Welcome to the Arena Chronicles - Your Monthly Newsletter
January 2025 - Winter Tennis Updates
Temperatures are dropping but the courts are heating up with plenty of opportunities to play, connect, and improve your game. This month, we’re excited to share new events, important updates, and some great feedback from the community. Here’s the latest.
Table of Contents
- Leagues & Events
- Survey Insights
- Season Milestone Celebrations
- Gladiator Tip Jar
Leagues & events
NEW: Chicago High School Doubles Indoor Mixer Tournament Series
EVENT DATES: January 31, February 21, February 28
High school players of all skill levels, this one’s for you! Join us for a rotating series of indoor mixers featuring on-court coaching and competitive doubles play. Our first event sold out quickly, so secure your spot today!
Chicago Indoor Singles 2
Registration deadline: TOMORROW, January 23
League dates: January 30 – April 7
Play five matches over ten weeks with scores fed directly into the UTR rating system. Plus, don’t miss the indoor playoffs in April!
St. Louis 2025 Adults Winter Singles
Registration deadline: January 23
League dates: January 25, 2025 – April 21, 2025
Our first-ever indoor/outdoor season in St. Louis is here! Play five matches in 13 weeks and keep your competitive edge all winter long.
Survey insights
Thank you to everyone who completed our player survey last month! Here’s what we heard and how it’s shaping our strategy to improve your Gladiator Tennis experience:
Simplified scheduling is high on the wish list.
We hear you! Coming this spring, we will launch an all-new app experience that makes coordinating and scheduling your matches a breeze.
You value competitive matches with accurate skill rankings.
To help maintain our high standard of fair competition, we are looking to add UTR while developing a more rigorous evaluation process.
You want more ways to play.
Based on your input, we’ve introduced the High School Indoor Doubles Mixer series and are planning more structured tournaments, age-specific leagues, and set match times. Stay tuned for details!
incredible milestones Gladiators have reached this season
Let's Celebrate!
"I’m in the best shape ever thanks to Gladiator and tennis!"
"I’ve met teammates who are now some of my closest friends."
"From beginner to almost 4.0 in just a few years!"
"The joy of seeing my progress over the years has been incredible."
Gladiator Tip Jar
"When playing doubles, think of you and your partner as being tethered together by an invisible string. This “tether” keeps you moving in sync, allowing you to cover the court effectively and stay in the best position to defend or attack. Follow the ball as a team, shifting together to maintain your formation and minimize gaps.
For serving strategy, mix things up! Using formations like the “I” or Australian can throw off your opponents’ rhythm by forcing them to adjust their return angles and positioning. These formations work best when paired with clear communication and a plan for how to respond to different returns. Remember, variety and teamwork are key to keeping your opponents on their toes!”
- Stephen Schrage, Wheaton North JV Boy & Girls Coach, and featured coach at the Gladiator Tennis High School Doubles Mixer
Got a tip? Send it to madeline@mygladiator.io. If we select your tip for the newsletter you’ll get a coupon for 50% off your next season!
We're so grateful...
...to have you as part of the Gladiator Tennis community. Here’s to an incredible winter season full of competition, growth, and camaraderie.
See you on the courts!