Crushing Points

Welcome to RADL Wire: This week, we celebrate legacy and innovation across the racquet sports world. HEAD honors Arthur Ashe with a stunning 2025 Legacy Edition collection, while Flexjet signs on as an official sponsor for the Laver Cup 2025 in San Francisco. The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games welcomes Target as its Platinum Partner and Tennis Sponsor, supporting inclusive competition at the national level. Swinton Pickleball brings performance and fashion together in its new “Crushing Points” apparel line. Emirates and the USTA Foundation unveil new community courts in East Palo Alto, and Humana’s new “Invite” campaign spotlights pickleball as a pathway to active aging and community connection.

In today’s edition:

• Flexjet joins Laver Cup 2025

• Swinton Pickleball Launches “Crushing Points” Capsule Collection

• Humana Launches “Invite” Campaign to Inspire Active Aging Through Pickleball

Arthur Ashe 2025 Legacy Edition

As the first Black man to win a Grand Slam singles title, Arthur Ashe didn’t just make history — he reshaped it. From triumphs at the US Open to iconic moments at Wimbledon, his presence on tennis’s grandest stages broke barriers and redefined what was possible.

But Ashe’s influence extended beyond the court. He was instrumental in ushering in a new era of racquet technology, partnering with HEAD to introduce the groundbreaking HEAD Competition racquet — a game-changer in precision, innovation, and performance.

Yet Ashe’s most enduring impact came from his advocacy. He championed civil rights, education, and global health with the same grace and determination he brought to the game.

To honor this extraordinary legacy, HEAD has introduced the Arthur Ashe 2025 Legacy Edition: a limited-release collection featuring a commemorative racquet, a classic carry bag, and a custom cover — a tribute to a legend whose influence continues to inspire. READ HIS STORY

INDUSTRY NEWS

Flexjet joins Laver Cup 2025 as Official Sponsor

Laver Cup announced Flexjet, a global leader in luxury private aviation, as a Global Supplier for Laver Cup 2025, which will be held at Chase Center in San Francisco from September 19-21. Flexjet is a pioneer in personalized and refined fractional private jet travel and joins a roster of prestigious Laver Cup sponsors that are leaders in their categories.

The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Welcomes Target as Platinum Partner and Official Tennis Sponsor

The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games is welcoming Target as a Platinum Partner and the official Tennis sponsor. The partnership represents a significant investment in one of the country’s largest celebrations of ability, unity and achievement – set to bring more than 3,000 athletes, thousands of coaches and volunteers and tens of thousands of fans to the Twin Cities, June 20–26, 2026. As the official Tennis sponsor, Target’s support will help bring together more than 80 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners as they compete in singles, doubles and Unified doubles matches at the Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus.

Swinton Pickleball Launches “Crushing Points” Capsule Collection

“Crushing Points. One Dink at a Time.” SWINTON PICKLEBALL, the lifestyle brand behind the iconic “Kitchen’s Closed™” slogan and some of the most stylish gear in the game, has just launched its latest luxe performance apparel line: The Crushing Points Capsule for men and women. Designed with serious players (and serious style) in mind, the Crushing Points line brings high-performance apparel to the forefront of fashion, offering country clubs and individual players the ultimate single or doubles look.

Imperial Named the Official Headwear Partner of CityPickle

Imperial, the premium headwear brand known for quality, fit, and style, is proud to announce its newest partnership as the Official Headwear Partner of CityPickle, a leading provider of pickleball experiences in urban cities across the U.S. CityPickle has redefined pickleball in New York City and beyond, offering accessible, high-quality courts and experiences in iconic locations including Wollman Rink in Central Park, Hudson Yards, Industry City, and Union Square.

Emirates and USTA Foundation present new tennis courts to the youth of East Palo Alto backed by the airline’s ‘Force For Good’ initiative and funding

Emirates and the United States Tennis Association Foundation joined forces to present brand-new tennis courts to the community of East Palo Alto as part of Emirates’ “Force for Good” court rejuvenation initiative. The world’s largest international airline’s contribution of USD 500,000 supported the construction of one of the six new courts in the California city in addition to funding programmes by East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring (EPATT) to benefit youth in the community. The global airline donated the funds as part of its five-year commitment of USD 2.5 million to support court rejuvenation projects across US cities.

Humana Launches “Invite” Campaign to Inspire Active Aging Through Pickleball and Community Connection

Humana Inc. is expanding its commitment to senior wellness with the launch of Invite, a new campaign designed to encourage older adults of all fitness levels to stay active, connected, and engaged, starting with the fastest-growing sport in America: pickleball. As part of the campaign, Humana debuted a new television spot this week, leading up to the Carvana PPA Tour event in San Clemente, California. The spot is airing on multiple networks.