Venus joins fellow Grand Slam Champions Andy Roddick (Austin Aces) and Victoria Azarenka (Philadelphia Freedoms) in Marquee Lineup at Villanova University Pavilion
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, April 1 at 10 AM via PhiladelphiaFreedoms.com or 866-WTT-TIXS
PHILADELPHIA, PA — For the first time in four years, seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams is returning to Philadelphia when she visits the Villanova University Pavilion with the three-time defending Mylan World TeamTennis (WTT) Champion Washington Kastles to challenge the Philadelphia Freedoms on Thursday, July 17. Tickets to this and all 2014 Freedoms matches go on sale on Tuesday, April 1 at 10 a.m. at PhiladelphiaFreedoms.com or by calling 866-WTT-TIXS.
A winner of 45 career singles titles, including last month’s Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Dubai Championships, Williams is one of the most decorated American tennis players of all-time. She ranks twelfth on the all-time Grand Slam list with an impressive 22 titles, including seven singles, thirteen women’s doubles – all won with younger sister Serena – and two mixed doubles titles. She has also won four Olympic gold medals; one in singles and three in women’s doubles. Entering her tenth season of Mylan WTT play, Venus is no stranger to Philadelphia fans, having played for the Freedoms from 2006 to 2009, a stretch that included winning the 2006 Mylan WTT Championship.
Generations will collide on Thursday, July 17 when Venus matches up against rising American star Vicky Duval (@Vicky_Duval95), who will compete in her second season as a member of the Philadelphia Freedoms. Duval gained valuable experience in her first Mylan WTT season, which helped her carry momentum to the 2013 U.S. Open, where she upset 2011 Champion Sam Stosur in a nationally televised match. She’ll be joined on the 2014 Freedoms by Marcelo Melo , currently the No. 5 ranked men’s doubles player in the world, returning multi-time Grand Slam doubles champion Liezel Huber and Canadian Davis Cup stalwart Frank Dancevic.
Entering their 15th season of Mylan WTT play, the 2014 Philadelphia Freedoms return to the Pavilion at Villanova University (800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA) for seven home matches this July. The 2014 home schedule will be highlighted by Grand Slam Champion marquee players Victoria Azarenka playing for the Freedoms (July 15) and visiting marquees Venus Williams (Washington Kastles – July 17), and Andy Roddick (Austin Aces – July 21) each playing one match in Philadelphia.
The Freedoms will make their 2014 home debut on Tuesday, July 15 against former world No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova and the San Diego Aviators. This starts a stretch of seven exciting regular season home matches at the Pavilion at Villanova University over the course of ten nights, concluding on Wednesday, July 23.
The entire 2014 schedule is below:
Date / Opponent
Sunday, July 6 at Springfield Lasers
Tuesday, July 8 at San Diego Aviators
Thursday, July 10 at Washington Kastles
Friday, July, 11 at Texas Wild
Saturday, July, 12 at Austin Aces
Sunday, July 13 at Washington Kastles
Tuesday, July 15 vs. San Diego Aviators (Victoria Azarenka-PHL) / (Daniela Hantuchova-SD)
Wednesday, July 16 vs. Springfield Lasers
Thursday, July 17 vs. Washington Kastles (Venus Williams-WAS)
Friday, July 18 vs. Boston Lobsters
Sunday, July 20 at Boston Lobsters
Monday, July 21 vs. Austin Aces (Andy Roddick-AUS)
Tuesday, July 22 vs. Boston Lobsters
Thursday, July 23 vs. Washington Kastles
The 2014 Philadelphia Freedoms are hosted by Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
About Philadelphia Freedoms:
Mylan World TeamTennis (WTT) was co-founded by Billie Jean King who is also owner of the Philadelphia Freedoms. The 2014 Philadelphia Freedoms are hosted by Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Generous support is also provided by official sponsors, Lincoln Motor Company, CBS-3/CW-57, Macy*s, DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia – Valley Forge, Fidelity Investments, Winnie‘s LeBus Manayunk, 23K Studios, Fast Signs of Delaware, Hamlin Family Foundation, Neumann University Sport & Entertainment Management, Sweet Street Desserts, and USTA Middle States.
Visit www.facebook.com/PhiladelphiaFreedoms and follow @PhillyFreedoms for up to date information about the team.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer. CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother Standard® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine®, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to www.cancercenter.com.
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.
Comcast-Spectacor (comcast-spectacor.com) is the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company which owns the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), the home arena for both the Flyers and the NBA‘s Philadelphia 76ers, the Wells Fargo Center, and four Flyers Skate Zone community ice skating and hockey rinks. In addition, Comcast-Spectacor is also the principal owner of Global Spectrum, the fastest growing firm in the public assembly management field with more than 100 facilities throughout the United States and Canada; Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage service provider; New Era Tickets, a ticketing and marketing company for public assembly facilities; Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company; FanOne, a digital fan marketing company; and Paciolan, the leading provider of venue enablement, ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions.
Topics: Azarenka, Mylan WTT, Tennis News, Venus Williams, Vicky Duval, Wta
TENNIS SUPERSTAR VENUS WILLIAMS RETURNS TO PHILADELPHIA TO CHALLENGE PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS IN MYLAN WORLD…- http://t.co/osNBFrU29d