Azeranka, Roddick, Bryan Bros, Venus Williams, James Blake All in WTT Draft

Written by: Staff on 11th February 2014

Azeranka, Roddick, Bryan Bros, Venus Williams, James Blake All in WTT Draft

epa04035440 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in action against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2014. EPA/NARENDRA SHRESTHA |

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 on Tuesday.

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. She has won six WTA singles titles including last year’s Birmingham tournament. Hantuchova, who is scheduled to play the full season for the Aviators, also owns a Career Grand Slam in mixed 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’ 7th 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 Las Vegas Neon will have local favorite Sam Querrey on their roster this summer. Currently the No. 2 American player, Querrey finished 2013 in the top 50 for the 5th time in the past six years. He was won seven singles and four doubles titles on the ATP World Tour. This will be Querrey’s 4th Mylan WTT season.

The Springfield Lasers picked up James Blake in a pre-Draft trade with the Boston Lobsters. The former world No. 4 returns for his 8th Mylan WTT season. Blake has won 10 singles and seven doubles titles in his career.

Team rosters will be completed at the Mylan WTT Roster Player Draft on Tuesday, March 11, in Indian Wells, Calif. 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)

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

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 39th season of Mylan WTT runs July 6-27, 2014. For more information on Mylan WTT, visit www.WTT.com.