WTT PRO LEAGUE RELEASES 2011 SCHEDULE

Written by: Staff on 10th March 2011

WTT PRO LEAGUE RELEASES 2011 SCHEDULE

The Kansas City Explorers defeated the NY Sportimes to win the Billie Jean King Cup |

The 2011 World TeamTennis Pro League schedule will be highlighted by a lineup that includes a current or former world No. 1 playing on 15 of the 18 regular season nights during the 3-week season. League officials released the 66-match schedule for the 2011 season of the WTT Pro League presented by GEICO, which starts July 4 and concludes with the WTT Finals on July 24.

The 2010 WTT Champion Kansas City Explorers begin their defense of the King Trophy on July 5 in Washington, DC, where they will face Venus Williams and the Washington Kastles for their first match in their new home venue on the city’s southwest waterfront, Kastles Stadium at The Wharf.

The New York Sportimes’ Kim Clijsters will pair up with new teammate Martina Hingis for two matches, including July 19 against the Washington Kastles at SEFCU Arena in Albany, N.Y., and again on July 20 at the Sportimes’ regular home venue, Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island in New York, N.Y.

Serena Williams is scheduled to return this summer to play two matches for the Washington Kastles. She joins her Kastles’ teammates on July 7 in Washington, D.C., to take on the Boston Lobsters before heading west to play the Sacramento Capitals on July 9.

Lindsay Davenport, the 2010 WTT Female MVP, returns for 10 matches with the St. Louis Aces. Davenport is scheduled to play all Aces home matches plus three on the road. Davenport will pair up with Anna Kournikova for two matches and also play alongside the Aces’ newest team member Mark Philippoussis on July 21 in St. Louis.

Two of the game’s greatest legends, Pete Sampras and John McEnroe, will be playing on WTT’s multi-colored courts in July. Sampras, who was the top pick in last month’s Marquee Player Draft, plays on July 9 in Newport Beach. McEnroe returns to lead the Sportimes for four matches, including July 12 in Washington, DC, July 13 in Philadelphia and two home matches in New York on July 14 and 15.

Many of today’s top U.S. stars are scheduled to play WTT this summer, including John Isner and James Blake of the Boston Lobsters; the world’s top-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan of the Kansas City Explorers; Mardy Fish of the Sacramento Capitals; Sam Querrey of the Washington Kastles; and Melanie Oudin, who makes her WTT debut for the Philadelphia Freedoms.

Each of the nine teams will play 14 matches – seven home, seven away. Eastern Conference teams are the Boston Lobsters, New York Sportimes, Philadelphia Freedoms and Washington Kastles. Western Conference teams are Newport Beach Breakers, Sacramento Capitals, St. Louis Aces, Springfield Lasers and defending WTT Champion Kansas City Explorers. The Capitals move back to their former home at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, Calif., for the first time since 2006.

The Marquee Player lineup for 2011 includes some of the biggest names in tennis, including Serena Williams (Washington Kastles), Venus Williams (Washington Kastles), Kim Clijsters (New York Sportimes), John McEnroe (New York Sportimes), Martina Hingis (New York Sportimes), Lindsay Davenport (St. Louis Aces), Anna Kournikova (St. Louis Aces), Pete Sampras (Newport Beach Breakers) Sam Querrey (Washington Kastles), John Isner (Boston Lobsters), Mardy Fish (Sacramento Capitals), Mark Philippoussis (St. Louis Aces), Bob and Mike Bryan (Kansas City Explorers), James Blake (Boston Lobsters) and Melanie Oudin (Philadelphia Freedoms).

Team lineups will be finalized at the WTT Roster Draft on Tuesday, March 15 at Noon EST on WTT.com. Marquee players typically play a limited schedule while roster players play the full 3-week season.

For a full schedule, visit www.WTT.com or download it here: