AusLeisure

Former WTA Coach Sarah Stone, has announced her new role as Head of Tennis at Swimply Australia, the world’s first online marketplace for sharing pools, courts and spaces.

The appointment follows strong growth in Swimply Australia's Courts business, with unprecedented growth in listings since launching in May 2023.

The appointment marks a strategic addition to the team as the business continues to capitalise on strong local demand for private tennis court rentals in Australia.

Since launching Swimply Courts in May 2023, the business has seen strong immediate demand for private tennis court rentals. Players of all levels welcome the convenience and affordability that access to a home court affords, particularly valuing the privacy it provides for those seeking a quiet space away from the crowds at public courts. Stone's appointment underscores Swimply's commitment to the category and supports its push into the coaching and professional tennis sector, providing access to high-grade tennis courts nationwide.

A former professional player herself, Stone was a coach on the Women's Tennis Association tour for over 10 years and has a vast amount of experience at the very top of women's tennis. She has coached six of the top 100 players, including Samantha Stosur, who was a three-time grand slam champion whilst under her tutelage.

Stone also has extensive time working with the world’s best junior players, currently holding the position of Director of Tennis and Methodist Ladies College and Champion Academy. In this new role, Stone will bring a wealth of knowledge as well as access to a vast network of coaches and players, helping Swimply to further its growth in this new market.

Stone shared "As a professional coach myself, I have first hand experienced the challenge of locating a court to train when and where I want. Swimply's mission to make tennis accessible aligns perfectly with my own vision of democratizing the sport. It's not just about providing courts; it’s about fostering a community where tennis enthusiasts and coaches can thrive. I am thrilled to be joining the team to spearhead its push into the tennis space.”

Since launching its courts business in Australia, Swimply has seen a five times growth in the number of court listings. This upsurge in courts is complemented by a robust 1026% year-on-year growth in overall listings and projections that Swimply will at least triple bookings this summer, as El Nino promises hot, dry weather ideal for taking a dip in a private pool.

Eva Ross, General Manager at Swimply enthused "We are excited to welcome Sarah Stone to Swimply as the Head of Tennis in Australia. Her wealth of experience in the industry and impressive network of coaches and players makes her a valuable addition to the team. It is a testament to the business’s commitment to our community and the potential of our offering that we are attracting talent of the calibre of Sarah to the team. As we continue to grow our court offerings, Sarah's input will play a pivotal role in driving awareness of Swimply and of more people enjoying playing tennis more of the time. It is our hope that the magic of the AO will be experienced not only in Melbourne but in backyard courts all over Australia.”

Swimply is a marketplace that connects owners of underutilised swimming pools and spaces with people seeking to gather, swim and escape locally. The company is trailblazing the experiential-based sharing economy and creating an entirely new income stream for homeowners with pools that are otherwise used just 15 percent of the time. For swimmers, Swimply is disrupting the aquatic space and providing an option for people that do not have access to a pool. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, currently there are more than 40,000 pools on the platform and Swimply hosts have welcomed over one million guests to swim in their pools.  

How Swimply works

1. Download the Swimply iOS or Android app.
2. Find your pool - Request a pool (or two), get approved, then simply confirm. You will only be charged for the pool you confirm with.
3. Chat with host - Communicate easily and coordinate flawlessly through Swimply chat, and enjoy data privacy and use protections.
4. Dive right in - Upon confirmation, you will have access to everything you need to know including address, enter and exit info, and things like the Wi-Fi password.

Image: Sarah Stone.

Related Articles

5th October 2023 - Tennis Australia rolls out refreshed and re-designed participation programs

29th August 2023 - Tennis NSW partners with Black Dog Institute

5th June 2023 - Tennis Australia launches new leadership program for young women

27th April 2023 - Mildura Rural City Council partners with local tennis club to reduce energy bills

27th February 2023 - Ulladulla Tennis Complex receives major lighting upgrade

27th February 2023 - New multi-courts for tennis and netball unveiled at Orrong Park

8th February 2023 - Blacktown’s tennis partnership thrives in Western Sydney

15th January 2023 - Tennis Australia reveals data rights partnership with Stats Perform

4th January 2023 - Australian Open welcomes back Kids Tennis Day returns

17th December 2022 - Tennis Australia announces return to profit

16th November 2022 - Renewed sponsorship to drive tennis development in regional Western Australia

9th November 2022 - Work underway on Hakoah Club’s project to revitalise Sydney’s White City Tennis Centre

28th October 2022 - WTA, ATP and Tennis Australia collaborate on new United Cup mixed-gender team competition

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.