By Luke Jensen, French Open Doubles Champion
Tennis fans, how is your game? My summer was so much fun! I traveled to tennis destinations such as the Atlanta Open, Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington D.C., Cincinnati Open, and the US Open!
My bucket-list stops on the tennis tour have evolved since my days on the tour. Today, the fan experiences are amazing with access to players like never before. When I played, practice courts were closed off to the fans; these days, player practice schedules are promoted as part of the tournament experience.
I work with tournament media and promotions teams on fan experiences for the pro tour. I find that today’s players understand their role model responsibilities better than the previous generation of players. Tour players today have a great sense of their own personal promotion. They are more fan-friendly and interactive with you, the fans!
I’m sad that tournaments like the Atlanta Open and Newport are done, but excited for the future of these 12-day “mini grand slam” events beginning in 2025. This will focus the tennis world on better, elite player fields and leading player match ups. Does this move tennis into more popularity? I think it does. For example, I watched Nadal play Djokovic in the Olympics in Paris for the 60th time in their rivalry. Only Evert and Navratilova played more times. Rivalries are interesting how they evolve and end up. The new tournament calendar will create more chances for Sinner and Alcaraz to play … wow, I’m in on that!
I ran into a Jensen Zone fan recently. Christie told me she just won a 4.0 tournament and during the pressure matches she would turn to the Jensen Zone tips in the articles that helped her become victorious! I was so impressed and humbled that my advice helped. I’m obsessed with player development for all levels — to see the smiles when the bad shots turn good! Over the years, I’ve shared many shots, drills, and approaches to try to be the difference in your game. So, here’s another one: If you’re nervous or if you’re not sure how you will compete, I want you to fill your mind with positivity. Put a smile on your face and face the pressure of the moment.
Always enjoy your tennis and make a personal goal of bringing a friend who doesn’t play tennis to tennis! Introduce our wonderful sport to your friend group.
