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WTT Springfield Lasers

Springfield Lasers 2008 Team Announced

April 1, 2008 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Springfield Lasers News Release


World TeamTennis, presented by Advanta, completed its 2008 Professional League Players Draft at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Fla., earlier today. The 2007 Western Conference Champion Springfield Lasers team will bring back 2007 WTT Most Valuable Player Tamarine Tanasugarn for the 2008 season. The team ended the 2007 season with a 13-1 league record. Standout newcomer Shenae Perry joins return players, Todd Perry, and Glenn Weiner, to round out the 2008 Lasers roster, which is as follows:

Women

1st Round Pick: Tamarine Tanasugarn - Returning 2007 WTT Most Valuable Player; ranked #1 WTT Women's Singles Player for 2007, and member of #1 WTT Women's Doubles Team for 2007; currently ranked #68 in world in women's singles; career-high ranking of #19 in women's singles (2002); Fed Cup player for native country of Thailand; more than $2 million in career earnings.

2nd Round Pick: Shenay Perry - Member of United States' 2006 Fed Cup Team; 13-1 record in women's doubles for 2008 WTA Tour; holds seven ITF Women's Doubles titles and three ITF Women's Singles titles; advanced to Wimbledon 4th Round and French Open 3rd Round in 2006; ranked as high as #40 in WTA women's singles (2006); currently ranked #168 in women's doubles; career-high ranking of #97 in women's doubles (2003).

Complete bios on Tanasurgarn and Perry can be found at: www.wtatour.com.

Men

3rd Round Pick: Todd Perry - Returning substitute member of 2007 Lasers squad; currently ranked #65 in ATP men's doubles; career-high ranking of #16 (2006); winner of six ATP Men's Doubles titles; career earnings of $738,332; Australian native.

4th Round Pick: Glenn Weiner - Returning member of 2007 (and 2003) Lasers squads; career-high ranking of #119 in men's singles (2004) and #85 in men's doubles (2004); current coach of rising ATP standout and Delray Beach ATP title winner, Kei Nishikori; South African native.

Complete bios on Perry and Weiner can be found at: www.atptennis.com

Returning Lasers Coach

John-Laffnie (J.L.) de Jager - Popular second-year Lasers Coach; WTT Coach of the Year for 2007 season; current captain (and former player) of South African Davis Cup team; coached Wes Moodie and Stephan Huss to Wimbledon Doubles title (2005); former ATP player with seven career Doubles titles; highest doubles ranking of #4 in world; Doubles finalist at U.S., Australian and French Opens; former WTT player.

Complete bio on Coach de Jager can be found at: www.atptennis.com

"We're very excited about the Lasers team we've been able to put together for 2008," said team owner John Cooper. "Obviously, I think our fans will be thrilled to have the league MVP, Tammy Tanasugarn, coming back for another year. We're also pleased to be able to draft another WTA standout, Shenae Perry, to team up with returning veterans, Todd Perry, and Glenn Weiner. While it may be difficult to improve on our 13-1 record from last year, we feel great about this team being up to that challenge."

The Springfield Lasers open the 2008 WTT season at home against the St. Louis Aces. Eleven pro teams, including the new Washington (D.C.) Kastles franchise, will be competing for the 2008 King Trophy over the duration of the upcoming WTT season, which is scheduled for July 3 - 27. All seven Lasers home matches will be played at the Cooper Tennis Complex, 2331 E. Pythian Street. For ticket information, contact the Lasers Ticket Office at (417) 837-5800.

Complete results from today's draft are available at . For more information and updates on the Springfield Lasers, visit .

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