Customer Spotlight: Mickey Maule
Catching up with our longtime customer, friend and tennis all-star
From playing to coaching, Mickey Maule has experienced tennis from all angles of the court.
As the United States Tennis Association’s Managing Director of Industry Engagement and Sales, Maule brings brands and retailers closer to tennis — all while adding value, driving collaboration and helping to grow the game.
We caught up with our longtime customer and friend to learn more about his storied career, his most memorable matches and why he loves the tennis community.
How did you get started playing tennis?
I’ve been playing tennis since I was probably 8 years old. Growing up in Illinois, I played National Junior Tournaments, then played Division I college tennis, then played on the circuit for two and a half years in the ATP World Rankings. Then, I went into college coaching and coached in the Big Ten at Northwestern as an assistant coach. After that, I was at Northern Illinois as a head coach for four and a half years.
How special is it to be able to turn your passion into a career?
It’s incredible. I feel like I’ve done it all on the tennis side, being a player and a college coach. My dream was to work in the manufacturer’s side of things — when I moved from college coaching in ‘99 to become a manufacturer’s rep for Prince Tennis in the Upper Midwest. That’s what brought me to Minneapolis.
I loved working with retailers in my own territory. I was in that role as a sales manager for seven or eight years at Prince. After that, I had the opportunity to go to Babolat and have a bigger role being a regional manager in the USA really before they were known. Then, I became national sales manager there a year into it. I was in that role for about seven years and then became commercial director of Wilson Racket Sports for North and South America in 2016.
What’s the most memorable tennis match you’ve ever played?
One I always talk about is I played in the Boys 14 National Indoor Doubles final against Andre Agassi. Going way older than that, I won the ITF Men’s 40 and Over Doubles World Championship in 2012.
How do you get pumped up or prepared for a match?
It doesn’t take much for that for me. I just love to compete. I love getting ready for the battle. I just started playing more again to try to play some of the national senior events this year and next year. My son was actually playing junior tennis around for the last 10 years, and now he’s off playing college tennis.
What type of racket do you play with?
Right now, I call myself a free agent. I literally have quite a demo bag assortment of all the popular brands of rackets, because I’m fortunate to have so many contacts that I work with from across the industry. I just say that I’m playing with whatever’s new and that I can help promote.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
That tennis is a lifelong sport. We heard that when I was at a national tournament. Ride tennis as far as you can ride it. It’s a great sport.
How long have you been shopping at Michael Lynne’s, and what keeps you coming back?
From when I moved here in ‘99, I think it was the very first place I stopped. It was my top account, and I’ve never stopped going there. I love the assortment. It’s like a candy store for someone like me that loves tennis and racket sports in general. You see the latest and greatest of everything there.
What do you love most about being a part of the tennis community?
Just that — that it’s a community and it doesn’t matter your age. You’re always welcome. I think no matter where you live in the world, if you show up and play tennis, you’re going to make friends.