Introducing Booth to Baseline
A little bit about what we're doing over here...
Welcome to Booth to Baseline, a platform dedicated to the “other” side of professional tennis: the broadcasters, the visuals, & the complex business of the game. I am thrilled to launch this venture & share my love of all things tennis with you.
My love affair with tennis didn’t start on a court; it started on my couch ten years ago. I had just delivered my middle son & was wading through that newborn haze when Wimbledon became my saving grace. I was anchored to my sectional, unable to move much. While feeding & snuggling my new baby, I watched match after match, mesmerized by this beautiful game where anything could happen.
I fell in love with the rituals & the atmosphere of SW19, but I quickly realized I wasn’t just watching a match—I was studying the storytellers. I became fascinated by the “small world” of tennis broadcasting. I looked forward to the familiar voices of the commentary box covering each major tournament. I wanted to know everything about how the machine actually worked: How do former rivals transition into broadcast partners? What do the contract wars look like between ESPN, Tennis Channel, & the streamers? Who is each network’s A-team? How do these people know each other?
I started tuning in religiously. As I learned about the grueling 11-month season, the ranking systems, & the nuances of different playing surfaces, my interest deepened. I became the person watching matches on my phone in public! I couldn’t imagine settling into a three-hour hair appointment without a match by my side. Over the last decade, following this sport has deeply enriched my life & connected me to my family in ways I never expected.
A major turning point for us was the 2021 US Open. My grandfather had just relocated to Austin, & as we spent more time together that August, my extended family finally caught the “tennis bug.” We watched the incredible Cinderella stories of Leylah Fernandez & Emma Raducanu as they ascended to the final. My family finally “got it,” & they fell in love, too.
But while the US Open was a turning point for my family, 2022 brought a critical challenge that changed my perspective on the game forever.
In March of that year, my middle son—the one I held while first falling in love with the game—experienced an extreme health crisis. Suddenly, tennis wasn’t just a distraction; it was a blueprint for survival. I viewed his treatment plan like a Grand Slam tournament. It was brutal, it was long, & there were many battles within the war. After allowing myself to fall apart briefly, I got my game face on. I simply made a decision that we were not going home without the trophy.
That athlete’s mindset carried us through. We tackled the crisis one point at a time, then one game at a time. We dug deep for energy when the sets grew long & remained laser-focused on both mental & physical strength. We celebrated the little victories, took the necessary breaks to reset, & kept our eyes on the final result.
This perspective helped us navigate two & a half grueling years. Today, I’m happy to report that all three of my sons are thriving. While we know there will always be another challenge around the corner, we were able to celebrate that sweet victory & marvel at our human resilience.
What I’m trying to illustrate here is that watching tennis is more than just a hobby for me. Along with my husband & children, it is one of the great loves of my life. I invite you to join me here. Booth to Baseline is where the business of the sport & the craft of the backstory collide. It is a place where we analyze everything from high-stakes media rights to the gritty mechanics of this global game’s professional tour. And it is grounded in the belief that a tennis match is the ultimate analogy for life: It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. You just have to keep swinging until the final point is won.