Rick is joined by one of the all-time greats. Former ATP No. 1 Mats Wilander.
He was ranked as the world No. 1 in men’s singles by the ATP for 20 weeks, including as the year-end No. 1 in 1988. Wilander won 33 career singles titles, including seven majors (three each at the French Open and Australian Open, and one at the US Open), and seven career doubles titles, including a major in men’s doubles at Wimbledon.
Mats was appearing at the Grand Opening of the Game, Set, Match tennis and pickleball store in Henderson, NV.
Rick is joined by Lori Oliver and Jill MacRae, the co-founders of Atlanta-based, The Inactive Company.
The Inactive Company launched nationally in conjunction with the Global Sleep Symposium (May 1 in NYC) its innovative sleep mask, Inactivators™, as a science-backed solution to help combat stress by promoting deeper, restorative sleep.
Inactivators feature a patented five-layer design. They are not just sleep masks; they act as a performance tool for anyone looking to enhance their sleep quality, especially during periods of heightened anxiety and stress.
More than 60 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, and only one in three adults gets the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Even mild sleep deprivation can lead to increased stress, cognitive decline, and long-term health risks like high blood pressure and obesity.
As April marked National Stress Awareness Month, Atlanta-based sleep performance company The Inactive Company is showcasing its innovative sleep mask, Inactivators™, as a science-backed solution to help combat stress by promoting deeper, restorative sleep.
Developed over more than a year, largely in collaboration with hospitality and performance brands such as Equinox Hotels, the National Football League, and Collegiate Football properties, the Inactivators feature a patented five-layer design. They are not just sleep masks; they act as a performance tool for anyone looking to enhance their sleep quality, especially during periods of heightened anxiety and stress.
“Stress and sleep are closely interconnected. Each affects the other, and both can be improved with the right tools,” says Lori Oliver, co-founder of The Inactive Company. “Inactivators are designed to support your sleep physiology, allowing your body to restore, recover, and recharge each night.”
Rick talks with a young entrepreneur in Ryan Burbary of Velociti Tennis.
The future of tennis and tennis products.
From Ryan:
When it comes to the environment, every piece of waste counts. That’s why I started with small steps as we worked up to industry-changing evolutions.
Single-use packaging: We started eliminating product packaging wherever possible. Sure, product packaging can help with marketing, but we don’t feel it’s always worth the environmental cost. So, we’re testing removing packaging to eliminate single-use waste on some of our products. That’s why our TurboPoly string and NEH string are sold without traditional packaging that is thrown away.
Greenhouse gases: We’re selling some of our products in bulk in hopes of reducing emissions. For example, our NEH string can be purchased in sets of 5 and Velociti Catalyst can be purchased as a reel so that players who know and love these products can reduce pollution from additional shipments.
Product duration: Making products last longer is another great way to reduce waste. Our Grip-Enhancing Towel can help prolong the life of tennis grips so they don’t need to be replaced as often. Durability is also a top priority in our tennis string manufacturing.
Biodegradable products: The first three steps are all great small steps to an eco-friendlier world of tennis, but the real game-changer came in late 2022. In 2022, we invented the first-ever fully biodegradable polyester string, Velociti Catalyst. Catalyst biodegrades in just 3 to 5 years compared with the 400 to 600 years it takes other synthetic tennis strings to decompose. Velociti is continuing to research other uses for our biodegradable additive, and we hope to launch new biodegradable products in the near future.
Velociti Tennis is the worldwide leader in environmentally sustainable tennis string. The products feature biodegradable materials and minimal single-use packaging to reduce tennis waste. Give Velociti tennis string a try and you’ll find it plays just as well as the top brands.
At Diadem Sports, our journey began in 2015 with a vision that transcends tennis rackets and pickleball paddles. Founded Pompano Beach, Florida—the heartbeat of the sports industry—we set out to redefine what it means to play.
As the last American tennis brand, we’ve built our legacy on innovation. Our team, boasting over a century of combined experience as collegiate and pro players and coaches, saw beyond the status quo. We didn’t just see strings and rackets; we saw untapped potential. This insight led to breakthroughs like our Solstice Power string with patented Star Core Technology, offering unparalleled spin and control.
But our mission goes deeper than creating top-tier products. We believe in “Live to Play”—a philosophy that shapes everything we do. It’s about recognizing that when we pick up a racket or paddle, we’re engaging in something profoundly human. We play for physical fitness and nurturing our health and wellness. We play for the joy of social interaction, satisfying our innate desire to connect with others.
This belief has guided our expansion from tennis into the vibrant world of pickleball. It’s why we’ve diversified our product line with a full range of pickleball gear. Each product is a testament to our commitment to innovation, designed in-house to help you play better.
Yet, “Live to Play” is more than a tagline; it’s a call to action. In a world that often feels disconnected, we’re using sports as a bridge. Tennis and pickleball aren’t just games; they’re platforms for human connection. They’re opportunities to step away from screens, engage with others, and remember the simple joy of play.
As we continue to grow, partnering with distributors worldwide, our vision remains unchanged. We’re here to innovate, to redefine the game, but more importantly, to remind you of why you play. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a weekend warrior, when you choose Diadem, you’re choosing more than equipment. You’re embracing a lifestyle that celebrates movement, connection, and the sheer delight of being active.
Join us in this journey. Live to Play, and let’s make every serve, every volley, and every point a celebration of what makes us human.
