What happens when a former top-100 player takes her competitive mindset and applies it to managing over 350 event days at the USTA National Campus? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Grace Min—a former WTA top-100 player who retired in 2024 and quickly transitioned into her role as Event Manager at the USTA National Campus. Grace shares how she’s adapted her player mindset into leadership, the surprising similarities between competing on tour and managing large-scale events, and what every director can learn about communication, adaptability, and feedback. Her story is both inspiring and practical for anyone managing programs, tournaments, or teams in racquet sports.

What You’ll Learn

• Why adaptability—learned on tour—may be the most valuable skill in event management
• How to balance fundamentals (scheduling, officiating) with “elevators” that make events memorable
• The role of feedback loops and after-action reports in improving events year over year
• The challenge of moving from giving feedback as a player to receiving it as a manager
• Why effective communication is essential when leading high-performance teams
• How mentorship and process-oriented thinking can help directors avoid burnout
• Grace’s simple mantra for events (borrowed from her coach): Win the last point

Episode Highlights

• Grace’s decision to pivot from playing to management after injury and why events, not coaching, felt like the right fit
• The striking similarities between training for tournaments and planning events
• Why the “pressure is a privilege” at the National Campus and how her team manages expectations
• The unexpected joy Grace found in team camaraderie after years in an individual sport

Connect

• Grace Min – LinkedIn
• Hosts:
  • Kim Bastable – LinkedIn
  • Simon Gale – LinkedIn

Learn More & Get Certified

Racquet Fuel is powered by the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program, the industry’s leading education for current and aspiring racquets leaders. Explore our self-paced online courses—Personal Brand Management, Operations & Programming, and Leadership & Finance—and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game.

👉 Learn More & Enroll Here

From four clients in a garage to a 15,000-sq-ft hub with 500+ members, Jon Rowley shares the playbook racquet clubs can use to grow with standards, systems, and heart.

In this Racquet Fuel episode, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Jon Rowley, founder and “Chief Exercise Officer” of a thriving Kansas City fitness community. Jon’s journey (from moonlighting trainer in Chicago to leading a 500-member operation) mirrors the realities club leaders face: hiring for culture, avoiding burnout, and turning standards into belonging. If you’re building a modern racquets department or club business, Jon’s blend of operational discipline and people-first leadership is a masterclass in sustainable growth.

What You’ll Learn

• Culture you can feel: The simple values (“Work hard. Be kind.”) and everyday standards (no hats/shirts-on, no profanity) that create psychological safety and professionalism.
• Hiring that sticks: Why having candidates take a class reveals fit under light pressure, and how hiring from within preserves culture.
• Upskilling smartly: A practical education model—baseline certs plus ~$2K/year per coach for horizontal learning (e.g., women’s health)—that deepens service without bloating budgets.
• Leader on the floor: How staying in the trenches keeps your ear to members and your team, while still steering long-term vision.
• Delegation that works: Moving from “I’ll just do it” to training others—accepting the short-term time cost to win back hours forever.
• Business model guardrails: How operations, bookends, and clear systems prevent burnout and make the role attractive as a real career.
• Community > classes: Turning daily workouts and lessons into life-improving habits that keep people coming back.

Connect

Guest – Jon Rowley
• Website: https://www.2020fit.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-rowley-23688020/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2020.fit/

Hosts
Kim Bastable – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-bastable-uf/
Simon Gale – https://www.linkedin.com/in/simongaletennis/

Learn More & Get Certified (UF DORS)

Level up your racquets leadership with the University of Florida Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program—three self-paced online courses designed with today’s club realities in mind:

• Personal Brand Management (open now - use code RF25 for $25 off for a limited time)
• Course 1: Operations & Programming (open now - use code RF100 for $100 off for a limited time)
• Course 2: Leadership & Finance (coming soon)

Learn more and START TODAY!

What does it really take to turn a life on the court into a sustainable career in racquet sports?

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, longtime tennis pro, club owner, and author Greg Moran joins hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale to unpack 40 years of experience in a single facility, and the powerful lessons that came with it.

From starting as a ball boy to building one of Connecticut’s most successful clubs, Greg shares how intentional leadership, early financial planning, and a commitment to professionalism shaped his long career. He also opens up about his own mistakes, including spreading himself too thin and failing to delegate, and offers clear advice for anyone wanting to stay in this profession for the long haul.

If you've ever wondered how to create a fulfilling, sustainable life in racquet sports (or how to mentor others to do the same) this conversation is a must-listen.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to lead yourself before leading a team
• Why many teaching pros hit a wall—and how to avoid it
• The critical difference between coaching and being a racquet sports professional
• How to build confidence in junior pros through gradual leadership experiences
• What Greg would do differently if he could start over
• Why thinking long-term is key to both financial and professional growth
• The unseen cost of ignoring physical wear-and-tear in racquet sports careers
• How to inspire your team through example, not just instruction

Resources & Mentions

• Books by Greg Moran
• Jorge Capestany's TennisDrills.tv: https://www.tennisdrills.tv
• Referenced quote from Joe Curdo: “If you don’t have a sense of humor in the tennis business, you’re never going to last.”

Learn More & Get Certified

Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader in racquet sports? Start your journey TODAY with online courses on racquet sports leadership:

• Personal Brand Management for the Racquets Industry - START TODAY 🎁 Use code RF25 for $25 off for a limited time
• Course 1: Facilities, Operations, Marketing & More in the Era of Multiple Racquet Sports - START TODAY 🎁 Use code RF100 for $100 off for a limited time
• Course 2: Leadership, management & finance For the Racquets Leader - COMING SOON