U.S. tennis ball sales up

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (May 23)—Sales of tennis balls in the U.S. grew 10.3 percent in the first quarter of 2000 to 30.2 million, marking the fifth consecutive quarter sales have increased, according to the Tennis Industry Association, a not-for-profit trade association representing more than 120 tennis companies. Coupled with a 17.4-percent rise in racquet sales, the increase in ball sales reflects a resurgence in the popularity of tennis, the United States Tennis Association said. The tennis industry claims to have attracted 463,000 new players to the sport in the past two years through a five-year $50 million initiative to increase tennis participation. The USA Tennis Plan for Growth is seeking 800,000 new players over five years.