RADL WIRE… Racquet and paddle sports continue to evolve at breakneck speed, blending innovation, media, and capital in new and unexpected ways. This week, we explore the launch of TYPTI, a nearly silent, pickleball-court-friendly racquet sport created by Tennis Channel founder Steve Bellamy and backed by a high-profile investor group. At the same time, pickleball’s professional and commercial ecosystem continues to mature: Pickleball Kingdom announced that winners of its first-ever competition reality series, Paddle Battle, will earn the opportunity to compete on the APP Tour, creating a new pipeline from entertainment to the pro ranks, while Bluestone Equity Partners made a major investment in Selkirk Sport, underscoring continued institutional confidence in the category’s long-term growth.

Plus:

• Pickleball Kingdom and the APP Partner to send Paddle Battle Winners to the APP Tour

• Bluestone Equity Partners make strategic investment in Selkirk Sport

• The latest Tennis partnerships and AO activations

TYPTI

Meet TYPTI: A New Racquet Sport Built for the Pickleball Court Era

“America is already flush with racquet and paddle sports—tennis, squash, racquetball, pickleball, platform tennis, and padel—so is there room for one more?”

That was the question posed by Front Office Sports in a recent interview with the founders and investors behind TYPTI, a new racquet sport designed for a modern, crowded court ecosystem. Played on a standard pickleball court, TYPTI uses a 22-inch strung racquet and a 3.5-inch diameter channeled foam ball, creating a game that blends the accessibility of pickleball with the strategic depth of tennis and the finesse of badminton.

The brainchild of Steve Bellamy, founder of Tennis Channel, TYPTI has attracted an impressive roster of high-profile investors, including Tony Robbins, Drew Brees, Chris Pine, J.J. Abrams, and Bert Kreischer. According to the company, detailed equipment specifications, plans for a professional circuit, and collegiate partnerships are already in development.

Designed to be nearly noiseless and easy on the body, TYPTI features low-shock ball impact and eliminates the overhead serve, making it approachable for beginners while remaining “chess-like” for elite players. Most importantly, it’s built to be fun at every level of play.

With the explosion of pickleball courts across the United States, TYPTI launches with tens of billions of dollars in existing court infrastructure already in place—lowering barriers to entry and accelerating adoption.

TYPTI after 8 p.m.? As municipalities increasingly crack down on pickleball through noise ordinances, TYPTI’s foam ball offers a compelling, quiet alternative—allowing neighborhood racquet facilities to extend play into the evening without disturbing nearby residents.

LEARN MORE: Detailed equipment specifications, plans for a professional circuit, and collegiate partnerships can be found here.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Bluestone Equity Partners Makes Strategic Investment in Selkirk Sport, Pickleball’s Leading Performance Equipment and Sportswear Brand

Bluestone Equity Partners (“Bluestone”), the institutionally-backed global private equity firm focused on the Sports, Media & Entertainment industry, today announced a major investment in Selkirk Sport (“Selkirk”), the leading pickleball equipment manufacturer and innovator.

Founded in 2014 by brothers Rob and Mike Barnes, and their father Jim, Selkirk has become the preeminent sports and lifestyle brand in pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the U.S. Growth is expected to continue as communities continue to invest in pickleball, with a 55% year-over-year increase in the number of dedicated facilities and a 23% increase in total courts in 2024 alone, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

What New Data Reveals About Luxury Consumer Lifestyle

Beyond golf, consumers are looking for a lifestyle. 2025 saw a 6% increase in demand for holistic wellness offerings at golf clubs, with prospective members valuing weights, cardio, pickleball, group fitness and recovery services. Food and beverage offerings, a resort-style pool and micro-communities centered around interests such as wine, travel, pickleball, wellness or books play an increasingly important role in members' ultimate decision to join a club.

PICKLEBALL & PADEL

Pickleball Kingdom and the APP Partner to Send Paddle Battle Winners to the APP Tour

Pickleball Kingdom is proud to announce that the winners of Pickleball Kingdom Paddle Battle, the first-ever pickleball competition reality series, will earn the opportunity to compete on the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Tour, creating a new pathway from competition reality television to professional pickleball. As part of this opportunity, the Paddle Battle winners will begin competing on the APP Tour starting in March 2026. The APP Tour is one of the most established professional pickleball tours in the sport, hosting events nationwide and providing athletes with a premier platform to compete against top professionals.

PickleRage Rallies into Texas with New Indoor Pickleball Club in Austin

PickleRage, a premier indoor pickleball club franchise, is bringing its high-energy courts and community-first experience to a new location in Austin, Texas, offering players a year-round indoor destination designed for connection and play. The club, located in the Anderson Arbor shopping center at 13435 N US Highway 183, is anticipated to open in Q2 of 2026, marking PickleRage’s entry into the Texas market.

Reserve Cup Miami 2026 Announces Team Captains: Derek Jeter and Jimmy Butler

Reserve Cup is raising the stakes once again. Wayne Boich, Founder and CEO of Reserve Padel, proudly announces five-time World Series Champion and Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, and Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler, as official team captains for Reserve Cup Miami 2026—setting up the ultimate showdown: Team Jeter vs. Team Butler. A weekend packed with high-stakes matches, headline-making moments, the series is set to deliver three days where world-class padel meets unforgettable entertainment at Reserve Miami Seaplane Base.

TENNIS

DAOU Vineyards Returns as Official Wine Partner of the 2026 Nexo Dallas Open

DAOU Vineyards, one of the world’s leading wine estates based in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, proudly returns as the Official Wine of the 2026 Nexo Dallas Open for the second year of its landmark three-year partnership. Building on its successful debut last year, DAOU will once again bring its signature hospitality, world-class wines, and immersive lifestyle presence to one of the most prestigious ATP Tour 500 men’s tennis tournaments in the U.S.

Haier Shines at Australian Open 2026: Official Partner Elevates the Game with Smart Innovation and Purpose

Haier, the world's No.1 major home appliance brand, continues its strategic partnership with the Australian Open (AO) in 2026, shining brightly on one of the world's most prestigious sporting stages. Returning to Melbourne Park, Haier is electrifying the tournament atmosphere, bridging the gap between elite athletic performance and the precision of smart home living to deliver a Zero Distance experience for fans globally. Haier's commitment to tennis extends well beyond the Australian summer. As a Gold Partner of the ATP Tour, Haier will continue to champion excellence throughout the 2026 season, with on-court brand visibility, premium hospitality experiences, and on‑site product integration across major tournaments, providing a global platform to showcase its latest smart‑living innovations.

WhiteBIT and Elina Svitolina Announce Strategic Partnership During Australian Open

As the tennis world turns its attention to the opening Grand Slam of the season, Australian Open 2026, WhiteBIT, Europe's largest cryptocurrency exchange by traffic, and Elina Svitolina — Olympic bronze medalist, Jean King Cup 2025 semifinalist and 19-time WTA singles champion — have announced a strategic partnership.  The announcement comes at a key moment in the international tennis calendar, following Svitolina’s title-winning performance in Auckland and during the first major tournament of the year, when global attention is focused on elite competition and player performance.