PICKLEBALL

The Picklr Launches Central Indiana Minor League Team with St. Louis Shock

The Picklr’s Central Indiana clubs have introduced a new Minor League Pickleball team through an exclusive affiliation with the St. Louis Shock of Major League Pickleball, creating another competitive pathway for players in the greater Indianapolis market. The program connects local players with the Shock’s expanding MiLP development system and provides opportunities to compete in local, regional and national tournaments.

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Veolia and PPA Tour Expand Sustainability Efforts at Pickleball Events

Veolia is expanding its sustainability initiatives with the Carvana PPA Tour, bringing water conservation, recycling and waste-reduction programs to two major pickleball tournaments in North Carolina and Arizona this September. The environmental services company is sponsoring the Veolia Pickleball National Championships in Cary, N.C., Aug. 31-Sept. 6, followed by the Veolia Arizona Open in Mesa, Sept. 14-20. The two events are expected to attract a combined 31,000 spectators.

TENNIS

USTA Coaching Surpasses 17,000 Members as Tennis Growth Fuels Demand for Coaches

USTA Coaching has surpassed 17,000 community members in its first year, underscoring the growing need for qualified instructors as U.S. tennis participation continues its multi-year surge. Launched in August 2025, the national coaching platform was created to expand and modernize the coaching pipeline for everyone from professional instructors and high school coaches to parents, teachers and volunteers. The initiative comes as U.S. tennis participation reached 27.3 million players in 2025, a 54 percent increase since 2019, while USTA research indicates only about two in 10 players receive formal coaching.

IBM Brings AI-Powered US Open Fan Experience Back to Madison Square Park

IBM is bringing the US Open back to the heart of Manhattan with a free, four-day fan experience at Madison Square Park during the tournament’s Championship Weekend. The event, scheduled for Sept. 10-13, will combine live US Open viewing with interactive tennis experiences, artificial intelligence-powered activations, merchandise and giveaways. IBM is the official AI and Cloud sponsor of the US Open.

Dunkin’ Serves Up Tennis-Themed Drinks, HEAD Collaboration and New York Fan Experience

Dunkin’ is getting into the swing of tennis season with a collection of limited-edition drinks, collectibles, merchandise and fan experiences timed around one of the sport’s biggest events in New York. Beginning Aug. 30, the brand is rolling out two tennis-inspired beverages along with a collectible MUNCHKINS container, followed by a merchandise collaboration with HEAD and an experiential activation with American Express at Grand Central Terminal.

EQUIPMENT

Tesla and Selkirk Bring Automotive Engineering to the Pickleball Court

Selkirk Sport and Tesla have teamed up on the Tesla Plaid Paddle by Selkirk, a co-engineered pickleball paddle combining Tesla’s industrial design and aerodynamics expertise with technology developed by Selkirk LABS. The collaboration features a new Aurum gold finish inspired by Tesla’s Cybercab and Robotaxi, while the paddle incorporates Selkirk’s PureFoam™ Core with TPU Power Ring, InfiniGrit™ surface, MOI Tuning System and an aerodynamic open-throat design. Tesla’s aerodynamic testing helped shape the paddle’s elongated, edgeless profile, designed to reduce drag and increase reach. The 16mm, USAP-approved paddle weighs approximately 7.8–8.1 ounces and is available exclusively through Tesla.