2004 Delaware Smash Roster Draft
April 7, 2004 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Delaware Smash News Release
Wilmington, Del. (April 7, 2004) âThe core of the 2003 Delaware Smash team that finished the regular season undefeated at home and went on to win the WTT Pro League Championship title will return to Wilmington this season. Joining the defending champion Delaware Smash lineup is David Wheaton, drafted by the Team in the 4th round of today's WTT Pro League Draft held via teleconference from the League's New York City headquarters.
American star Paul Goldstein from nearby Rockville, Md., is a former Davis Cup player and four time All-American at Stanford University. Goldstein has wins over Patrick Rafter, James Blake and Greg Rusedski. Goldstein was named the 2004 WTT Male MVP.
In 2004, Liezel Huber will be entering her fifth season in the WTT Pro League. She is the winner of nine WTA doubles titles since 2002. One of her current doubles partners on the Tour is Ai Sugiyama. Huber ended the 2003 season with a career best year in doubles, winning five titles and reaching a career high ranking of # 12. Huber and Martina Navratilova reached the doubles semifinals in Los Angeles in 2002.
Huber reached the doubles semifinals of Wimbledon in 1999. Recently, she reached the quarterfinals of the Nasdaq-100 Open. Huber ended the 2003 WTT season ranked # 1 in women's and mixed doubles.
Returning Smash player and WTT 2003 Female MVP and 2002 Female Rookie of the Year Samantha Reeves has reached the quarterfinals or better in six WTA Tour events and in 2003 was ranked among the Top 100 singles and doubles players in the world. Reeves has earned 2 WTA doubles titles. She recorded her best Grand Slam result in 2003 reaching the third round in singles, losing to Kim Clijsters.
David Wheaton reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 1991, defeating Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals. Wheaton has other big wins over former number ones, including Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and Jim Courier. He reached a career high singles ranking of # 12 in 1991. Wheaton also played for the U.S. Davis Cup team in 1993. Wheaton is a veteran WTT player, having played with the League for 4 years.
"With the return of Paul, Liezel and Samantha to the Smash this year, they know what it takes to be a championship team and their experience will undoubtedly be a great benefit to making this another successful season," said Crystal Freeman, General Manager of the Smash. "We are looking forward to the addition of a seasoned player such as David Wheaton to the Smash."
Two time U.S. Open Champion Patrick Rafter is scheduled to make a visit to Delaware this July. In 2000, he defeated Agassi in a memorable five-set semifinal to reach his first final at the All England Club. He met Sampras in the finals, where after winning the first set tiebreak, Rafter lost to Sampras in five sets. Rafter has other notable wins over Becker, Martin, Rusedski and Philippoussis. He won two straight U.S. Open titles, Australian Open singles and men's doubles titles. He was also a member of the Australian Olympic and Davis Cup Teams. Rafter retired from the game in 2001 while ranked in the top 10 to devote more time to his family.
Rafter will be making his WTT Pro League debut, playing for the Philadelphia Freedoms. Rafter's only other professional tennis competition to date since his retirement was the 2004 Australian Open where he played doubles.
Tennis legend Monica Seles was also selected to make a visit to Delaware this summer. Seles, who will be playing for the New York Sportimes, will be making her WTT Pro League return after a two-year hiatus from WTT. Since turning Pro in 1988 at the young age of 14 years, 3 months, Seles has won 53 WTA singles titles and 6 doubles titles, including 9 Grand Slam singles titles. She has been a member of both the U.S. Fed Cup and U.S. Olympic Teams. In 1991 and 1992, Seles ended the year ranked # 1 in singles.
The season schedule will be released in late April. For more information about the Smash or to purchase tickets for the 2004 season, call (866) WTT-TIXS or visit us at www.delawaresmash.com.
Billie Jean King and Larry King originated World TeamTennis and its unique gender-equity team concept in the early 70s'. Since its inception, some of tennis' greatest names have played in the League, including Venus and Serena Williams, Monica Seles, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. The format features teams comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Each match consists of five sets, with one set each of men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles.
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