Las Vegas Neon Make It Official Protecting Sam Querrey in Marquee Draft

Written by: Staff on 12th February 2014

Las Vegas Neon Make It Official Protecting Sam Querrey in Marquee Draft |

The Las Vegas Neon made it official, protecting the rights to their star player Sam Querrey during the Mylan World TeamTennis Marquee Draft on Tuesday.

Just last week, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman introduced the Neon to Las Vegas at a highly attended media press conference that took place at the Neon’s new home site, the City of Las Vegas Amanda and Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center. The team will play seven home matches at Darling between July 6-23.

The Las Vegas resident Querrey is currently ranked No. 56 in the ATP World Tour rankings. Currently the No. 2-ranked American player, Querrey finished 2013 in the top 50 for the fifth time in the past six years. He has won seven singles and four doubles titles on the ATP World Tour. This will be Querrey’s fourth Mylan WTT season.

“It’s going to be a great summer of tennis at the Darling Tennis Center,” Querrey said. “I think the Las Vegas tennis fans are going to really enjoy the energy and excitement of the matches.”

Last season, Querrey played for the Sacramento Capitals, which made the move to Las Vegas because they were seeking a permanent home base. The Darling Tennis Center is currently operated by CJMS Tennis Management, LLC, of which Querrey’s mother Chris is a part of.

Las Vegas Neon General Manager Kolleen McNamee said the team is looking forward to the upcoming schedule announcement set for around March 1, as well as the Mylan WTT Roster Player Draft on Tuesday, March 11, in which Las Vegas has the third overall pick.

McNamee also said the naming of a head coach will be announced soon.

On Tuesday, it was announced that WTA world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka will return to Mylan World TeamTennis for the first time in four years after being selected second overall in the Mylan WTT Marquee Player Draft.

Following the San Diego Aviators protecting the rights to No.1-ranked men’s doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan in the first slot, the Philadelphia Freedoms picked Azarenka. The Belarusian previously played for the Springfield Lasers in 2006, when she earned Female Rookie of the Year honors and later the Washington Kastles in 2010. Azarenka has since gone on to win two Australian Open singles titles, ascend to the top of the WTA Rankings and claim two Olympic medals in London (gold in mixed doubles and bronze in singles).

The Bryans will be joined on the Aviators squad by WTA standout Daniela Hantuchova, who will make her Mylan WTT debut this summer. Currently ranked No. 30 in singles, Hantuchova has been ranked as high as No. 5 in the world in both singles and doubles. Martina Hingis, the 2013 Mylan WTT Female MVP, returns to the Washington Kastles to lead the team’s campaign for their 4th consecutive championship. This will be Hingis’ seventh Mylan WTT season. She will be joined by another former world No. 1 as longtime Kastles star Venus Williams returns to the team after missing the 2013 season due to injury.

Andy Roddick heads up the lineup for the 2014 Austin Aces in their inaugural season. The 2003 US Open Champion and former world No. 1 will be joined by 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli who is making her Mylan WTT debut for the Aces.

The Springfield Lasers picked up James Blake in a pre-Draft trade with the Boston Lobsters. The former world No. 4 returns for his eighth Mylan WTT season. Blake has won 10 singles and seven doubles titles in his career.

The Mylan WTT regular season starts on Sunday, July 6 and runs through Wednesday, July 23. The top two teams from each conference advance to the Mylan WTT Conference Championships on Thursday, July 24. The Eastern and Western Conference champions will face off at the Mylan WTT Finals on Sunday, July 27, on the home court of the Western Conference champion.

Mylan WTT Marquee Draft Selections (in Draft order)

1. SAN DIEGO AVIATORS: Bob and Mike Bryan (1st round protection), Daniela Hantuchova (2nd round)
2. PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS: Victoria Azarenka (1st round)
3. LAS VEGAS NEON: Sam Querrey (2nd round protection)
4. AUSTIN ACES: Andy Roddick (1st round protection); Marion Bartoli (2nd round)
5. BOSTON LOBSTERS: no Marquee Player selection
6. TEXAS WILD: no Marquee Player selection
7. SPRINGFIELD LASERS: James Blake (1st round protection – acquired rights via pre-Draft trade with Boston Lobsters)
8. WASHINGTON KASTLES: Martina Hingis (1st round protection); Venus Williams (2nd round protection)

Marquee Player Matches (dates TBD when schedule is released in early March; additional visits/matches could be added before season):

AUSTIN ACES: Andy Roddick (7 home matches); Marion Bartoli (7 home matches). Visiting players are Sam Querrey (Las Vegas Neon)

BOSTON LOBSTERS: no Marquee visits scheduled

LAS VEGAS NEON: Sam Querrey (number of home matches TBD)

PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS: Victoria Azarenka (1 home match). Visiting player is Andy Roddick (Austin Aces).

SAN DIEGO AVIATORS: Bob and Mike Bryan (number of home matches TBD) and Daniela Hantuchova (all matches).

SPRINGFIELD LASERS: James Blake (2 home matches). Visiting player is Andy Roddick (Austin Aces).

TEXAS WILD: no Marquee visits scheduled

WASHINGTON KASTLES: Martina Hingis (7 home matches); Venus Williams (1 home match).

For more information on the Las Vegas Neon, please visit www.lasvegasneontennis.com . Find the Neon on Twitter @LVNeonTennis or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LVNeonTennis. For more information on Mylan WTT, visit www.WTT.com.

About Mylan World TeamTennis:

Mylan World TeamTennis showcases the best in professional team tennis competing for the King Trophy, the league’s championship trophy which is named after co-founder Billie Jean King. The 39^th season of Mylan WTT runs July 6-27, 2014. For more information on Mylan WTT, visit www.WTT.com.

About the Darling Tennis Center:

The Darling Tennis Center opened in the fall of 2005 as part of the 110 acre Kellogg-Zaher Sports Complex. Located at Washington between Buffalo and Durango, the center is the largest public outdoor tennis center in the state of Nevada.

Topics: Andy Roddick, Bob Bryan, Daniela Hantuchova, James Blake, Las Vegas tennis news, Marion Bartoli, Martina Hingis, Mike Bryan, Mylan WTT Marquee, Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka