FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2024
Saddlebrook Resort, Tampa, Florida, February 13— The PTR Racquets Conference, held at the new PTR headquarters within the world-renowned Saddlebrook Resort, has concluded with unprecedented success, boasting a record attendance of almost 700 racquets professionals from more than 20 countries. The week-long event, featuring a stellar lineup of almost 100 speakers across Tennis, Pickleball, and Padel, marked a significant milestone in the global racquet sports community.
Key highlights of the PTR Racquets Conference include:
International Participation: Drawing attendees from over 20 countries, the conference served as a melting pot of ideas, techniques, and strategies from around the world, fostering a truly global exchange within the racquet sports community.
Comprehensive Speaker Lineup: With nearly 100 distinguished speakers representing various facets of Tennis, Pickleball, and Padel, the conference provided an unparalleled opportunity for participants to learn from the best in the industry. Renowned figures such as Gigi Fernandez International Tennis Hall of Fame, winner of 17 Grand Slam doubles titles and 2 Olympic Gold Medals; Johan Kriek, former world #5 and Grand Slam Champion; Emilio Sanchez, former world #5; and Ivo Karlovic, with one of the fastest serves in the history of tennis, graced the event with their insights and experiences. Pickleball speakers included Sarah Ansboury, Taylor Taylor, Sonny Tannan among other talented coaches. Padel speakers included Martin Echegaray, Paloma Cortina, Julian Wortelboer, Marcos Del Pilar, and Leo Alonso.
Multidisciplinary Approach: The PTR Racquets Conference catered to a wide audience by featuring speakers and sessions covering Tennis, Pickleball, and Padel. This multidisciplinary approach allowed attendees to explore the interconnectedness of various racquet sports, promoting cross-disciplinary learning and collaboration.
Celebration of Women’s Tennis: A special highlight of the conference was the recognition of the PTRW 25K A USTA Pro Circuit Event, showcasing top female players on the pro circuit. Leonie Kung defeated Sophie Chang 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, while Maria Kononova/Maria Kozyreva defeated Weronika Falkowska/Leonie Kung 7-6, 7-6(5) for the doubles title. The event further drives PTR’s commitment to the growth and empowerment of female athletes in the racquet sports arena.
Collegiate Cup: PTR hosted a 4-team college tournament at Saddlebrook Resort. Included schools were Saint Leo University, Francis Marion University, Georgia College, and Tusculum University.
Pickleball Tournament: Pickleball enthusiasts traveled from all over to Saddlebrook Resort for the PPR Pickleball tournament. The tournament hosted over 75 players with mixed doubles and women’s and men’s doubles divisions.
Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Pierce and Blake: Mary Pierce, International Tennis Hall of Fame, former four-time Grand Slam champion, and world #3 along with James Blake, former Davis Cup star were honored with lifetime achievement awards for their contribution and continued efforts to tennis and PTR. Awards were also given among PTR and PPR members recognized for their involvement and dedication to PTR, PPR, and racquet sports.
PTR Pro of the Year – Simon Gale
PTR Coach Developer of the Year – Tim Clay
PTR Humanitarian of the Year – Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix
PTR College Coach of the Year – Dominic Manilla
PTR Young Professional of the Year – Julian Morales
PTR Tour Coach of the Year – Bruce Lipka
PTR Developmental Coach of the Year – Kyle Beynor
PTR Wheelchair Coach of the Year – Jason Harnett
PTR Public Facility of the Year – Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center
PTR Private Club of the Year – Cliff Drysdale Tennis
PTR Partner of the Year – Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP)
PPR Private Facility of the Year – Wheaton Sports Center
PPR Public Facility of the Year – Oasis Pickleball Club
PPR Humanitarian of the Year – Steve Lerner
PPR Clinician of the Year – Lamar Scott
PPR Professional of the Year – Marina Anderson
Venue at PTR Headquarters, Saddlebrook Resort: The conference took place at the newly announced future PTR headquarters situated within Saddlebrook Resort. The world-class facilities provided an ideal setting for networking, learning, and the exchange of ideas among the participants.
The PTR Racquets Conference spanned over seven days, creating an immersive and engaging experience for attendees. Dan Santorum, CEO of PTR, expressed delight at the overwhelming success of the event, stating, “The PTR Racquets Conference has truly exceeded our expectations. We are thrilled to witness such a diverse and enthusiastic gathering of racquet sports professionals from across the globe. This event has set a new standard for collaboration and learning in our industry.”
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Caitlyn Fries Communications PTR caitlyn@ptrtennis.org
About PTR: PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 12,000 members in 127 countries. It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization. PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.Learn more at www.ptrtennis.org
