Special from
Zoo Tennis
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My annual look at issues in college and junior tennis for the coming year is a striking example of just how intertwined these two levels are. As I reviewed last year's eight questions, only two were definitively answered; three is my guess for this year.
Who will replace Tim Russell as President and CEO of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association?
Some of these questions are more open-ended than others, but this one should have a definitive answer in the next six months. The past nine years have been challenging for the organization: the pandemic, which contributed to the loss of several major conference programs, the lack of a viable television/streaming outlet for NCAA Division I, the loss of Oracle funding, and the upheaval of conference realignment. All of these issues have frustrated players, coaches and fans alike.
Yet college tennis as a professional pathway continues to attract notice, with the ascendance of Ben Shelton, Peyton Stearns, Emma Navarro, Diana Schneider and scores of top doubles professionals giving the ITA a launchpad for improved promotion. The ATP Accelerator program is the most universally praised accomplishment of Russell's tenure, but the push to raise the visibility of Division II, Division III, NAIA and community college tennis under his stewardship has been another big step forward.
