The Future of Racquet Sports in Florida: A Conversation with Whitney Kraft

Racquet sports in Florida are evolving, and few people have a better perspective on the industry's growth than Whitney Kraft, Managing Director of Racquet Sports Management. From tennis to padel to pickleball, the landscape is shifting toward a multi-sport future.

Above: Whitney Kraft at the 2025 Miami Open. www.pallapusa.com

Kraft’s career has spanned decades, with experience at Florida Atlantic University, City of Fort Lauderdale, the USTA, and various racquet sports facilities. He has also been instrumental in constructing and designing new padel clubs and repurposing existing tennis courts to include new sports. "Our team has converted several tennis courts and turned them into a multi-sport space with padel, pickleball, and basketball," he says. "Now, we’re seeing a shift where multi-sport racquet facilities are the future."

Racquet Sports Management has been rebranded from Tennis Management Group (est 1983) to reflect this growing demand for variety. "We realized we needed to evolve," Kraft explains. "People don’t just want tennis anymore. They want options. And if you look at the way clubs are being built now, it’s all about variety."

The Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA) recently announced a new partnership with Racquet Sports Management, offering RSPA-certified professionals an unprecedented opportunity to travel the world while teaching racquet sports. Through this collaboration, members gain exclusive access to premier all-inclusive destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, and the South Pacific, including Fiji, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and the Maldives, at deeply discounted rates.

"Instructors typically teach 1-2 hours a day in exchange for their 7 nights stay, and enjoy a luxury all-inclusive stay for two adults or two adults plus two children at family resorts," Kraft explains. "All you pay is airfare and a booking fee around $1000 for beachfront resorts that typically charge $3,000 - $10,000 per week." Kraft says. "It’s a great way for tennis and pickleball instructors to travel and teach while enjoying an amazing vacation destination."

Above: Club Med, Punta Cana—one of the hotels that Racquet Sports Management partners with. Photo credit: Tennis Resorts Online.

Many facilities here in Florida are embracing this shift toward a multi-sport model. Kraft notes, "Padel and pickleball plus social spaces and spa/fitness related amenities like 10 by 20 in Fort Lauderdale, Ultra, Padel X, Replay, Kinetic—there's quite a few of them now. Clubs offering multiple sports attracts more players and keeps them engaged."

This growth has also fueled demand for qualified instructors. "There’s a tremendous shortage of racquet sports instructors in this country," Kraft says. "To address this, we’ve partnered with organizations to introduce an apprentice membership for 13 to 17-year-olds." The goal is to bring young racquets players into coaching roles early. "If we can introduce high school students to the art of coaching, it will increase the pool of qualified, energetic and enthusiastic professionals in the near future. The industry needs many new providers/instructors, and this is one strategy to help grow the supply to meet the demand.”

Above: Padel court at the Brook Bound Inn in Vermont. Photo credit: Brook Bound Inn.

Beyond Florida and the Northeast, Racquet Sports Management is also expanding internationally, placing instructors in clubs and resorts worldwide. "We have so many facilities with tennis and pickleball, and soon, with padel courts," Kraft says. "These resorts didn’t have a real system to bring in racquet pros—until now."

Successful club financial results, according to Kraft, lie in multi-sport facilities that create a strong community and social environment. "The best model is the campus strategy," he explains. "A place where you can play multiple racquet sports, train, socialize, and partake in  consistent programs, events and amenities. That’s what people are looking for."

Kraft has even implemented this model at his own Brook Bound Inn in Wilmington, Vermont. "I converted a tennis court into a multi-sport hub with padel, pickleball, and basketball," he says. "The idea is to create spaces that bring people together, not just for competition and improvement, but for the experience." Brook Bound Inn is a great spot to get away from the Florida summer heat. Grab a group of your racquet friends, or take a look at hosting a retreat there.

With racquet sports continuing to grow, Kraft sees an exciting future ahead. "These sports are booming, and we’re making sure there are more ways than ever for people to get involved. Whether it’s through multi-sport clubs, teaching vacations, or new coaching opportunities, the games are just getting started."

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Written by Florida Tennis Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy.