Dear USTA, Show Me The MONEY

GM. This is Ad-Out Tennis, the newsletter that gives you the same exhilarating feeling as popping your head out of a limo’s sunroof.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• Monte Carlo Reactions

• USTA Gets Called Out

• Rafa is BACK

👇 Listen: Bros first, champs second. Bob & Mike Bryan reminisce about the glory days on Roddick’s rising podcast.

NO HEISTS, JUST HAT TRICKS IN MONTE CARLO

Get Him To the Greek Philosopher!

When the dust settles on the clay courts of the Monte Carlo Country Club, one man stood taller than the rest. And damnit, I did not anticipate it to be Stefanos Tsitsipas this year!

The Greek God conquered Monte Carlo for the third time in four years.

We knew he’s triumphed in Monte Carlo before, but he wasn’t having the best year-to-date. Before raising the trophy, his best performance YTD was a semi-final appearance at the ATP 250 event in Los Cabo. And prior to Monte Carlo, Tsitsipas had a first round exit in Miami!

What changed? 🧐

Apparently, he owes much of his success to being spiritually aligned with everything around him. In a post-match interview, he claims that “I consider spirituality as a strong essence of my wellbeing. I try to strive for it, I try to develop and harvest it. That can be on the tennis court. When I’m spiritually on a good tune, everything else seems to work.”

Sometimes, he even takes it to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts.

I think it’s safe to say he’s cementing his legacy as a Greek God on the courts, and a Greek Philosopher off the courts 😂.

FUTURE OF AMERICAN TENNIS 📉📉📉

“The British Are Coming!” - Not Jose Higueras

Brace yourselves! Jose Higueras is waving the flag and warning us the same way Paul Revere warned the Americans, “the British are coming!”

Who is Jose Higueras, you ask?

Well, he’s a former #6 ranked player in the world and famously coached some LEGENDS of the game, like Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer.

So.. when Jose speaks, the tennis world listens.

Higueras called out the USTA for slashing budgets and cutting player development programs, which means the future of American tennis is headed straight for the gutter. Jose aggressively calls out Brian Vahaly, the USTA Vice President, for undermining the entire operation.

Like conspiracy theories? Well, Brian Vahaly is also the CEO of YouFit Gyms - a popular gym offering indoor pickleball courts. I wonder where Brian is putting his time and attention… 🤔.

Anyways, the consequences are dire, folks. The top Americans today like Coco Gauff, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and Taylor Fritz, trained under these USTA development programs. If the next generation of kids receive little to no coaching, programming, or financial aid from the USTA, Higueras predicts American tennis will be nonexistent within a decade.

Get your act together, USTA!

YUAN THE WAY UP

I love trends. And Yue Yuan is TRENDING because she’s putting together an incredible 2024 campaign.

• Won her first title this year in Austin

• New career high #38, an impressive jump after ending 2023 at #87

Can’t wait to see where she ranks at the end of the year. Jia you!

VAMOS RAFA 🥹

Rafa’s Farewell Tour

Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr., Mariano Rivera, and of course.. Roger Federer.

Some of greatest athletes of all time had memorable farewell tours and I’m hoping Rafa gets the farewell tour he deserves. He’s back in Barcelona this week after missing the entire first quarter the year and as long as the world sees a healthy Rafa on the court, this is a W.

Cheers to you Rafa, on this final run. I hope you get everything you wish for.

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