tech/racket sports reporter @SBJ • as seen @NBCSChicago NBA.com @TheAthletic @suntimes_sports @FortuneMagazine @ringer • 📩 rschaefer@sportsbusinessjournal.com
New York, USA
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Hey, Twitter. Personal update (hopefully my last for a little while):
Today I start as a Tech Reporter with @SBJ, a dream opportunity at this stage of my career for myriad reasons. I couldn't be more excited.
Tip line is open at the email in bio. And indulge a quick thread...
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
.@CocoGauff is joining the relaunched @WorldTeamTennis 🎾
The @WTA No. 4 will compete in two events for the Florida Flamingos on Dec. 14-15.
Her compensation includes equity connected to the franchise.
WTT returns in December after a five-year hiatus.
More on who else is playing: ow.ly/ScZA50ZQX4Z
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
Beemok Sports & Entertainment is bringing college basketball to the tennis court.
The CareSource Invitational on Oct. 7 in Cincinnati will feature Cincinnati vs. Ohio State and Xavier vs. Dayton in an outdoor exhibition doubleheader.
MORE: ow.ly/JXjr50ZQMfC
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
The WTA Finals are headed to Charlotte, with Spectrum Center set to host the season-ending event from 2027-29 🎾
The WTA will also relocate its global headquarters from St. Petersburg to Charlotte over the next year.
MORE: ow.ly/kvJb50ZOigT
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
The @usopen drew its 4th-best full tourney audience on ESPN dating back to when the network first took over full TV rights in 2015.
ESPN's best U.S. Open tournaments:
🔲2019: 1.28 million viewers
🔲2015: 1.27 million
🔲2022: 1.21 million
🔲2026: 1.2 million
🔲2025: 1.1 million
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
Ben Shelton, the trash talker...
Back in December at the Charlotte Invitational, @FTiafoe told us @BenShelton is his toughest opponent when it comes to mind games.
Now they meet on the biggest stage with a spot in the @usopen Final on the line.
Only one punches his ticket Friday...whose trash talk prevails? 👀
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
The podcast came first.
Andy Roddick says the @Served_Podcast reignited his passion for tennis, sharpened his analysis and prepared him for ESPN's biggest stages.
Now, he's become one of the sport's most prominent media voices.
MORE via @rob_schaef: ow.ly/uQPG50ZLutc
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
Every tournament wants Alex Eala.
The 21-year-old Filipina has become one of tennis' biggest attractions, earning stadium-court placement, increased appearance fees and a rapidly growing endorsement portfolio.
MORE on her meteoric rise via @rob_schaef: ow.ly/VQ8B50ZJuRH
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
The Miami Open will announce two new club spaces on its stadium court branded “The Pavilions.” 🎾
The 4,000-square-foot areas will offer direct court sightlines, bar and lounge seating, televisions and all-inclusive food and beverages.
MORE: ow.ly/33Wg50ZIgrp
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
A baseball fan built the app he wished MLB had, with features like mobile multiview, enhanced game tracking and Apple device integrations.
Four months later, MLB hired him.
@LemireJoe has the story of how it came to be: ow.ly/QecQ50ZHmh2
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
Monday’s U.S. Open day session featuring Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz has the highest get-in price at $298 📈
According to TicketData, that’s up 33% over the past three days and 157% compared to the same session last year.
MORE: ow.ly/J5GV50ZHhRF
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
The USTA won’t complete its $800M U.S. Open renovations until 2027, but fans will notice changes in Arthur Ashe Stadium 🎾
Courtside seats increased from 3,000 to 5,000, suites were renovated and the upper concourse expanded.
MORE: ow.ly/pMhS50ZEOHw
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
N.Y. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has secured 1,000 “affordable” tickets for the U.S. Open in response to public concern over surging ticket prices.
The tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to local residents.
Via @TheAthletic | ow.ly/CeNI50ZFj79
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
New USTA CEO Craig Tiley hit the ground running, meeting with section heads and senior leadership during his first week 🎾
Tiley will oversee grassroots tennis in the U.S., the U.S. Open and stakeholder relationships across global tennis.
MORE: ow.ly/cl3y50ZCqYE
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
A pandemic side project became a media brand for @andyroddick.
He turned on-air appearances with Tennis Channel into @Served_Podcast which is now entering its third season and boasts hundreds of thousands of followers.
🎧 FULL EPISODE — ow.ly/rjb250ZBCmQ
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
The 2026 U.S. Open will offer a record $108M in player compensation, up 20% from 2025.
Singles champions will each earn $5.5M, while $2M will fund a new player support program.
The news comes as the Grand Slams launch a new player advisory council.
MORE: ow.ly/cMz150ZBWm3
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
World Team Tennis is back.
Jessica Pegula, Tommy Paul and Denis Shapovalov will headline the league’s three teams as WTT returns in December following a five-year hiatus.
The 2026 season will feature six events across New York, Florida and Toronto.
MORE: ow.ly/hN5650ZBTue
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
Former ATP No. 1 @andyroddick made his acting debut recently and his son had quite the reaction to seeing his dad on the big screen.
Roddick joined @rob_schaef to talk Hollywood, his early impressions of ESPN and more on this week's Sports Media Podcast: ow.ly/kk5t50ZBBZ0
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News @SBJ: TMRW Sports is hiring ex-Sony Sports CEO Rufus Hack to lead its golf businesses sportsbusinessjournal.com/Ar…
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Oura expands reach in tennis with Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz sponsorships (h/t @LemireJoe) sportsbusinessjournal.com/Ar…
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Rob Schaefer retweeted
Capital One Arena’s $1B renovation includes what Monumental Sports & Entertainment calls a “complete tech stack transformation.”
MSE said it took a “green field” approach to build foundational infrastructure that future technology can layer over.
MORE: ow.ly/Zpfc50Zx0zp
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