The ATP is "missing the boat with merchandising" for its top players, according to Tennis Channel's Jon Wertheim. Players have independent contracts with various companies that may produce a product line for them, but Wertheim asked, "Why can’t I get a (Kei) Nishikori shirt? Why can’t I get a (Milos) Raonic cap? ... There has to be a way that I can wear the gear of these players.” Tennis Channel’s Brett Haber noted fans can go into the Australian Open merchandise tents and buy apparel that specific players wear, but it "just doesn’t have their name on the back, unless you’re buying a World TeamTennis jersey." But Wertheim said, "I may as well just go to the mall. The fact that I have these athletes that I love and in every other sport, I can wear something that represents them, I can’t do that in tennis. I think that’s a huge missed opportunity” (“Live at the Australian Open,” Tennis Channel, 1/26).
NO LONGER A TEENAGE WASTELAND: USA TODAY's Nick McCarvel notes the tennis world "has been buzzing for the last few years" about a new wave of young stars, including Nishikori, Raonic, Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov. USTA Head of Men's Tennis Jay Berger said, "There is a little bit of a paradigm shift right now where you're seeing (the likes of ) Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis, [Borna] Coric and Alexander Zverev." ESPN's Patrick McEnroe: "It's going to be a very exciting year in the ATP because there are teenagers who could make some noise." McCarvel notes while it "remains to be seen which of the young players will break through and rise to the top of the sport, the building blocks are there." With Kyrgios "leading the charge, a return to tennis being skewed younger isn't imminent, but the threats of a new generation are starting to be realized (USA TODAY, 1/28).
