By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Monday, October 21, 2024
Picture credit score: USTA
The USTA introduced a structural shake-up right this moment.
Martin Blackman has resigned his present submit as Common Supervisor of Participant Improvement efficient right this moment.
Blackman, who succeeded Patrick McEnroe as USTA head of participant improvement in April, 2015, has agreed to remain on as a particular advisor by means of the top of the 12 months to make sure a easy transition.
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“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve American tennis on this position for the final ten years and I’m grateful to the USTA for giving me that chance,” Blackman mentioned in a press release. “The work that our Participant Improvement crew has accomplished, in partnership with the non-public sector and the USTA Sections, has been a labor of affection.
“I’m proud that we had been in a position to construct a pathway that has supported the resurgence of American tennis, the credit score for which matches before everything to our wonderful gamers, and the groups surrounding them, whose dedication and work ethic have pushed this development and success. The chance now exists to align our wonderful progress on the grassroots degree with our success on the high of the skilled recreation and increase the pathway for juniors of all ranges, and to amplify that progress and growth with the USTA’s elevated emphasis on teaching.
“I want the USTA, my wonderful Participant Improvement crew and all of my colleagues within the non-public sector and Sections the most effective as they develop and promote the game that all of us love.”
Blackman’s departure comes after the USTA opted to make “organizational adjustments” and creates a gap for a brand new chief.
The Tennis Affiliation mentioned this reorganization is designed to “higher assist gamers in any respect ranges of their aggressive pathway with Participant Improvement, Professional Circuit, Group Occasions, Collegiate and Junior Competitors groups now mixed right into a single cohesive division.
“The intent is to enhance inner collaboration and allow the USTA to strategically direct sources the place they’re wanted most for the advantage of probably the most aggressive junior {and professional} gamers.”
The USTA can be creating a brand new, extra expansive place to steer the newly remodeled division. A seek for this chief will start quickly.
Kent Kinnear and Kathy Rinaldi will proceed to steer males’s and ladies’s tennis, respectively, underneath the management of this new place, the USTA introduced. Bob Bryan is U.S. Davis Cup captain and Lindsay Davenport heads the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup squad. Group USA will play for each the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup championships subsequent month in Malaga, Spain.
Together with structural adjustments, the USTA’s not too long ago introduced Participant Improvement Advisory Council — a powerhouse group of present and former gamers, dad and mom, coaches, USTA Part leaders, and event operators — will assist information the group’s path ahead.
“The group stays within the early phases of its work and is anticipated to supply suggestions for the way the USTA can additional improve its assist for high-performance American gamers later this 12 months,” the USTA introduced.