WTT Orange County Breakers

Newport Beach Selects Locals Lindsay Davenport and Brian MacPhie In WTT Marquee Player Draft

Published on April 2, 2003 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Orange County Breakers News Release


Newport Beach, CA (April 2, 2003) – Local favorites Lindsay Davenport and Brian MacPhie will lead the Newport Beach Breakers into their inaugural World TeamTennis (WTT) season this July.

The Breakers drafted American superstar Davenport and fellow Orange County native MacPhie in today's WTT Player Draft. Davenport's rights were traded to the Breakers from the New York Buzz in February for a first round draft pick.

The Breakers locked up Davenport for two home matches. The Newport Beach Breakers attained MacPhie with a trade from defending WTT Champions, the Sacramento Capitols. As a Capitol, MacPhie was a 3-time League MVP. Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion and Olympic Gold Medallist, is currently ranked # 5 on the WTA Tour. Just prior to signing with the Breakers, Davenport won her 38th singles title. (includes one Olympic title).

MacPhie reached the finals of 12 ATP doubles events, winning five. He is a three-time All-American at USC ('91-'93) and is also one of the first people Davenport called after her breakthrough win at the '98 U.S. Open.

The Breakers also secured Marquee Visits from two Legends in the game. John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova will be playing for two of the Breakers seven home match nights. John McEnroe should bring some flavor to this already colorful WTT format. Amongst his accomplishments are seven Grand Slam singles titles and ten Grand Slam doubles titles. McEnroe, who will be playing for the New York Sportimes, returns to WTT for his fourth season with the Pro League.

Martina Navratilova, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Freedoms, rounds out the star-studded field of talent due here in July. Navratilova's successful resurgence into tennis following a six-year retirement is highlighted by her recent 2003 Australian Mixed Doubles championship with partner Leander Paes. Navratilova has won 167 singles titles and 168 doubles titles in her career. She is considered by many as the greatest tennis player of all-time and is widely acknowledged as raising the level of women's tennis with her athleticism.

Amongst these big names will be the 16-year-old phenom Maria Sharapova. The young Russian superstar played for the Delaware Smash last season. Nominated by Teen Magazine in March 2003 "one of 20 teenagers that will change the world". Sharapova, at 14 years old, was the youngest player ever to reach Australian Open junior finals ('02) In her young professional career, she has already proven she can win by defeating WTA Top 50 players Amy Frazier and Laura Granville. Sharapova currently resides in Bradenton, Fla.

The team was rounded out by two strong additions in Josh Eagle and Shenay Perry.

Australian and doubles specialist Josh Eagle has five doubles titles under his belt, three of which were in 2002. Eagle finished the 2002 season ranked #16 in doubles. His current partner on tour is fellow Newport Beach Breaker Brian MacPhie. MacPhie and Eagle reached the round of 16 at Indian Wells and Miami last month.

Shenay Perry, a Florida native, has also started her young professional career in style. In 2003, she has already captured a singles title at Minneapolis. Perry showed her doubles talents as well when she won the doubles title in Fullerton with Bethanie Mattek.

The Breakers schedule will be released in late April. Tickets will go on sale April 28th For more information about the Newport Beach Breakers or to purchase tickets for the 2003 season, call 949-916-6682 or visit us at www.newportbeachbreakers.com Billie Jean King and Larry King originated World TeamTennis and its unique gender-equity team concept in the early 70s'. 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. For more information on World TeamTennis, visit www.WTT.com.

Advanta, a highly-focused financial services provider serving the needs of small businesses, is proud to bring high profile tennis events to the Philadelphia area, sponsoring three World TeamTennis teams including the Philadelphia Freedoms and hosting the October 27 – November 3, 2003 Advanta Championships, a WTA Tour Event. Advanta also has a long tradition of supporting tennis-related charities, including the 2002 World TeamTennis Smash Hits, featuring Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, which raised a record-breaking $700,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local AIDS organizations, Philadelphia Wheelchair Tennis and Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education (formerly Philadelphia Youth Tennis).

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



World TeamTennis Stories from April 2, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central