Slinger Bag, makers of the world's most portable tennis ball launcher, announced that Mike Ballardie has been named CEO of the company. Ballardie brings to Slinger Bag his extensive market knowledge and brand leadership experience in the global tennis industry including most recently as CEO of Prince, one of the world's leading tennis brands.

The New York Empire selected WTA veteran Kirsten Flipkens with the first overall pick during the annual World TeamTennis draft on Tuesday, and top Americans Venus Williams, John Isner, Sam Querrey, Mike and Bob Bryan and former world No. 1 player Victoria Azarenka will also return to WTT this summer.

Oracle CEO Mark Hurd, along with tennis Hall-of-Famer Chris Evert, announced today that tennis professionals Jamie Loeb and JC Aragone are the recipients of the third annual Oracle US Tennis Awards.

Southern California native and Orange County Breakers owner Eric Davidson has been named World TeamTennis’ new Chairman of the Board while acquiring an ownership share in the world’s foremost team tennis organization.

World TeamTennis (WTT) announced today that it has appointed sports media executive Carlos Silva to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effectively immediately. Silva replaces Chris Renner, who held the position for six months.

Chinese tennis great Li Na, France’s Mary Pierce, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, each a two-time Grand Slam singles champion among their many career accolades, have been elected to receive tennis’ ultimate honor in 2019 – induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. 

Nominations are open now for the annual Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. Inductees for 2019 will be announced at the 12th Annual TIA Tennis Forum, to be held in New York City on Monday, Aug. 26. Visit TennisIndustry.org/HoF for more information or to nominate. (All nominations will be confidential.) Nominations for 2019 will close on July 1.

The United States Tennis Association today announced that Gordon Smith, the longest-tenured CEO and Executive Director in the Association’s history, has announced his retirement effective December 31, 2019. Smith first assumed his position in November 2007.

The USTA Foundation, the national charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), announced that it has appointed 18-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No. 1 Chris Evert as Chair of the USTA Foundation’s Board of Directors. In her new role, Evert will serve as the USTA Foundation’s spokesperson and ambassador to promote its mission, raise funds and increase the impact of its national outreach efforts to under-resourced youth. She succeeds former pro James Blake, who served as USTA Foundation Chair from 2015 to 2018.

All different types of folks become president of the USTA – oilmen, car manufacturers, insurance execs and lawyers. More recently a great doubles player – Katrina Adams, who reached the Wimbledon doubles semis – headed the group for four years. Now another doubles whiz, Patrick Galbraith, will be USTA president on January 1. In fact, the Washington state resident is the finest player to lead the federation since seven-time US National champ Richard Sears headed the group over 130 years ago. Read Inside Tennis's Bill Simons' Q&A with the new USTA president here at this link.