International Tennis Research Articles

Dwight Davis and the Foundation of the Davis Cup in Tennis: Just Another Doubleday Myth?

Abstract Dwight F. Davis is widely credited with having invented, or at least conceived, the original idea for the international tennis competition that bears his name, the Davis Cup. This paper aims to debunk this myth through comprehensive critical analysis of the period preceding Davis’s apparent epiphany in 1899. Previous national-team-based competitions are investigated, alongside key figures in American and British/Irish tennis, to demonstrate that numerous others had proposed the idea for an international team-based competition long before Davis and that Davis may have appropriated his idea from others with whom he came into contact. Davis’s wealthy background, political ambitions, and model-American image arguably helped smooth the process of his idea being officially accepted by the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, which likely saw in Davis a perfect “front-man” for American tennis at a time when the nation used sporting prowess to promote its identity, particularly in relation to the British, in international sporting competition.

Does Forehand Racquet Handgrip influence Incidence and Type of Wrist Injury in Tennis? A Preliminary Study in Indian Tennis

ABSTRACT Introduction Tennis is one of the major global sports, with over 75 million players participating in the game in more than 200 countries affiliated with the International Tennis Federation. The upper extremity is particularly susceptible to injury in tennis because of the use of the racquet, which acts as a lever, and due to the effect of repetitive stroke play on the dominant limb. Materials and methods Between July 2009 and October 2010, in a prospective study involving players at a local tennis academy, 219 tennis players were evaluated for wrist injury. A specialized injury proforma was filled up for these players and parameters, such as injury type, mechanism of injury, forehand racquet grip (eastern, western and semiwestern), missed time from game, and treatment (medical or surgical) were recorded. The players were grouped into low-intensity players (those with average daily practice hours < 2.5) and high-intensity players (with ≥ 2.5 daily average practice hours). Statistical analysis was performed to assess the association of different wrist injuries with type of forehand handgrip. Results Out of 219 players, 14 players were lost to follow-up. Out of the remaining 205 players, a total of 157 (76%) players were aware of the type of handgrip they were using, while 18 (9%) players did not have any knowledge of their handgrip. The remaining 30 (15%) players were found to be confused as far as handgrip was concerned. Out of 157 players who had knowledge regarding handgrip, 102 players were using the semiwestern grip, 44 were using the western grip, and the remaining 11 were using the eastern type of handgrip. There were seven injuries sustained in the wrist and hand. Due to the relatively small number of wrist injury cases, no statistical correlation could be derived between handgrip use and specific injuries in the upper limb. Conclusion In tennis players with wrist injuries, different grips of the racquet are not related to the anatomical site of the lesion. Previous studies have correlated the type of handgrip with the pattern of wrist injuries. Though we have 219 players in our study, the players who sustained wrist injuries were less (7). Thus, we were unable to find any correlation between type of handgrip and pattern of wrist injuries. Further studies are required so as to understand the biomechanics of tennis injuries. How to cite this article Prabhakar S, Dhillon MS, Meena DS, Dhillon H, Dhillon S. Does Forehand Racquet Handgrip influence Incidence and Type of Wrist Injury in Tennis? A Preliminary Study in Indian Tennis. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2018;52(1):1-4.

Effects of Self-Myofascial Release on Shoulder Function and Perception in Adolescent Tennis Players.

Tennis induces a decreased internal rotation range of motion at the dominant glenohumeral joint. The effects of self-myofascial release have not yet been investigated to restore glenohumeral range of motion. This study aimed at investigating the effects of self-myofascial release on shoulder function and perception in adolescent tennis players. Test-retest design. Tennis training sport facilities. Eleven male players participated in this study (age: 15 [3]y; height: 173.1 [11.1]cm; mass: 56.0 [15.1]kg; International Tennis Number: 3). During 5 weeks, the players performed their regular tennis training. During 5 additional weeks, self-myofascial release of the infraspinatus and pectoralis muscles was implemented 3 times per week after the warm-up of the regular training session. The primary outcome was glenohumeral internal rotation range of motion. The secondary outcomes were perceived shoulder instability and tennis serve accuracy and velocity. Adding self-myofascial release allowed an increase of 11° (2°) of internal rotation range of motion at the dominant glenohumeral joint (P < .001) and a decreased perception of shoulder instability (P = .03), while maintaining tennis serve velocity and accuracy. Implementing self-myofascial release on infraspinatus and pectoralis muscles 3 times per week during 5 weeks improved dominant glenohumeral internal rotation range of motion in tennis players. It can be used as a strategy to preserve the mobility of this joint.

Competitive balance trends in elite table tennis: the Olympic Games and World Championships 1988-2016

ABSTRACTCompetitive balance is important because it enhances outcome uncertainty and therefore it promotes spectator interest, and encourages government investment in a sport. This article analyses the distribution of gold medals, medals, medal points and top eight points amongst nations in table tennis from 1988 to 2016 at the Olympic Games and the World Championships respectively. A normalised version of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index and a coefficient of variation are calculated for each nation’s share of these performance indicators. The key findings are that China dominates both events, with successful female players being more dominant than their male counterparts. The competitive balance for gold medals has declined, whilst there is a trend towards improved competitive balance for top eight points for women, suggesting that more teams are featuring in the top eight (but not necessarily the top three) placings. This research has implications for the development of table tennis competitions. Compared to other racket sports, the issue of competitive imbalance in table tennis is particularly thorny, which threatens the long-term development of this sport. Accordingly, some measures are recommended for the International Olympic Committee and the International Table Tennis Federation to propel a more balanced development of international table tennis.

Disciplinary Sanctions for Misconduct in Tennis

The decision rendered by the Internal Adjudication Panel of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in the matter of ITF v. I. Nǎstase discusses a number of breaches of the Welfare Policy of the ITF Fed Cup Regulations by the Captain of the Romanian Fed Cup Team. From the “total disrespect to officials, the “sexual innuendo” and the “racially insensitive” comments to the “harassment of a member of the media”, this note presents and comments on how cases of misconduct in tennis are dealt with by the internal adjudication panels of the ITF. It also discusses when aggravating and mitigating circumstances are taken into consideration for the calculation of the sanction.

Sequence-dependent rotation axis changes in tennis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of rotation axes during a tennis serve. A motion capture system was used to evaluate the contribution of the potential axes of rotation (minimum inertia axis, shoulder-centre of mass axis and the shoulder-elbow axis) during the four discrete tennis serve phases (loading, cocking, acceleration and follow through). Ten ranked athletes (International Tennis Number 1–3) repeatedly performed a flat service aiming at a target on the other side of the net. The four serve phases are distinct and thus, each movement phase seems to be organised around specific rotation axes. The results showed that the limbs’ rotational axis does not necessarily coincide with the minimum inertia axis across the cocking phase of the tennis serve. Even though individual serving strategies were exposed, all participants showed an effect due to the cocking phase and changed the rotation axis during the task. Taken together, the results showed that despite inter-individual differences, nine out of 10 participants changed the rotation axis towards the minimum inertia and/or the mass axis in an endeavour to maximise external rotation of the shoulder to optimally prepare for the acceleration phase.

Tensiomyographic Markers Are Not Sensitive for Monitoring Muscle Fatigue in Elite Youth Athletes: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Tensiomyography (TMG) is an indirect measure of a muscle's contractile properties and has the potential as a technique for detecting exercise-induced skeletal muscle fatigue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity of tensiomyographic markers to identify reduced muscular performance in elite youth athletes.Methods: Fourteen male junior tennis players (age: 14.9 ± 1.2 years) with an international (International Tennis Federation) ranking position participated in this pre-post single group trial. They completed a 4-day high-intensity interval training (HIT) microcycle, which was composed of seven training sessions. TMG markers; countermovement jump (CMJ) performance (criterion measure of fatigue); delayed onset muscle soreness; and perceived recovery and stress were measured 24 h before and after the training program. The TMG measures included maximal radial deformation of the rectus femoris muscle belly (Dm), contraction time between 10 and 90% Dm (Tc) and the rate of deformation until 10% (V10) and 90% Dm (V90), respectively. Diagnostic characteristics were assessed with a receiver-operating curve (ROC) analysis and a contingency table, in which the area under the curve (AUC), Youden's index, sensitivity, specificity, and the diagnostic effectiveness (DE) of TMG measures were reported. A minimum AUC of 0.70 and a lower confidence interval (CI) >0.50 classified “good” diagnostic markers to assess performance changes.Results: Twenty-four hours after the microcycle, CMJ performance was observed to be significantly (p < 0.001) reduced (Effect Size [ES] = −0.68), and DOMS (ES = 3.62) as well as perceived stress were significantly (p < 0.001) increased. In contrast, Dm (ES = −0.35), Tc (ES = 0.04), V10 (ES = −0.32), and V90 (ES = −0.33) remained unchanged (p > 0.05) throughout the study. ROC analysis and the data derived from the contingency table revealed that none of the tensiomyographic markers were effective diagnostic tools for detecting impaired muscular performance in elite youth athletes (AUC, 95% CI, DE%; Dm: 0.46, 0.15–0.77, 35.7%; Tc: 0.29, 0.03–0.59, 35.7%; V10: 0.71, 0.27–1.00, 35.7%; V90: 0.37, 0.10–0.65, 35.7%).Conclusion: The tensiomyographic parameters that were assessed in this study were not sensitive enough to detect muscular performance changes in elite youth athletes.However, due to the preliminary nature of the study, further research is needed to investigate the sensitivity of TMG in this population.

Kicks Inc.: Background Information

Kicks Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of athletic apparel and shoes, had plans to launch a new tennis shoe line within the year and was seeking an up-and-coming young athlete to be its spokesperson. Sebastian Martinez had emerged as an ideal candidate, and contract discussions were underway. Six issues need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the six parties involved—the athlete, the athlete's mother, the athlete's father, the athlete's agent, the Kicks brand manager, and an International Tennis Federation representative. This case provides the general information regarding the nature of the issues and the broad interests of the various parties involved. This general background case is supported by individual role cases for each of the six parties. This case and its supporting role cases can be used to (1) develop an understanding of the underlying bases upon which coalitions can be formed; (2) develop an appreciation for the added dimensionality of preparation in multiparty situations; (3) develop an appreciation for the process choices that need to be made; and (4) compare and contrast appropriate approaches to bilateral versus multilateral negotiations. Excerpt UVA-QA-0739 Rev. Nov. 19, 2010 Background Information The Tennis Shoe Industry Kicks Inc. had plans to launch a new tennis shoe line within the year and was searching for an up-and-coming athlete to be the face of its marketing campaign. Kicks, a manufacturer and distributor of athletic apparel and shoes, had had success in other sport-specific shoes, but this was the first time it had produced a tennis shoe. In the tennis shoe industry, Kicks competed against multi-billion-dollar companies, including Nike and Adidas, and traditional tennis-focused companies, including Prince and Wilson. Nike tended to win endorsement deals with the world's top-10 players, although they came at a high price, well beyond Kicks's financial means. In 2009, Roger Federer (number one in the world at the time and 15-time Grand Slam champion), had 10-year deals with Nike, Rolex, Wilson, Gillette, and Mercedes. The appearance fees and sponsorships from these companies added $ 28 million to Federer's yearly earnings; the contract with Nike alone provided Federer with more than $ 10 million annually. These endorsements were a significant portion of a professional tennis player's income. Almost all players had clauses in their endorsement contracts, particularly with apparel, shoe, and racket deals, which outlined bonuses based on year-end rankings and tournament wins. In 2009, the top-10 earners in tennis made an aggregate $ 165 million; prize money from tournament wins only accounted for $ 38 million, and corporate money provided the remaining $ 127 million. Although Kicks was looking for a younger athlete—not necessarily with the statistics of Federer, who was considered an all-time tennis great—the company still had to be prepared to offer its chosen athlete an enticing compensation package if it were to sign with a future star and market its shoe well. . . .

In-Play Cooling Interventions for Simulated Match-Play Tennis in Hot/Humid Conditions.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of different in-play cooling strategies for mitigating heat strain during simulated tennis match-play activity in a hot/humid environment representing the most extreme conditions during the US Open (36°C, 50% relative humidity). On three occasions, nine males completed an intermittent treadmill protocol with an exercise intensity and activity profile simulating a four-set tennis match, with 90-s breaks between odd-numbered games and 120-s breaks between sets, according to International Tennis Federation rules. During breaks, 1) the currently used cooling strategy-an ice-filled damp towel around the neck and a cold-damp towel on the head and thighs (ICE); 2) wetting of arms, neck, face, and lower legs with a sponge in front of an electric fan (FANwet); or 3) no cooling (CON) were applied. Rectal (Tre) and mean skin (Tsk) temperature and HR were measured throughout. Thermal sensation and RPE were assessed during breaks. Trials were terminated upon reaching a Tre ≥ 39.5°C or volitional exhaustion. Seven, five, and one participant completed FANwet, ICE, and CON, respectively. By end set 1, ΔTre was lower in FANwet (0.92°C ± 0.15°C) compared with CON (1.09°C ± 0.09°C, P = 0.01), and by end set 2, ΔTre was lower (P < 0.001) in FANwet (1.55°C ± 0.23°C) and ICE (1.59°C ± 0.17°C) compared with CON (1.99°C ± 0.19°C). Mean RPE (FANwet = 13.9 ± 2.2, ICE = 13.6 ± 1.8, CON = 16.6 ± 1.8), HR (FANwet = 163 ± 21, ICE 164 ± 22, CON = 175 ± 19 bpm), Tsk (FANwet = 36.56°C ± 0.69°C, ICE 36.12°C ± 0.44°C, CON = 37.21°C ± 0.42°C), and thermal sensation were lower in FANwet and ICE (P < 0.05) compared with CON by end set 2. The currently recommended ICE strategy successfully mitigates thermal strain during simulated tennis match play in hot/humid conditions. The FANwet intervention is an equally effective alternative that may be more practical in limited resource settings.

Tennis and disabilities guidelines for coaches

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Tennis is a sport with a high technical, tactical, physical and psychological content. These contents can be developed by players with some kind of impairment. In fact, although at the institutional level, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) ́s regulations only consider wheelchair tennis for persons with physical disabilities, we find more and more experiences from people with other forms of disability who play tennis too. So much so, that even the ITF is considering their development at recreational and inclusive level. This article discusses the different modalities of tennis for persons with different abilities and provides some tips for coaches.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

The psychology of turning points in tennis

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The psychological strategies used by players to deal with these turning points will determine how effective players are in using these situations to their advantage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the concept of turning points and understand more clearly the strategies applied by elite players to deal with turning points during a tennis match. A series of semi-structured interviews was conducted with nine elite professional players from five different countries, followed by a thematic content analysis of the interviews. The analysis revealed four key themes: positive turning points situations, negative turning points situations, strategies to capitalise on positive turning points and strategies to cope with negative turning points. On a practical level, strategies are suggested that coaches and psychologists can use to help players managing turning points. This research was partially supported by an International Tennis Federation Sport Science Research Grant.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

‘The old days of amateurism are over’: the Samaranch revolution and the return of Olympic tennis

ABSTRACTTennis featured in every Olympics from 1896 to 1924, after which disagreements between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) on matters pertaining to organisational control and the amateur eligibility of players led to tennis being removed from the Olympic Games as a full-medal event until the 1988 Seoul Olympics. This paper traces the steps of the sport’s reinstatement, from when efforts commenced in the 1950s, setting this development in the contexts of: broader political movements, shifting IOC leadership, burgeoning commercialisation of Olympic sport, the concomitant push for professionalisation and the declining influence of amateur ideals within both the Olympic movement and international tennis. Under the leadership of the amateur stalwart Avery Brundage, the IOC stymied attempts to facilitate tennis’s re-entry, challenging both the ILTF on failing to deal with widespread ‘sham-amateur’ practices and the avaricious promoters luring amateur players toward the professional ranks. Brundage and the IOC also strongly condemned the move to ‘open’ tennis and an acceptance of full-blown professionalism. Only a change in leadership, firstly with Lord Killanin and then the progressive reformer Juan Antonio Samaranch, did the IOC recognise the value of tennis within the Olympic movement, which by then had itself become increasingly money-oriented.

Don’t Play Ball with South Africa: The United States, the Anti-Apartheid Movement, and the Davis Cup Protests

By the mid-1970s, South Africa’s sporting teams had been banned from international competition by nearly every governing sporting body due to the nation’s apartheid policies. Yet, South Africa remained eligible to play in the Davis Cup, the prestigious international team tennis tournament. Thus, tennis became one of the last frontiers in the global sport boycott, a critical component of the transnational anti-apartheid struggle. At the same time, apartheid had moved from an issue on the fringe of American society at the beginning of the decade to an increasingly mainstream and influential protest movement taking place in various arenas across the United States, from labour unions to churches to college and university campuses. This article examines the efforts of Richard Lapchick, the American Coordinating Committee for Equality in Sport and Society (ACCESS), and other activists in the United States to force the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to ban South Africa and its athletes from competition in the Davis Cup. It explores the place of sport in the struggle against apartheid in the United States at the end of the 1970s.

Characterisation of ball degradation events in professional tennis

Tennis balls are acknowledged to degrade with use and are replaced at regular intervals during professional matches to maintain consistency and uniformity in performance, such that the game is not adversely affected. Balls are subject to the international tennis federation’s (ITF) ball approval process, which includes a degradation test to ensure a minimum standard of performance. The aim of this investigation was to establish if the ITF degradation test can assess ball longevity and rate of degradation and determine if there is a need for a new degradation test that is more representative of in-play conditions. Ball tracking data from four different professional events, spanning the three major court surfaces, including both men’s and women’s matches were analysed. The frequency of first serves, second serves, racket impacts and surface impacts were assessed and the corresponding distribution of ball speed and (for surface impacts) impact angle was determined. Comparison of ball impact frequency and conditions between in-play data and the ITF degradation test indicated the development of a new test, more representative of in-play data, would be advantageous in determining ball longevity and rate of degradation with use. Assessment of data from different surfaces highlighted that grass court subjected the ball to fewer racket and surface impacts than hard court or clay. In turn, this appears to influence the distribution of ball speed on impact with the surface or racket, suggesting a surface-specific degradation test may be beneficial. As a result of these findings a new test protocol has been proposed, utilising the in-play data, to define the frequency of impacts and impact conditions to equate to nine games of professional tennis across the different surfaces.

Kicks Inc.: Background Information

Kicks Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of athletic apparel and shoes, had plans to launch a new tennis shoe line within the year and was seeking an up-and-coming young athlete to be its spokesperson. Sebastian Martinez had emerged as an ideal candidate, and contract discussions were underway. Six issues need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the six parties involved—the athlete, the athlete’s mother, the athlete’s father, the athlete’s agent, the Kicks brand manager, and an International Tennis Federation representative. This case provides the general information regarding the nature of the issues and the broad interests of the various parties involved. This general background case is supported by individual role cases for each of the six parties. This case and its supporting role cases can be used to (1) develop an understanding of the underlying bases upon which coalitions can be formed; (2) develop an appreciation for the added dimensionality of preparation in multiparty situations; (3) develop an appreciation for the process choices that need to be made; and (4) compare and contrast appropriate approaches to bilateral versus multilateral negotiations.

Kicks Inc.: Confidential Information for Luis Martinez (Father)

Kicks Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of athletic apparel and shoes, had plans to launch a new tennis shoe line within the year and was seeking an up-and-coming young athlete to be its spokesperson. Sebastian Martinez had emerged as an ideal candidate, and contract discussions were underway. Six issues need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the six parties involved—the athlete, the athlete's mother, the athlete's father, the athlete's agent, the Kicks brand manager, and an International Tennis Federation representative. This case provides specific role information for the athlete's father. The case needs to be accompanied by the background information case, UVA-QA-0739. Excerpt UVA-QA-0744 Rev. Dec. 2, 2010 Confidential Information for Luis Martinez (Father) Luis Martinez grew up in Buenos Aires watching Guillermo Vilas, the great Argentine clay-court specialist and International Tennis Hall of Famer. Vilas's success during the 1970s and '80s—with four Grand Slam titles—boosted the popularity of tennis in Argentina and inspired young players, including Luis. Luis came from a modest background and never had the luxury of playing tennis because he had to work to help support his family. He had always thought that if he had a son, he would want him to play tennis, allowing his son the opportunity he himself never had. Luis had worked his way up from a low-level employee to a plant manager at a local steel manufacturer. He had met Adriana while he was in his twenties and fell in love with her. She was an American, from an upper-middle-class family in Florida. They met in Argentina while she was on an archaeology trip during college and discovered their mutual passion for tennis; although he had never played, at the time, she was competing for her small college. She moved to Argentina after finishing her undergraduate degree and married Luis. When Adriana was pregnant with Sebastian, they both decided he would be a tennis player and hoped their son would love the sport as much as they did. Sebastian first enrolled in tennis lessons when he was five years old. Luis knew he had talent, so he worked long hours to afford the best coaching in Buenos Aires. Luis's work prevented him from being home as much as he wanted, but each Friday he would drive straight from the plant to Sebastian's tournaments. He grew slightly resentful of Adriana, knowing that she was able to spend so much time with Sebastian during the day—whether attending clinic (practice) or going through Sebastian's homeschool lessons. He hoped, however, that these long hours would pay off, and he was proud of Sebastian for learning the foundations of hard work through tennis. With the Argentine Tennis Association's sponsorship of Sebastian's move to Saddlebrook, Luis already could see the investment paying off. He just hoped that Sebastian would continue to remain focused and dedicated to his goals. . . .

Kicks Inc.: Confidential Information for Sebastian Martinez (Athlete)

Kicks Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of athletic apparel and shoes, had plans to launch a new tennis shoe line within the year and was seeking an up-and-coming young athlete to be its spokesperson. Sebastian Martinez had emerged as an ideal candidate, and contract discussions were underway. Six issues need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the six parties involved—the athlete, the athlete's mother, the athlete's father, the athlete's agent, the Kicks brand manager, and an International Tennis Federation representative. This case provides specific role information for the athlete. The case needs to be accompanied by the background information case, UVA-QA-0739. Excerpt UVA-QA-0745 Rev. Dec. 2, 2010 Confidential Information for Sebastian Martinez (Athlete) Sebastian Martinez grew up in Argentina and began playing tennis as soon as he could walk, when his father, Luis, put a racket in his hands and introduced him to the sport. Insisting he showed promise at a young age, Martinez's parents devoted his entire childhood to tennis lessons, match play, and tournaments across the country. In truth, he didn't have a choice: He would be a tennis great, whether he wanted to or not. At eight years old, Martinez began playing tournaments in the 12-and-under category, beating kids twice his height, having benefited from the fundamentals ingrained in him. Martinez was also quick and light on his feet, which served him well once he reached the 14-and-under category; he made up in speed what he lacked in strength as he grew older. Tennis was all Martinez knew. His closest friends were also his toughest opponents on the court, making it difficult to have real friendships. While traveling to find the best competition, Martinez and his mother, Adriana, became very close and reliant on one another. Adriana was more than just his cheerleader and homeschool teacher; she was also his confidant. Martinez's father pushed him hard as a young boy, intending for him to reach perfection. That perfectionism had fueled in him an undying work ethic as he strived to meet his father's expectations. At 14 years old, the Argentine Tennis Association (AAT) decided to make Martinez a priority athlete and sponsored his move to the United States in pursuit of better coaching and training. Martinez's mother was American, so Martinez's dual citizenship allowed him to attend the Saddlebrook academy without difficulty. Because of Martinez's abilities, he received the same personalized attention in Florida he had received at home with his parents. The coaches took a special interest in Martinez, providing him with world-class instruction and competition to develop him into an athlete capable of being successful at the professional level. . . .

Kicks Inc.: Confidential Information for Billy Cash (Quiksign Agent)

Kicks Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of athletic apparel and shoes, had plans to launch a new tennis shoe line within the year and was seeking an up-and-coming young athlete to be its spokesperson. Sebastian Martinez had emerged as an ideal candidate, and contract discussions were underway. Six issues need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the six parties involved—the athlete, the athlete's mother, the athlete's father, the athlete's agent, the Kicks brand manager, and an International Tennis Federation representative. This case provides specific role information for the athlete's agent. The case needs to be accompanied by the background information case, UVA-QA-0739. Excerpt UVA-QA-0741 Rev. Jun. 3, 2011 Confidential Information for Billy Cash (QuikSign Agent) Billy Cash had worked with many athletes throughout his career at QuikSign but had yet to have a superstar athlete in his portfolio. Some agents worked specifically for one player, typically a high-profile and highly successful athlete. On average, though, each agent handled between five and fifteen athletes at any given time, usually with a variety of lower-ranked players and few, if any, more successful players. Having multiple athletes allowed the agent to be cost-effective and time-efficient, and gave the agent leverage when negotiating deals for his or her athletes. When an agent attended a tournament, the cost of his airfare, hotel accommodations, and other expenses could be dispersed among all the players in the tournament. The agent's time during those tournaments could then be spent on networking for those players. And ultimately, when it came time to make a deal, the agent could influence a tournament director's decision on who would be accepted into the draw by offering a big-name athlete along with lower-ranked athletes. The agent could influence a sponsorship by suggesting that many of his or her athletes could represent the brand. An agent with many athletes could help lower-level players become well connected and help with their success considerably more if the agent were able to claim a big-name athlete. Cash was due to have such an athlete. In the past, Cash had managed only two other athletes who had cracked the top 20, but they had both recently retired because their primes had come and gone. Cash had wanted to add an athlete to his portfolio who was not only higher-profile, but also one who had the potential of becoming a top-10 player. Cash believed Sebastian Martinez could be this breakthrough athlete. Cash thought Martinez seemed independent and mature enough to make decisions for himself; however, he knew that Martinez's parents had been very involved in his career, so it was important to remain on good terms with theentire family. Although Martinez seemed mature, he was still very young; Cash wanted to be careful not to go overboard in terms of endorsement contracts and sponsorship opportunities, knowing that many young tennis players became distracted by the money, glamour, and fame. Such distractions could hinder Martinez's success if not managed well. Remaining focused was crucial for Martinez's success, and Cash certainly wanted Martinez to reach his potential. . . .

Kicks Inc.: Confidential Information for Jack Watson (Itf Representative)

Kicks Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of athletic apparel and shoes, had plans to launch a new tennis shoe line within the year and was seeking an up-and-coming young athlete to be its spokesperson. Sebastian Martinez had emerged as an ideal candidate, and contract discussions were underway. Six issues need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the six parties involved—the athlete, the athlete's mother, the athlete's father, the athlete's agent, the Kicks brand manager, and an International Tennis Federation (ITF) representative. This case provides specific role information for the ITF representative. The case needs to be accompanied by the background information case, UVA-QA-0739. Excerpt UVA-QA-0742 Rev. Dec. 2, 2010 Confidential Information for Jack Watson (ITF Representative) Jack Watson had been involved in tennis for over 40 years. Now, in his mid-60s, he had taken on the role of compliance official for the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Watson had seen the game of tennis evolve from an elite country-club sport to a game of athleticism and commercialism. Watson had been a strong supporter of the growth and popularity of the sport, but he was well aware of many professional athletes in a variety of sports who had been exploited by media and fame. He continued to be involved with the ITF because of his mission to retain the dignity of the sport and its athletes. And ultimately, his role was to protect the athlete. Each year, every professional tennis agent was required to attend a one-day conference held by the ITF on agent compliance. Each agent took a test on the rules, and upon receiving a nearly perfect score, the agent would be registered as a preferred agent by the ITF. To remain in compliance, an agent must have ITF approval for each sponsorship deal completed. Many times, the agent would send the official contract terms before it was signed, and once the ITF approved it, the deal could be completed. Each year, however, Watson liked to actually take part in at least one negotiation so he could remain current with American culture and become a better critic. Watson had already planned a trip to the United States for other matters, so he decided to be a part of the negotiations with Sebastian Martinez. He was also interested in getting to know some of the U.S. agents better, in hopes of better controlling the perceived exploitation of athletes in the United States by companies and agents alike. To prevent tennis players from being exploited, the ITF had created guidelines that all agents and companies were required to abide by in all endorsement contracts. (The guidelines were distributed at every annual conference and required strict adherence.) These guidelines included a maximum annual endorsement base fee of $ 5 million; a maximum signing bonus of 15% of the endorsement base; a limit of 15 athlete appearances; and a maximum of 30% of endorsement base for a performance-based bonus. Watson believed that if athletes were given the maximums in each category, it would set a precedent for future athletes; he feared the agents would continue to lobby the ITF, and limits would continue to rise with each coming year. . . .

Kicks Inc.: Confidential Information for Jason Priddy (Kicks Brand Manager)

Kicks Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of athletic apparel and shoes, had plans to launch a new tennis shoe line within the year and was seeking an up-and-coming young athlete to be its spokesperson. Sebastian Martinez had emerged as an ideal candidate, and contract discussions were underway. Six issues need to be resolved to the satisfaction of the six parties involved—the athlete, the athlete's mother, the athlete's father, the athlete's agent, the Kicks brand manager, and an International Tennis Federation representative. This case provides specific role information for the Kicks brand manager. The case needs to be accompanied by the background information case, UVA-QA-0739. Excerpt UVA-QA-0743 Rev. Jun. 14, 2011 Confidential Information for Jason Priddy (Kicks Brand Manager) Jason Priddy was a young manager at Kicks Inc. He had joined the Kicks team just under a year earlier and had recently been assigned as brand manager of the new tennis shoe line. He wanted to prove himself and demonstrate to the company that he could manage the new brand well by staying within budget while signing big names to effectively promote the shoe. Upon accepting the position, Priddy extensively researched the market for tennis shoes, especially among the professionals. Although many companies sponsored athletes with clothing, few companies offered tennis shoes as well. The biggest names among the shoe companies were Nike and Adidas, but Kicks would also compete against smaller companies in the market, including K-Swiss, Babolat, Reebok, and New Balance. Nike, a $ 16 billion company, boasted over 50% of the athletic shoe market and annually offered more than $ 400 million in endorsements. New Balance, however, also a top-five athletic shoe manufacturer, did not offer any athlete endorsements. Kicks's endorsement plans would fall somewhere between thosetwo extremes. Priddy was certain Kicks wouldn't be able to compete with what Nike had to offer, but upon further research found that it might be able to more directly compete with K-Swiss, a$ 1 billion company. After a long period without athlete endorsements, K-Swiss had begun in 2006 to offer contracts again to tennis players, starting with a 19-year-old American named Phillip Simmonds. Simmonds, ranked 202 at the time, had been offered a four-year endorsement contract for $ 50,000 annually. By 2009, K-Swiss was able to endorse other bigger-name players such as Mardy Fish, Anna Kournikova, and Tommy Haas, and all for modest compensation amounts, especially compared with Nike's athletes. Priddy decided he would try to model his strategy after K-Swiss's. Nike was proficient at scouting athletic talent, ultimately signing some of the biggest names in sports. Priddy would have to target up-and-coming athletes, who would accept a lower compensation amount, and hope they would live up to their potential. Given that K-Swiss had offered a 200-ranked player $ 50,000, he figured $ 200,000 would be a respectable offer to a top-50 player. . . .