Below we have interviews with the fine folks at Prelli Tennis and Top Serve Tennis, two tennis retailers local to the tournament.
Prelli Tennis
Yonex: When did you open Prelli Tennis and what were your motivations for opening a tennis store?
Prelli Tennis: We opened the store in July, 1983 and it’ll be our 34th anniversary this year. As far as how the shop started goes, I had always played tennis and was very good with my hands. As a result, I took up stringing racquets as a hobby. One thing led to another, and we decided to start up a shop. We have been stringing for pros and amateurs since 1983.
Y: What are some of the best-selling Yonex racquets in the store?
PT: Nick Kyrgios’ EZONE DR 98 is definitely one of our best sellers. People also really like Yonex tennis shoes—customers like the feel, the comfort and the fit of the shoes a lot. We have a lot of clay courts around here, and the clay soles on Yonex shoes are very good.
Y: What makes Prelli Tennis unique?
PT: I think we have very good expertise and take great care when it comes to engaging with customers. We want everyone to enjoy tennis as much as possible, so we talk to each and every customer to find out exactly what suits them.
Y: Who are your favorite Yonex players?
PT: It’s hard to choose… I like them all! I really like Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios—I like the way they play. On the women’s side, I like Angelique Kerber and of course “Dasha”— Daria Gavrilova. She’s a fighter, and that’s why I like her.
Top Serve Tennis
Yonex: When did you open Top Serve Tennis and what were your motivations for opening a tennis store?
Top Serve Tennis: Top Serve Tennis started in August 1986. We originated as a Pro Shop at a small two-court tennis club. The shop was a side business to my coaching. We expanded to a stand-alone retail business in 1995. We have also provided stringing services for tournaments around the world.
Y: What are some of the best-selling Yonex racquets in the store?
TST: Nick Kyrgios’ EZONE DR 98 was Top Serve’s #1 selling racquet model for 2016 and Stan Wawrinka's VCORE Duel G was #3. Two Yonex models made the Top 5!
Y: What makes Top Serve Tennis unique?
TST: Our shop is unique due to our specialist staff along with the specialist services we offer, such as our demo racquet service.
Y: Who are your favorite Yonex players?
TST: Having dealt with most players on both ATP and WTA Tours, my favorite is Martina Hingis.