WTT World TeamTennis

British No. 2 Anne Keothavong Tops WTT Roster Draft

Published on March 15, 2011 under World TeamTennis (WTT) News Release


NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 15, 2011) - Anne Keothavong, Great Britain's second-ranked singles player, topped the 2011 WTT Roster Player Draft today when she was selected with the top overall pick by the Newport Beach Breakers. Players from 15 countries were chosen in Tuesday's Roster Draft as teams completed their lineups for the League's 36th season, which runs July 4-24.

In a special Roster Exempt Player Draft held before the start of the Roster Draft, three top Americans were added to team rosters. Lisa Raymond was selected by the Philadelphia Freedoms, 2009 Female MVP Vania King was protected by the Sacramento Capitals and the Boston Lobsters retained the rights for Coco Vandeweghe for the 2011 season.

The players added today join an all-star lineup of players selected in last month's Marquee Draft 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).

Americans led the way with a total of 19 players selected today including U.S. amateur Beatrice Capra who was Philadelphia's first round pick. Other Americans selected in the first round include Liezel Huber, world No. 5 in doubles, who will join Davenport on the Aces' roster. The duo paired together in 2010 to win a WTA doubles title at Stanford. Carly Gullickson returns to the Springfield Lasers as does Jan-Michael Gambill for the Boston Lobsters. Robert Kendrick returns to the New York Sportimes for his 5th WTT season. The 2010 WTT Champion Kansas City Explorers added American Alex Kuznetsov to their squad.

In other first round action, the Sacramento Capitals are bringing back 3-time WTT MVP Mark Knowles of the Bahamas for the full season. The Washington Kastles used their first round to select Arina Rodionova of Russia.

Each of the nine teams in the WTT Pro League presented by GEICO will play a total of 14 matches during the three-week regular season, July 4-21. The top two teams from both the Western and Eastern Conferences advance to the WTT Conference Championships on July 22 with the winners playing in the WTT Finals on July 24. Teams in the Western Conference are the Kansas City Explorers, Newport Beach Breakers, Sacramento Capitals, St. Louis Aces and Springfield Lasers. Teams in the Eastern Conference are the Boston Lobsters, New York Sportimes, Philadelphia Freedoms and Washington Kastles.

The WTT Pro League was co-founded by Billie Jean King in the early 1970s. Each team has a coach, two male and two female players who play singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches.

For details on the complete draft results and the 2011 schedule, visit www.WTT.com.

Here's a team-by-team recap of the 2011 WTT Roster Draft.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Newport Beach Breakers

The Newport Beach Breakers 2011 lineup is set and stacked with talent. Leading the Breakers this season is No.1 overall pick in the roster draft and No. 2 British female, Anne Keothavong. Lester Cook will return to the Breakers for the second consecutive season, while California native Travis Rettenmaier will play his first season for Newport and his third in the League. The final player drafted by the Breakers is Marie-Eve Pelletier who was protected in the fourth round. They join marquee player and tennis legend Pete Sampras who will play for the Breakers in Newport Beach on July 9.

Kansas City Explorers

The Kansas City Explorers already acquired the No. 1 doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan in last month's Marquee Draft, and now they have a strong supporting cast of roster players when they try to defend the King Trophy this July. In the first round, the Explorers selected Alex Kuznetsov followed by the protection of Kveta Peschke and Ricardo Mello. With their fourth pick, Kansas City selected American Madison Brengle, who made her WTT debut with the Delaware Smash in 2008.

Sacramento Capitals

After acquiring high-ranking American Mardy Fish in the Marquee Player Draft last month, the Sacramento Capitals' first three picks of the Roster Exempt and Roster Player Drafts were protections. Vania King will be back in Sacramento this July, as will Mark Knowles, who will be playing his 10th season with the Capitals, and Dusan Vemic who's back for the second year in a row. With their final pick Sacramento selected UCLA alum Yasmin Schnack to make her WTT debut.

Springfield Lasers

The Springfield Lasers have built another strong roster. In the first round, the Lasers selected American Carly Gullickson, who will be playing her third WTT season this July and her second consecutive year for the Lasers. Springfield's second and third round picks brought them American Lilia Osterloh, as well as WTT newcomer Paul Hanley who is Australia's No. 1 doubles player and 2011 Australian Open Mixed Doubles finalist. With their fourth and final pick, the Lasers protected South African Rik de Voest who will be playing his fourth WTT season and second in Springfield.

St. Louis Aces

Last month, the St. Louis Aces drafted a solid trio of marquee players in 2010 WTT Female MVP Lindsay Davenport, Anna Kournikova and Mark Philippoussis. The Aces also added a triple threat in Liezel Huber, Jean-Julien Rojer and Roman Borvanov to round out their team. With years of experience from their marquee players and WTT veteran Huber, rookies Rojer and Borvanov join what looks to be an extremely competitive Aces squad.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston Lobsters

After retaining two major marquee players in last month's draft, the Boston Lobsters drafted today in similar fashion. Joining James Blake and John Isner again this year in Boston are roster exempt player Coco Vandeweghe and returning players Jan-Michael Gambill and Eric Butorac. To complete their lineup, Boston selected Mashona Washington in round three who previously played for the Houston Wranglers (2007) and the Washington Kastles (2008),

New York Sportimes

The New York Sportimes top-notch marquee selections of current world No. 2 Kim Clijsters, and two former No. 1s John McEnroe and Martina Hingis, now has a complementary cast to make a run at advancing to the WTT Finals again this season. The Sportimes used their first and second round picks in the Roster Draft to protect Robert Kendrick and Jesse Witten. With their round three selection, New York took Britain's Katie O'Brien to complete their team for the 36th season of World TeamTennis.

Philadelphia Freedoms

This season, the Philadelphia Freedoms will have both youth and experience to lead their team. After selecting young American Melanie Oudin in last month's Marquee Player Draft, the Freedoms used the Roster Player Draft to bring back WTT veteran Lisa Raymond, who will play her 10th season in the League. Philadelphia's round one pick was American amateur Beatrice Capra, who played a few matches for the New York Buzz in 2009. Brendan Evans, who will make his WTT debut, was Philadelphia's second round pick, and Australian Nathan Healey was added in round three for his fourth WTT stint.

Washington Kastles

The Washington Kastles built a solid foundation for their 2011 team when they retained the rights to both Serena and Venus Williams and added up-and-coming American Sam Querrey to their lineup in last month's marquee draft. Add to the mix their roster draft selections of Arina Rodionova, Leander Paes, Rennae Stubbs and their protection of the 2010 Rookie of the Year, Bobby Reynolds, and they have the makings of a major Eastern Conference threat, especially when playing at their new home, Kastles Stadium at the Wharf in Washington, D.C.

2011 WTT Roster Player Draft

Roster Exempt Draft Selections

1. PHILADELPHIA: Lisa Raymond

2. SACRAMENTO: Vania King (protection)

3. BOSTON: Coco Vandeweghe (protection)

Roster Draft Selections

Round One

1. NEWPORT BEACH: Anne Keothavong

2. PHILADELPHIA: Beatrice Capra

3. SACRAMENTO: Mark Knowles (protection)

4. ST. LOUIS: Liezel Huber

5. WASHINGTON: Arina Rodionova

6. BOSTON: Jan-Michael Gambill (protection)

7. SPRINGFIELD: Carly Gullickson

8. NEW YORK: Robert Kendrick (protection)

9. KANSAS CITY: Alex Kuznetsov

Round Two

1. NEWPORT BEACH: Lester Cook

2. PHILADELPHIA: Brendan Evans

3. SACRAMENTO: Dusan Vemic (protection)

4. ST. LOUIS: Jean-Julien Rojer

5. WASHINGTON: Leander Paes

6. BOSTON: Eric Butorac (protection)

7. SPRINGFIELD: Lilia Osterloh

8. NEW YORK: Jesse Witten (protection)

9. KANSAS CITY: Kveta Peschke (protection)

Round Three

1. NEWPORT BEACH: Travis Rettenmaier

2. PHILADELPHIA: Nathan Healey

3. # WASHINGTON: Rennae Stubbs

4. ST. LOUIS: Roman Borvanov

5. WASHINGTON: Bobby Reynolds (protection)

6. BOSTON: Mashona Washington

7. SPRINGFIELD: Paul Hanley

8. NEW YORK: Katie O'Brien

9. KANSAS CITY: Ricardo Mello (protection)

Round Four

1. NEWPORT BEACH: Marie-Eve Pelletier (protection)

2. PHILADELPHIA: PASS

3. SACRAMENTO: Yasmin Schnack

4. ST. LOUIS: PASS

5. # SACRAMENTO: PASS

6. BOSTON: PASS

7. SPRINGFIELD: Rik de Voest (protection)

8. NEW YORK: PASS

9. KANSAS CITY: Madison Brengle

Draft Notes

Round 3:

# The Washington Kastles traded their fourth round draft pick and financial consideration for the Sacramento Capitals' third round draft pick.

2011 WTT TEAM ROSTERS:

Boston Lobsters: James Blake, John Isner, Coco Vandeweghe, Jan-Michael Gambill, Eric Butorac and Mashona Washington. Coach: Bud Schultz

Kansas City Explorers: Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Alex Kuznetsov, Kveta Peschke, Ricardo Mello and Madison Brengle. Coach: Brent Haygarth

New York Sportimes: John McEnroe, Kim Clijsters, Martina Hingis, Robert Kendrick, Jesse Witten and Katie O'Brien. Coach: TBD

Newport Beach Breakers: Pete Sampras, Anne Keothavong, Lester Cook, Travis Rettenmeier and Marie-Eve Pelletier. Coach: Trevor Kronemann

Philadelphia Freedoms: Melanie Oudin, Lisa Raymond, Beatrice Capra, Brendan Evans and Nathan Healey. Coach: Pascal Collard

Sacramento Capitals: Mardy Fish, Vania King, Mark Knowles, Dusan Vemic, Yasmin Schnack. Coach: Wayne Bryan

Springfield Lasers: Carly Gullickson, Lilia Osterloh, Paul Hanley and Rik de Voest. Coach: John-Laffnie de Jager

St. Louis Aces: Lindsay Davenport, Anna Kournikova, Mark Philippoussis, Liezel Huber, Jean-Julien Rojer and Roman Borvanov. Coach Rick Leach

Washington Kastles: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Sam Querrey, Arina Rodionova, Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds and Rennae Stubbs. Coach: Murphy Jensen

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