As my day finishes today January 17, 2023, I saw an email from Tennis Industry United that claims that again in 2022 there is growth in tennis, this time one million new fellows are reported by the USTA. Of course, I do not believe these numbers since the source is dubious (the USTA), any decent reporter (I do not claim to be one) knows that all the information must be validated by at least two sources before it is published. Please note that the USTA executives just publish whatever, and are happy to create false information (propaganda) and rely on no one questioning the validity of the data they put out.

Of course, we know better. Here is the analysis of the absurd growth claim, read it, challenge it, and I dare anyone to debate me with this. I have the facts for you, if I am mistaken, please enlighten me on how I am incorrect, I would be happy to issue a public apology if I am mistaken. Do you think the USTA would if they are mistaken? of course not. That would be clue number one.

Source one, the press release by the USTA PR people: The USTA gives you random figures that make them look competent and caring, but there are no details to the data at all. They claim one million new players, yet there is no breakdown of age, race, gender, or zip code. Imagine McDonald’s (any business) Claiming 1M new customers and citing no source or breakdown. This would never happen in any business, but for the welfare executive team of the USTA, it is all good. Another point to be concerned about is what specific USTA programs are these imaginary one million people using or purchasing. If they play in parks, there is nothing for them. If they are playing in clubs, the USTA has nothing to do with it, and if they are kids? Who pays for this and their learning? As you can see when you ask reasonable questions that they cannot support, you know they are lying. In a boardroom, I would call for an immediate meeting and get answers for this nonsense. But, for the USTA board, all is good.

Source number two is the 990 forms they present to the IRS. Here I will prove to you through the IRS and USTA financials that what they say is not true. The key point to pay attention to here is membership revenue.

Please note that in 2018 the USTA collected $18,540,000 in membership revenue. Now compare that to the 2021 and 2020 numbers that they also put out. A pathetic $13,593,000 in revenue or the equivalent of a 26% drop in membership dollars.

As you can conclude, they claim that the sport is gaining momentum and growth of 23.9% and that there…