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Tennis Legend Chris Evert to Appear at Philadelphia Freedoms Home Match on July 12

June 2, 2011 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Philadelphia Freedoms News Release


Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia Freedoms announced today that tennis great Chris Evert will be making a special guest appearance at the July 12th Philadelphia Freedoms home match being held at the Pavilion at Villanova University. The World TeamTennis legend will be a special guest during the Freedoms' match against the St. Louis Aces. Evert will participate in clinics, Meet & Greets, and a special on-court event. Evert's star power will fill the void from marquee player Lindsey Davenport who is unable to play against the Freedoms that night due to a change in schedule.

"It's great to be involved with World TeamTennis again," said Evert. "The team format is a terrific way to showcase tennis, especially to kids. I always enjoyed playing WTT and being part of a team and the community. I'm looking forward to visiting with teams and fans this summer and being part of the experience."

Evert is one of the most popular players in WTT history. Her first WTT season was in 1976 when the world's top-ranked player joined the Phoenix Racquets. Evert earned Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in 1976 and repeated as MVP in 1977. Evert played for the Los Angeles Strings in 1978, leading her team to its first Championship title, and was named Championship MVP. When the League celebrated its' 30th anniversary in 2005, Evert was named as one of the top 30 players in WTT history, and last year was voted by fans as the No. 9 Impact Player in WTT's 35 seasons.

During her amazing tennis career, Evert won more than $8 million dollars in prize money but her on-court legacy is only surpassed by the contributions she has made since retiring from the game in 1989. Raised in Ft. Lauderdale and a long-time resident of Boca Raton, Chris has raised more than $19 million to fight drug abuse and assist neglected and abused children in south Florida. In addition to her extensive charity work, Chris is the co-owner of the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton.

Without question, Chris Evert is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. During her 20-year career, Evert won 157 tour titles including 18 Grand Slam Championships. She still holds the tour record for highest winning percentage with a 1,309-146 won-lost record, a .899 winning average. In 1999 she was named by ESPN as one of the top 50 North American athletes of the century. Evert's achievements earned her a place in tennis history when she was the sole inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.

Evert just announced her return to television after a ten year hiatus. She will join ESPN for its coverage of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, working both as a studio analyst and calling matches.

For more information about the Philadelphia Freedoms please visit www.philadelphiafreedoms.com and for tickets to the star-powered July 12 match visit ComcastTIX.com.

About Philadelphia Freedoms: Individual match tickets are on sale exclusively through ComcastTIX online at ComcastTIX.com, or by phone at 866-WTT-TIXS. All seats are reserved. Information about season tickets is available at www.philadelphiafreedoms.com.

The Freedoms' 2011 regular season schedule in the WTT Pro League presented by GEICO includes seven home matches this July at The Pavilion at Villanova University. The Freedoms are led by head coach Pascal Collard and assistant coach Josh Cohen. 2011 team members include former world no. 1 doubles player Lisa Raymond, rising American Beatrice Capra, a WTT rookie, Brendan Evans and local resident Nathan Healey. Raymond, Capra, Evans and Healey join American teen phenom Melanie Oudin on the 2011 roster. All Freedoms events feature world-class tennis in an innovative, fast-paced World TeamTennis coed team format. Each evening includes exciting Block Parties featuring USTA Quick Start Tennis, live music, inflatables, mascots, kids' games, prizes, food and much more.

The Freedoms open their home season on Wednesday, July 6 at 7 p.m., against Venus Williams and the Washington Kastles. Tennis great Chris Evert will make a special guest appearance on July 12. Legendary Hall of Famer John McEnroe, playing for the New York Sportimes, returns to Philly on July 13 in a blockbuster evening which will also include the Freedoms' top marquee draft pick and rising teenage star Melanie Oudin. The Freedoms' home match schedule will continue through July 19 with the final match-up featuring the world's top-ranked doubles team, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, playing for the defending WTT Champion Kansas City Explorers.

The 2011 Freedoms Sponsors include Beneficial Bank, Abington Health, Acura, GEICO, Fidelity Investments King of Prussia, Novo Nordisk, CBS3/The CW Philly, The Inquirer, Hamlin Family Foundation, Macy's, USTA Middle States, 23K Studios, Grimm & Grove Communications, Chipotle, Drexel University Sports Management, Energy Plus, Dolce Valley Forge, 950 ESPN/WPEN-AM, 97.5WNUW-FM, 102.9WMGK-FM, McShane Sports Medicine, Philadelphia Magazine, Turning Leaf Wines and Excel Physical Therapy.

Visit www.philadelphiafreedoms.com for more information on the Freedoms and their full 2011 schedule.



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