Andy is front and center of the American Tennis Fam, IMO. Who else has this honest voice in the game right now if not him?

Roddick is absolutely correct on this. Essentially the USTA has done very, very little to foster players through their system. As he said, you need only look at the Williams Sisters who didn't go through the USTA. Some might argue Ben Shelton is a by product, but really he was developed by his Dad in Florida. What really needs to happen is that the entire player development system needs to be restructured with the sole purpose of helping promissing players in any way they can. Unforunately, at the root of this problem (as everything) is $$$ and nobody wants to give up theirs. You know who you need to get on about this is Patrick McEnroe who would have a lot to say and I feel like would be fair.

The internet needs to let this man José know to get on the pod ASAP - I need that

Great show! Love the inside knowledge.

Super eye opening. I’m watching this from the perspective of a coach who coaches a ton of kids ages 4-17. It gives me a feeling of empowerment that it’s my responsibility and not some governing tennis authority to make my players the best they can be. A lot of the best Americans had parent support and the support of a coach, not necessarily the Usta system. Thanks for your insight and thoughts on this subject Andy!

Fascinating. Absolutely absorbed.

Can't wait to sit next to you in section 347, Row Q at Arthur Ashe, Andy! 😂

Transparency is needed. I think you articulated your views very well. The USTA needs to listen to players like yourself who won on the big stage without their help and come up with a plan on how to help coaches who are outside of the USTA umbrella. Another interesting podcast thanks.

Andy, you are spot on when you say usta is all about the logo and not about the flag!! When your mission goes from tennis to dei and countless failed strategies to grow the game, or should I say waste money then the mission is clearly corrupt

Andy I absolutely love your podcast served and I think this is a great forum for discussing Jose Higueras open letter to American tennis. You are so correct so many of the young champions that have been developed over the last probably 20 years in America have developed outside of the USTA player development people like yourself, Coco Goff, Ben Shelton, and on and on. There’s still a tremendous need for financial sources for families who are trying to bring their shoulder up as junior tennis players into potentially move onto the next level. Traveling food and board is more expensive than ever today and outside of so many families wallets. The biggest concern I see from Jose‘s letter is it’s obvious there’s money that is not going to player development within USTA so if not, where is it going and how is it being spent??? If there’s a great accounting that needs to come from all of this then thanks for bringing this to light!!! I always appreciate your Irreverent humor and discussing such situations. As a grandparent who has a very gifted young granddaughter, who is moving up the national junior ranks, I have a concern in where monies are being allocated and how they’re being spent for USTA so-called player development

Luv you guys. You do sound agitated and that feeling is actually contagious.

The top 10 people working for the USTA earn roughly $10 million combined and total payroll is just under $60 million… you have the CEO, COO, marketing and a bunch of lawyers making all the money.

24:14 That is a piece of yoda wisdom that applies to EVERYTHING happening in America right now. Also, the letter didn't mention that the USTA turned away Naomi Osaka when she was starting out and looking for support and help, which is when the JTA came in and why Osaka plays under the Japanese flag. So basically the USTA has done nothing to help produce a grand slam champion. And they have execs making $14M????? This is an amazing grift b/c in the for profit world, if you're making $14M and not producing results, you're just fired... unless your dad is Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk or you're a Kennedy or you're Larry Ellison's kid...

Everyone is complaining about the lack of American men winning majors yet Andy talks about how he is not even on the A-list with the USTA. That tells you all you need to know about the USTA. Someone remind me who the last American man to win a major was? Who was the last American man to even come close?

As a player a coach and a fan of tennis I view the USTA as an advertising entity for tennis that doesn't do that great of a job. The organization sems ever present but the cost of being involved with them that has little to no upside for the average players at the community level. Maybe for a select few it has benefits but I don't see it here on the courts.

Helping reduce the cost of sign up tournament fees amplifies access of tennis to all communities. Perhaps a portion of resources should be allocated towards that (if not already), or the operational changes required to drive costs down (which could lead to business model changes).

Andy, I saw you on your last year on tour at the Atlanta BB&T Open when you beat Gilles Muller in the finals…great freakin match!! Also, it was so freakin hot in the middle of the summer/end of July that I never went back because the heat is insufferable for someone in the crowd just sitting there with no shade…now the tournament is going away after this year because basically nobody wants to play or spectate in that sun and humid heat. Maybe you can be an advocate for the ATL Open to come back…in the late Sping or early Fall. The weather is perfect this time of year for tennis! Perhaps even the last week for hard courts before the clay season starts?!

Hilarious just how many times Andy went on about having been skipped over in this email🤣

Andy definitely watched Step Brothers more than a few times 🤣

Make tennis channel and grand slams free to watch. Put these fantastic USTA Coaches on TV to teach kids for free.

I'd love to hear a longer show or even multiple just on what everyone feels the issues with USTA are and potential solutions. I've always felt USTA does a pretty poor job of promoting the sport and think Jon raises an important point, of what the best way to actually grow it might be.

Have two boys who play Highschool Varsity Tennis. They have no idea who the USTA is because they make no effort to reach out to these kids. I used to get a free shirt and tennis magazine. Davis Cup was amazing with Agassi, Sampras, Bryan Brothers. It's crap now. Why does everyone try to copy Spanish Tennis Footwork? Because US doesn't compare.

show his letter, already!

Whatever Italy is doing, check it out...

I'm only here for the outro music

Why not get usta as the "logo" of amerian amateur tennis and a parallel organization which is dedicated to investing / development of the top 100 or so amateur players.

CONversation ❤😂

Andy seems very hurt that he got the email two days later than others.

Biggest problem nationally is that a real teaching cert. Program does not exist. Pta and ptr are a complete joke. USTA has done a horrible job with recreational tennis as well

The head/former head of US player development bragging about getting players into the top 100 is pathetic. The tennis boom of the 70s and 80s, when I took up the game as a 12-year-old, was fueled by three American players--Connors, Evert, and McEnroe. Nobody is going to be a catylist for tennis by dwelling in the top 100. If the USTA player development coaches haven't produced an upcoming Serena or Roddick, the money is being wasted to an unacceptable degree.

Let’s face it. What does the USTA actually do? The organization brings in a lot of money but where does the money actually go?

How many millions did usta spend on pickleball in the last 5 years?

Throw the whole usta and uspta under the bus. They are a failure as far as player development.

Guys, i wish you would lower the high pitch and tone on your pods. You both talk high naturally it comes across as highly agitated. It can be quite annoying. Your content is awesome. Please work on this part of listener experience . Use lower voice, get a voice coach.

Andy please just make your point and move on. Stop waffling

Usta doesn't develop american tennis, people do. Hire the people who will put the effort and passion in. And they also may have to risk getting a divorce because their spouses will not like the amount of time and work it will take to grow junior tennis communities and cities