiast, has joined the league as a Pulse Partner ahead of the 2026 season. As a Pulse Partner, Rose will serve in an advisory and ambassadorial role for an INTENNSE team, helping shape its identity, branding, and fan engagement while supporting league-wide marketing initiatives. He will collaborate with league leadership on community-facing events, work with his team’s coach and front office to bring the INTENNSE format to life, and leverage his platform to spotlight the league’s unique blend of competitive intensity and social energy.

Orlin & Cohen Named Official Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Partner of the Picklr Centereach

The Picklr Centereach, Long Island’s premier indoor pickleball club, today announced a strategic partnership with Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group, naming the practice the Official Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Partner of the club. The partnership brings together two community‑focused organizations committed to health and wellness, to offer a new level of care for Picklr members. Through this partnership, Picklr members receive access to an exclusive concierge program at all 18 Orlin & Cohen Long Island locations.  The service offers priority scheduling and personalized orthopedic and sports medicine support from Long Island’s largest and most experienced teams of board‑certified, fellowship‑trained specialists.

FOOTWEAR

Selkirk Sport launches Legacy Pro Footwear Line, merging high-performance court engineering with off-court style

Selkirk Sport is expanding footwear lines with the launch of its Legacy Pro and Legacy Classic, signaling a strategic move into the growing intersection of performance gear and lifestyle apparel. Positioned to meet evolving consumer behavior, the new line targets players seeking on-court performance with off-court versatility, blending technical features—such as the InfiniGrip™ outsole, EVA PureFoam™ midsole, and ergonomic heel stabilization—with a clean, vintage-inspired aesthetic.
The Legacy Pro ($158) is built for competitive play with breathable mesh and enhanced support, while the Legacy Classic ($138) offers a minimalist, limited-edition design aimed at “court-to-café” wear.

SQAIRZ Pickleball Becomes the First Shoe Approved by Medicare

SQAIRZ, the performance footwear company revolutionizing how athletes connect with the ground to optimize their performance, announced today that its XRZ™ Pickleball Shoe has officially been approved by Medicare for reimbursement, marking the first time in history a pickleball shoe has earned that distinction.

MISCELLANEOUS

Becker’s 1989 U.S. Open Trophy Heads to Auction, Highlighting Tennis Memorabilia Market

A defining piece of tennis history is set to hit the auction block, as Boris Becker’s 1989 U.S. Open Men’s Singles trophy is expected to draw bids exceeding $350,000—surpassing the $300,000 prize money he earned for the victory itself. Becker’s four-set win over Ivan Lendl (7–6, 1–6, 6–3, 7–6) marked his only title at US Open Tennis Championships and his fourth Grand Slam overall, cementing a pivotal moment in his career. Now, that moment is being brought back into the spotlight by Prestige Memorabilia, which is auctioning what is believed to be the only U.S. Open Men’s Singles champion trophy from the Open Era ever made available to the public.
The 14-inch sterling silver trophy, crafted by Tiffany & Co., underscores both the prestige of the championship and the growing value of elite tennis artifacts. Its anticipated sale reflects increasing collector demand for historically significant pieces tied to defining moments in the sport—particularly those with direct provenance to Grand Slam champions.

Inside the Build: Nordicdots Pulls Back the Curtain on Racket Craftsmanship

Curious what really goes into a high-performance tennis frame? Nordicdots offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look — detailing how its rackets are designed from the ground up, individually measured, and precision-matched before they ever reach a player’s hand.

From in-house R&D and proprietary component design to meticulous spec validation using calibrated measurement systems, the process emphasizes tight tolerances, consistency, and player-specific selection—a level of detail more commonly associated with pro-level customization. The result: a boutique manufacturing approach that prioritizes quality control over mass production, reinforcing the growing demand for equipment that delivers both performance precision and brand authenticity. WATCH