INDUSTRY NEWS

Racquet Sports at the PGA Show Expands for 2027 With New Brands, Education and Events

Racquet Sports at the PGA Show returns Jan. 26–29 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando with an expanded 2027 experience for industry professionals, featuring more than 70 participating brands, new networking and product experiences and a new dedicated Racquet Sports Education Program.

Across tennis, pickleball, padel and more, the 2027 event will offer expanded product discovery, dedicated education, live programming, networking and industry events, with additional access to the broader PGA Show.

US Squash and National Squash League Expand Partnership Ahead of LA28

US Squash and the National Squash League (NSL) are deepening their partnership as the professional team league enters its fourth season, with both organizations aiming to broaden squash’s audience ahead of its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Under the expanded agreement, US Squash will recognize the NSL as its official Team Squash League, while the NSL will establish its headquarters at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia. US Squash will also increase promotion of the league across its marketing and media channels, while the NSL will support the governing body’s efforts to grow participation nationwide.

APPAREL & EQUIPMENT

SQAIRZ Adds Black and White Colorways to 2026 XRZ2™ Pickleball Footwear Line

SQAIR announced the addition of two new colorways to its popular 2026 XRZ2™ Pickleball line: Black and White, available beginning today. The new colors are available in both men’s and women’s shoes, joining four other color choices in both lines. The two new looks expand the style choices available to pickleball players while also enabling them to take advantage of the performance benefits of SQAIRZ technology, including a patented roomier toe box that enables toes to spread naturally for improved stability, better balance during lateral movement, and sharper cuts on the court.

JOOLA Bets on Foam Paddle Demand with New POWER FX

JOOLA is making a bigger move into foam paddle construction with the launch of POWER FX, a new $179.95 pickleball paddle designed to bring the increasingly popular material format to a broader segment of players. While POWER FX represents a new commercial offering for the brand, JOOLA says foam itself is not new to its R&D pipeline. According to Director of Product Austin Kim, the company has tested multiple generations of foam-based construction, working to balance the material’s performance advantages against its potential drawbacks. The company is positioning POWER FX as the point at which those efforts produced the combination of power and feel it was seeking.

PEOPLE

Fritz, Paul, Townsend and Anisimova Set for Star-Studded 2026 Atlanta Cup

The Atlanta Cup is returning for year two with an all-American lineup built for one of the country’s most active tennis communities. Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Taylor Townsend and Amanda Anisimova will compete at the 2026 Atlanta Cup on Friday, December 4, at Gas South Arena, organizers announced Monday. The exhibition follows a successful debut in 2025, when more than 7,300 spectators attended the inaugural Atlanta Cup.

Atlanta Athletic Club Names Former WTA Player Robin Anderson as New Tennis Professional

Atlanta Athletic Club (AAC) has strengthened its racquet sports staff with the addition of former Women’s Tennis Association player Robin Anderson as a Tennis Professional and Michael Andrews as Director of Pickleball. The appointments add top talent to the Club’s expanding racquet sports program under Marcus Rutsche, Director of Racquet Sports. Anderson, whose focus will be on player engagement and junior events, brings an elite playing background to AAC, while Andrews will oversee the thriving pickleball program.