The landscape of American sports is changing at a rapid pace, fueled by a desire for fresh, non-traditional, and reimagined entertainment. From PopStroke to The Grass League, new ventures are capturing audiences and finding success in a crowded market. The newest entrant into this field is INTENNSE, a professional tennis league that’s shaking up the sport with a player-focused, "family-first" culture and a faster, more engaging format.
Check out this interview with Sports Tech Atlanta and co-founder Yannick Yoshizawa
A New Vision for Pro Tennis
INTENNSE launched in June, just eight months after securing $4 million in funding from Triple B, an international family group. According to Triple B director Thomas A. Bata, the investment is a "bet on a bold vision that tears down old walls and brings athletes, fans, and the future of sport together like never before.”
This inaugural season featured three teams—Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Tampa—plus a weekly Challenge Team. Each team included three men and three women. Competitions, called Surges, consisted of three team-versus-team matches (Duals), each featuring men's singles, women's singles, and doubles play. Each Dual was played in three, timed Bolts, with the highest combined score winning.
High-Intensity Action and Entertainment
INTENNSE aims to blend strategy and skill in a way that traditional tennis tours can’t. The focus is on dynamic scoring, top-level competition, and crowd interaction, making it just as entertaining for fans as it is challenging for players.
The action is high-intensity, with each Bolt lasting just 10 minutes. Only 14 seconds are allowed between points, and players can only take two 60-second timeouts per match. This pace creates a game with around 80% active play time, a significant jump from the 20% seen in traditional tennis.
Unlike the quiet and decorum of traditional tournaments, INTENNSE encourages fans to be loud and energetic, vocally supporting their teams and players. The INTENNSE Arena, a 20,000-square-foot indoor venue, is a converted movie soundstage that keeps fans close to the action and provides the perfect setting to turn up the volume.
Building a Better Player Experience
Beyond the fast pace and fan engagement, INTENNSE is designed to address many of the challenges professional tennis players face. The league supports gender equity, with men and women earning the same prize money, which ranged this season from $4,000 to $12,000 per match. The total purse was approximately $300,000.
INTENNSE also tackles issues like the grueling travel schedule and loneliness that can lead to player burnout. By providing a team format, players can build relationships and live in one place, only traveling for the season-ending championship. The league also offers a much-needed pathway for college players or those early in their careers to earn income and continue chasing their dreams.
The Tech Behind the Game
Technology is a key component of the INTENNSE experience, focusing on data, AI, and advanced equipment to create a faster, more player-centric sport.
Player and Ball Tracking: The league uses AI-powered smart insoles that convert player movements into live data, which is then integrated with the league’s cloud system. The court surfaces from AT Sports are designed to support high performance, while Bolt6 electronic line-calling provides instant, accurate calls.
Performance Metrics: INTENNSE has partnered with iOnCourt Technology for live scoring and performance metrics, giving fans more insight into the game.
AI and Fan Engagement: AI is being used to enhance marketing and social media efforts, bringing fans closer to the action. Future plans include integrating heart rate monitoring and motion tracking to provide even deeper insights.
With its innovative format and commitment to improving the sport for both players and fans, INTENNSE is a bold experiment that’s ready to make a major impact on the world of tennis.
Check out this interview with Sports Tech Atlanta and co-founder Yannick Yoshizawa