PEMBROKE PINES, Fla., MAY 22, 2023 — Jim Martz, founder of Florida Tennis magazine in 1992, has sold the award-winning publication to Matt Pressman, who has an extensive background in the magazine industry and tennis. Pressman recently launched Florida Racquet Sports, LLC to complete the sale and expand the reach of Florida Tennis.
Martz, who has been the publisher and editor, will continue as founder and editor managing all editorial content, including expanded coverage of pickleball, padel, Spec tennis and other racquet sports. Pressman will be taking on the role of executive editor and publisher and will primarily oversee advertising sales and the expansion of the Florida Tennis website and social media platforms.
A winner of the U.S. Tennis Association’s National Media Excellence Award, Florida Tennis is published bi-monthly with a readership of over 20,000. The publication has a targeted complimentary distribution to more than 500 clubs, parks, resorts, academies and shops statewide in addition to paid subscribers nationwide.
Martz was vice president of the U.S. Tennis Writers Association and has been inducted into the Miami-Dade County Tennis Hall of Fame. He has written several books, including coach Rick Macci’s autobiography “Macci Magic, Extracting Greatness From Yourself And Others”, and “Safe Tennis.” And he edited the book “50 Love, Advantage Florida,” which chronicles the first 50 years of USTA Florida. Before launching Florida Tennis he covered tennis for 18 years for the Miami Herald.
Pressman was a standout junior player who trained at the Saddlebrook tennis academy in the Tampa area. Pressman’s high school team went on to win the Connecticut State Championship and he later received an athletic scholarship to the University of Connecticut where he served as captain of the men’s tennis team. Early in his career, Pressman worked at a number of magazines including Men’s Fitness, Details, and Vibe magazine where he served as Associate Publisher.
Florida Tennis, which was the official publication of USTA Florida for 15 years beginning in 1993, will continue to cover all aspects of the sport from amateurs to the pro tours. The magazine was the first tennis print publication in the nation to cover pickleball, America’s fastest growing sport, on a regular basis starting three years ago. Since then the racquet sport coverage has expanded to include padel and Spec tennis.
“Florida Tennis has served as the Voice of Tennis in Florida for more than 31 years,” said Martz, “and we look forward to continuing that legacy. I’m excited about Matt’s innovative plans for our digital platforms.”
“As a dedicated subscriber of Florida Tennis for years, I’m thrilled to help expand Jim’s vision to include a more robust online presence to cover the Florida Tennis scene,” said Pressman. “Florida remains the crown jewel of American tennis and it’s an honor to help highlight the future of tennis in the Sunshine State.”
