POP Tennis has been around for more than a century, but it’s now starting to find real momentum.

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, Ian sits down with Mitch Kutner, President of the International POP Tennis Association, to break down what POP Tennis actually is, why the sport rebranded from paddle tennis, and how it fits into today’s rapidly growing racket sports landscape.

They also discuss:

• The history of POP Tennis and how it dates back to 1898

• Why the name change was critical for growth in the social media era

• How partnerships with organizations like Tennis Australia are accelerating global expansion

• The role of recreational players in building a sustainable sport

• What success looks like for pop tennis over the next 5–10 years

If you’re interested in where racket sports are headed beyond just tennis/pickleball/padel, this is a conversation worth listening to.

This week, I sat down with Claude Okin (CEO and founder) and Joe Siegel (SVP and SMD) from SPORTIME, one of the largest racket sports club operators in the country.

We go deep into what it actually takes to run a successful racket sports club today with an honest take on the challenges they are facing within the industry.

🎾 What we cover:

• Why racquet sports have shifted from court rentals → programming & community

• The real challenges facing pickleball clubs right now

• Why kids (not adults) are the key to long-term success

• How Sportime manages 20+ clubs and 300+ courts

• The future of tennis, pickleball, and padel in the U.S.

• Inside the growth of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy and Johnny Mac Tennis Project

You won't want to miss the part about pickleball. The sport is booming, but the business model is still catching up.

If you're building racket sports clubs or just want to understand where the industry is headed, this is a must-listen.

👉 Listen now and follow for weekly insights on the business of racket sports.

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, I sat down with Emiliano Abramzon, co-founder and CEO of Racquet 360, live from RacquetX.

We talked about how Racquet 360 is taking a full-ecosystem approach to growing padel in the U.S., from events and clubs to leagues and retail, and why Emiliano believes the biggest opportunity is still ahead.

We also got into the bigger picture around racket sports, including why multi-racquet venues matter, what’s holding padel back in the U.S., and how the industry can grow through collaboration rather than competition.

Topics covered:

• Emiliano’s background as a serial entrepreneur

• Why he made the bet on padel in the U.S.

• The rise of RacquetX and how it became a hub for the industry

• The thinking behind Racquet 360’s ecosystem strategy

• The biggest barriers to U.S. padel growth

• Why club community and social connection matter so much

Listen now for a smart conversation on where padel is headed and what it will take to unlock bigger growth in the U.S.

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, Ian Rapport sits down with tennis journalist Tim Newcomb to discuss the changing world of tennis gear, footwear, apparel, and media.

Tim shares how he built his niche covering tennis equipment and sports aesthetics, what brands are standing out right now, why strings are often overlooked, and how tennis products are evolving to match the modern game.

They also dive into what makes a tennis story worth covering, how brand partnerships can stand out, and what young brands need to do to break through in an increasingly crowded market.

Topics discussed include:

• How tennis gear coverage has evolved

• The racket and footwear brands making an impact

• Why players do not always need the latest racket

• What innovations could define the next era of tennis gear

• How media and journalism in tennis are changing

• What brands need to do to earn coverage

• Why authenticity matters in brand partnerships

• Tim’s experiences covering majors, players, and stadiums

Listen now for an in-depth conversation on where tennis gear and storytelling are headed next.

Follow Tim on IG at Felt Alley Tennis and Stadiums by Tim Newcomb to stay up on the latest.

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, host Ian Rapport sits down with Callum Beale, Head of Game Expansion at Tennis Australia, to discuss how one of the sport’s leading governing bodies is embracing the rise of pickleball, padel, and other emerging racket sports.

Rather than viewing these sports as competition, Tennis Australia is taking a different approach. It is using them to grow overall participation and bring more people into the racket sports ecosystem.

We discuss:

• What “game expansion” actually means

• Why Tennis Australia is leaning into pickleball, padel, and pop tennis

• How different racket sports attract different consumer audiences

• The rise of multi-sport “racket clubs”

• Why the biggest threat to tennis isn’t pickleball..it’s inactivity

• How this model could shape the future of racket sports globally

This conversation offers a fresh perspective on how collaboration—not competition—could define the next era of growth in racket sports.

🎧 Listen now and follow for weekly insights on the business of racket sports.

In this week’s episode of Racket Sports Weekly, host Ian Rapport sits down with Tennis Channel founder and TYPTI creator Steve Bellamy to break down one of the most talked-about new sports in the racket sports industry.

After more than 30 years developing the concept, Bellamy officially launched TYPTI, a short-court racket sport blending elements of tennis, badminton, and pickleball. Viral social clips, impressive equipment sales, and growing interest from investors and brands have quickly pushed the sport into the industry spotlight.

In this conversation, Bellamy shares:

• The origin story behind TYPTI and why now was the right moment to launch

• How the sport spread so quickly across social media and the racket sports ecosystem

• Why building tournaments, rankings, and community infrastructure is the top priority

• His vision for brand partnerships in a “blank canvas” sport

• How TYPTI can grow alongside tennis and pickleball

With early backing from high-profile investors including Drew Brees, Tony Robbins, and Tiffany Haddish, TYPTI is positioning itself as one of the most intriguing new developments in racket sports.

If you want to understand where innovation in racket sports may be headed next, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Pickleball’s rapid growth has reshaped the racket sports landscape with the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) at the center of that expansion.

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, host Ian Rapport talks with APP CMO Tom Webb about why pickleball’s growth is unlike any modern sport, and how accessibility, community, and global expansion are reshaping its landscape.

Webb discusses:

• Why storytelling, inclusivity, and community are core to pickleball’s success

• International expansion across Asia, Europe, and beyond

• Tennis vs pickleball narratives

• What the future could hold for the APP and the sport globally

🎧 Listen now to learn how pickleball is evolving from a pandemic boom sport into a global sports business powerhouse.

Pickleball’s global expansion is accelerating and ⁠TOPSERIES Pickleball⁠ wants to play a major role in shaping what comes next.

In this episode of Racket Sports Weekly, I sit down with Adel Aref, CEO of TOPSERIES Pickleball, a new premium pro and amateur tour focused on building a structured competitive ecosystem across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Aref brings a unique background to the role. A former top-10 Tunisian tennis player and international tennis umpire, he later worked with Paris Saint-Germain, helped grow global sporting events, and served as Tour Director for Premier Padel.

Now he’s applying that experience to pickleball.

We discuss:

• Why pickleball is reaching a global tipping point

• The vision behind TOPSERIES Pickleball’s four-tier tour structure

• Why Europe, Africa, and the Middle East are key growth markets

• How the tour plans to combine sport, lifestyle, and entertainment

• How celebrity investors and ambassadors could help grow the game

With seven pro-level events planned in Cairo, Venice, Hamburg, London, Dubai, and Tunis, TOPSERIES aims to build a long-term platform for professional pickleball outside the United States.

🎧 Listen now to learn how one of the sport’s newest tours is approaching global expansion and innovation.