While we at Racquet reserve judgement on the fundamental state of tennis today, an awful lot of people seem to think there’s something wrong with it, at least where spectators are concerned. Between Patrick Mouratoglou’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown, India’s Tennis Premier League, and INTENNSE, innovators are looking for ways to shorten matches, add pizzazz, and balance inequities in an attempt to draw, and keep, a younger crowd. This month grand-slam winner and former world no. 3 Sloane Stephens announced she’s joined INTENNSE as a team owner. We asked her about the new(ish) league, her role in it, and when we might see her back on court.
Racquet: Congratulations on becoming part-owner of the Rips. As someone who’s still on the tour, you have a unique perspective on the similarities and differences between a team-tennis league and the WTA. Do you see these leagues (there are a few) as the future of tennis, or something fun and different to do when there’s a break in the season? Or a way to extend a tennis career?