The competitive calendar across racquet sports continues to accelerate as organizations expand pathways, partnerships, and leadership investments shaping the season ahead. Heritage tennis brand BOAST strengthens its athlete portfolio with the signing of American standout J.J. Wolf. Off the court, governance and ecosystem growth remain in focus as the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation welcomes legal executive Tonya M. Esposito to its board, and UTR Sports broadens its player value proposition through a new global travel benefits partnership—highlighting how performance, lifestyle, and infrastructure initiatives are converging to drive momentum across the racquet sports industry.

This Week’s RADL Wire:

• BOAST signs J.J. Wolf

• Tournament Pathways

• Industry News

APPAREL

Boast Signs American Tennis Player, JJ Wolf

BOAST proudly announces the signing of American tennis standout JJ Wolf. The partnership marks an exciting newchapter for both Wolf and BOAST, uniting one of the sport’s most dynamic competitors with a brand defined by its rich tennis heritage, premium design, and unmistakable American attitude.

Wolf represents the spirit of Americana. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, he rose through the ranks as an Ohio State Buckeye, earning Big Ten Tennis Athlete of the Year honors in 2019 – the same year he turned professional. In February2023, Wolf reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 39, placing him among the world’s elite. His ascent was punctuated by a breakthrough run at the 2023 Australian Open, where he advanced to the fourth round, defeatingmultiple seeded players and announcing himself on one of tennis’s biggest stages.

As part of the partnership, Wolf will wear BOAST apparel during tournaments and training, and collaborate with the brand on future storytelling, content, and special initiatives.

TOURNAMENT PATHWAYS

Applications open for the 2026 Selkirk Sparta Combine

As more athletes chase the podium, the landscape of professional pickleball is shifting. Selkirk is doubling down on supporting the future of the sport by officially opening applications for the 2026 Spring Selkirk Sparta Combine, the sport’s premier talent-identification initiative. The Combine is a professional bridge designed to transition emerging elite players into the next generation of dominant professional athletes. The Sparta Program is an incubator for talent. Its mission is to scout and develop the next breakthrough stars of pickleball through data-driven performance testing and professional mentorship. Rather than focusing solely on current rankings, Selkirk is scouting the players who will dominate upcoming seasons. Athletes who earn a Sparta Pro contract receive comprehensive support.

Golden Ticket Tournaments Set the Stage for Road to USA Pickleball National Championships

USA Pickleball is officially launching the competitive pathway toward the 2026 USA Pickleball National Championships, with its Golden Ticket Tournament Series serving as the only guaranteed qualification route for amateur players seeking priority entry into the sport’s premier national event.

Golden Ticket Tournaments — operated by USA Pickleball in partnership with the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) — award gold medalists a coveted “Golden Ticket,” granting priority registration access to Nationals, widely recognized as pickleball’s longest-standing and only official National Championship.

INDUSTRY NEWS

USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation Adds Legal Leader Tonya M. Esposito to Board

The USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation has strengthened its leadership ranks with the appointment of veteran attorney Tonya M. Esposito as an at-large member of its Board of Directors, signaling continued investment in governance, community growth, and long-term accessibility initiatives across one of the nation’s most active tennis regions.

UTR Sports Expands Membership Value With Global Travel Benefits Partnership

UTR Sports is extending its platform beyond performance analytics with a new multi-year collaboration with travel technology company Hotel Planner, adding global travel benefits to its Annual Power Membership. The move reflects a broader shift in racquet sports toward bundled lifestyle and travel services that support increasingly mobile players, coaches, and families. Under the recently announced agreement, Hotel Planner becomes the Official Accommodations Partner of UTR Sports.

Career and Life Design Lab Feature Spotlights South Asian Tennis Legacy and Future Talent Pipeline

A new longform feature highlighting the legacy of South Asian tennis pioneers is drawing global attention to the intersection of sport, leadership, and social impact — and reinforcing how storytelling and technology are emerging as tools for expanding racquet sports participation worldwide.

Published by The Global South Asia Times, the feature “From Pakistan’s Courts to Global Tennis History” examines the careers and cultural influence of Pakistani tennis trailblazer Haroon Rahim, ATP doubles star and humanitarian Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, and athlete-turned-entrepreneur Hassan Akmal, founder of the Career and Life Design Lab and Career and Life Design AI platform.