INTENNSE starts a second season with USF alum Yannick Yoshizawa and alum Roberto Cid powering the game

In June, the second season of INTENNSE — a professional tennis league with a fast-paced, team-based format and a successful first season — kicked off its opening weekend at the Arena at Assembly Studios in Atlanta. This year, 10 teams, each with four men and four women, are playing fast-paced timed matches where every point matters. 

Even though the second season has just begun, INTENNSE is changing the tennis landscape. USF Alum Yannick Yoshizawa, a member of the founding team of INTENNSE and the league’s Vice President of Experience, has had a passion for tennis from a young age that inspired him to bring the sport into the 21st Century. INTENNSE asked: If they had to start tennis from scratch, what would they do? 

“One was to put time into the matches; two was to modernize and allow fans the freedom to be themselves. The third was to cut all the dead time possible in tennis—traditional tennis has around 20% active time and we’re around 70%. The fourth was to implement teams,” Yoshizawa explains. “I grew up playing tennis as an individual sport, but I always missed the team aspect, something that college tennis really provided.” 

Originally from Brazil, Yoshizawa arrived at USF in 2008 and played all four of his collegiate tennis seasons with the Bulls men's tennis team, becoming a team leader and senior standout. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and management from the Muma College of Business in 2012.

While INTENNSE started with a focus on fan engagement and experience, there also was the hope of making a positive impact on the players and their families. “Even though tennis is one of the biggest participant sports in the world, only 200 tennis players can make a living off the sport,” Yoshizawa notes. “We wanted to change that.” In this league, players can live and play in one location, this year at Assembly Studios in Atlanta. 

Since starting play in 2025, the league has evolved in numerous ways. INTENNSE has 10 teams this year — which has opened up room for more players — and has increased salaries for all players, as well as expanded the league’s space, staff, sponsorships and partners. “It’s a little crazy to think we’re in year two already,” he says. 

“Even though tennis is one of the biggest participant sports in the world, only 200 tennis players can make a living off the sport.” — Yannick Yoshizawa

“Last year was more of a proof of concept. The excitement and engagement prove that tennis has the space for what we’re doing, and we’re evolving because of it. This year, we did the first open professional draft in the history of tennis.” 

The draft is a part of “storytelling” from the teams and the players, allowing for fans of any sport to relate to tennis and creating a wider community and engagement, Yoshizawa explains. “It also really showcased the different avenues the players are coming from,” he says. “Some are coming straight from college, and others are leaving traditional tennis to join INTENNSE.” 

Alongside a steady salary, a single location and continued opportunities to play professionally in tennis, INTENNSE offers a unique community and team building opportunity.  “We want players to feel that they’re a part of something,” Yoshizawa says. 

Currently, INTENNSE is focusing on building the Atlanta community, but next year the goal is to have two hubs and then grow to three hubs in 2028. The long-term vision is for each team to have its own community training center. 

One player who is enjoying the community aspect of the league is USF Alum Roberto Cid. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Cid played tennis for USF after a year on the professional circuit. “I realized that I wanted to grow my game and improve my fitness, as well as get an education,” Cid explains. “After meeting the team and (then) Coach Matt Hill, I committed pretty quickly. I didn’t want to visit anywhere else.” 

“My four years at USF were the best years of my life. I really enjoyed it,” Cid says. “I have a lot of great memories with the team and my coaches.” During his time at USF, he became the first ITA All-American in USF’s tennis program’s history, going on to earn ITA All-American honors twice. He was named American Player of the Year three times. Cid was ranked second in the nation in the NCAA Division 1 singles rankings by his senior year. His team won conference all four years that Cid was at USF before he graduated in 2016. 

“After I graduated, I went fully pro with Tampa as my home base,” Cid explains. “I traveled all over the world 30 or 40 weeks of the year. I got to 200 in the world and I played in multiple Grand Slams. It was one of my goals to reach that level.”  As a professional, Cid has won four ITF singles and has achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of #211. 

“I didn’t know a lot about INTENNSE in the beginning, but when I looked into it, I was reminded of college. Tennis is a very lonely sport, so right away I was interested,” Cid says. “The format and fast momentum are definitely things that I’ll have to get used to, but because I’ll be playing for my team and not myself, I have the mindset of going above and beyond.” 

“I’m very excited to play at Fortune and be in a team environment again and play for something bigger than myself,” Cid adds. “I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to stay in one place and not have to travel every week. But I’m most excited to be in a team environment and have coaches and teammates as a core support.”

“I’m very excited to play at Fortune and be in a team environment again and play for something bigger than myself.” — Roberto Cid

This evolution has drawn the attention of not only professional tennis players who hope to play in this league. 

“This year, we launched what we call a Pulse Partner Program, which allows high-profile athletes, entertainers and influencers to serve as team ambassadors, advisors, and partial owners,” Yoshizawa says. “This was a way for people to have more skin in the game.” This year, some of the Pulse Partners include Sloane Stephens, a Grand Slam tennis champion; Toya Bush-Harris, entrepreneur and television personality from the reality show Married to Medicine; and DJ Irie, an entertainer and philanthropist. 

“There’s a lot to be excited about this season,” Yoshizawa says. “We have so many more people involved, some of whom have never been in these positions, which is exciting because of all of the authentic interactions and learning that will come of it.” 

Fans interested in seeing matches in person, find tickets. INTENNSE offers live streaming on their YouTube channel.