WTT signs Agassi, releases 2009 schedule
February 26, 2009 - World TeamTennis (WTT) News Release
NEW YORK, N.Y. (February 26, 2009) - Andre Agassi will return to professional team tennis competition this summer, playing two matches for the Philadelphia Freedoms of the Advanta World TeamTennis Pro League. League officials announced Agassi's return when they released the 2009 schedule today.
The 2009 Advanta WTT Pro League schedule includes 73 matches in 10 markets, beginning July 2 and running through July 26. The Eastern and Western Conference Champions will battle for the Advanta WTT Championship title on July 26.
Agassi, who previously played World TeamTennis from 2002 to 2004, will play for the Freedoms on July 10 in Philadelphia and one road match on July 17 in Newport Beach, Calif. "Playing World TeamTennis is a great experience," said Agassi. "Team play is a terrific way to showcase tennis, especially for kids. WTT is competitive, it's fun and there's a really great energy from the fans. I'm looking forward to playing WTT again."
Agassi, who won 60 career singles titles including eight Grand Slam singles championships, is the only man to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal. One of tennis' true superstars, Agassi is also widely respected for his philanthropy. In 1994, he established the Andre Agassi Foundation which is dedicated to transforming U.S. public education for underserved youth. Agassi opened a public charter school in Las Vegas in 2001, the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, in one of the city's most socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods to improve lives through education. The school will have its first senior graduating class this spring.
"It's exciting to have Andre back in the Advanta World TeamTennis Pro League," said WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss. "Not only is he one of the game's greatest ambassadors, but he has a unique connection with fans. He always brings something special to the court."
Agassi joins previously announced marquee players including Serena Williams (Washington Kastles), Venus Williams (Philadelphia Freedoms), Martina Navratilova (Boston Lobsters), John McEnroe (New York Sportimes); Anna Kournikova (St. Louis Aces), Michael Chang (Sacramento Capitals) and Bob and Mike Bryan (Kansas City Explorers).
Serena Williams will play four times for her Washington Kastles this summer. The 2009 Australian Open champion begins her WTT season with three road matches - July 9 in Boston, July 10 in New York City and July 13 in Philadelphia. Williams makes her only home appearance in Washington, D.C., on July 14.
Kournikova returns for her seventh WTT season and her second with the St. Louis Aces. The former world no. 1 doubles star will play six matches for the Aces. Kournikova opens the season on the road with matches against Philadelphia on July 6, New York Sportimes on July 7, Washington Kastles on July 8, Springfield Lasers on July 10 and Sacramento Capitals on July 13. She makes her only home appearance on July 11 in St. Louis.
McEnroe will help his New York Sportimes break in their new Sportime Stadium on Randall's Island in New York City with two home matches - July 13 and July 15. The July 15 match will find two of the game's greats facing off across the net as McEnroe and the Sportimes take on the Boston Lobsters led by Martina Navratilova. McEnroe will also play road matches on July 14 in Philadelphia; July 16 in Washington, D.C., and July 21 in Newport Beach, Calif.
Navratilova returns for a League-record 20th season, playing four matches for the Boston Lobsters - July 14 in Albany against the New York Buzz; July 15 against the New York Sportimes; July 16 in Boston; and July 20 on the road in Philadelphia.Venus Williams will play three matches for the Philadelphia Freedoms, starting July 7 in Washington, D.C. She makes her 2009 home debut on July 8 at King of Prussia Mall then travels to Albany for a July 9 match against the New York Buzz.
Tennis Hall of Famer Michael Chang makes his Advanta WTT debut for the Sacramento Capitals on July 10 in Roseville, Calif., and also plays one match on the road on July 11 against the Newport Beach Breakers.
The world's top doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan will play four matches for the Kansas City Explorers - July 17 against the New York Sportimes; July 18 in Kansas City; July 19 in St. Louis and July 21 in Sacramento where they will face a Capitals' team coached by their father Wayne Bryan.
The New York Buzz will start the defense of their 2008 title on a new home court at the University at Albany. The Buzz will make their home debut on July 3, hosting the Philadelphia Freedoms.
Team lineups will be finalized at the Advanta WTT Roster Draft on March 31 in Miami. Marquee players typically play a limited schedule while roster players play the full 3-week season.
Team | Venue | Match Start Time
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Kansas City Explorers.............M&I Bank Stadium at Barney Allis Plaza - Kansas City, Mo. | 7:35 CDT (expect 7/12 at 6:35 pm)
Newport Beach Breakers ........Breakers Stadium at Newport Beach Country Club - Newport Beach, Calif. | 7:05 pm PDT
Sacramento Capitals................Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria - Roseville, Calif. | 7:30 pm PDT
St. Louis Aces ...........................Dwight Davis Memorial Tennis Center - St. Louis, Mo. | 7:15 pm CDT
Springfield Lasers....................Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex - Springfield, Mo. | 7:05 pm CDT
(except 7/10 at 7:30 pm)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston Lobsters........................Ferncroft Country Club - Middleton, Mass. | 7 pm EDT (except 7/18 at 4 pm)
New York Buzz ........................SEFCU Arena at University at Albany - Albany, N.Y. | 7:30 pm EDT
New York Sportimes................Sportime Stadium at Randall's Island - New York, N.Y. | 7 pm EDT
Philadelphia Freedoms ............Freedoms Stadium at King of Prussia Mall - King of Prussia, Pa. | 7:30 pm EDT
Washington Kastles .................Kastles Stadium - Washington D.C. | 7 pm EDT (except 7/12 at 5 pm EDT)
2009 SCHEDULE - Advanta WTT Pro League
Thursday, July 2
Philadelphia Freedoms @ Springfield Lasers
Boston Lobsters @ St. Louis Aces
NY Sportimes @ Kansas City Explorers
Washington Kastles @ Newport Beach Breakers
Friday, July 3
Philadelphia Freedoms @ New York Buzz
Washington Kastles @ Sacramento Capitals
Saturday, July 4
NY Sportimes @ St. Louis Aces
Sunday, July 5
Boston Lobsters @ New York Buzz
Kansas City Explorers @ Springfield Lasers
Newport Beach Breakers @ Sacramento Capitals
Monday, July 6
Kansas City Explorers @ Boston Lobsters
NY Sportimes @ New York Buzz
St. Louis Aces (Anna Kournikova) @ Philadelphia Freedoms
Newport Beach Breakers @ Springfield Lasers
Tuesday, July 7
Sacramento Capitals @ Boston Lobsters
St. Louis Aces (Anna Kournikova) @ NY Sportimes
Philadelphia Freedoms (Venus Williams) @ Washington Kastles
Newport Beach Breakers @ Kansas City Explorers
Wednesday, July 8
New York Buzz @ NY Sportimes
Sacramento Capitals @ Philadelphia Freedoms (Venus Williams)
St. Louis Aces (Anna Kournikova) @ Washington Kastles
Springfield Lasers @ Newport Beach Breakers
Thursday, July 9
Washington Kastles (Serena Williams) @ Boston Lobsters
Philadelphia Freedoms (Venus Williams) @ New York Buzz
Friday, July 10
Washington Kastles (Serena Williams) @ NY Sportimes
Boston Lobsters @ Philadelphia Freedoms (Andre Agassi)
St. Louis Aces (Anna Kournikova) @ Springfield Lasers
New York Buzz @ Kansas City Explorers
Newport Beach Breakers @ Sacramento Capitals (Michael Chang)
Saturday, July 11
Springfield Lasers @ St. Louis Aces (Anna Kournikova)
Boston Lobsters @ Kansas City Explorers
Sa cramento Capitals (Michael Chang) @ Newport Beach Breakers
Sunday, July 12
Philadelphia Freedoms @ Boston Lobsters
New York Buzz @ Washington Kastles
Springfield Lasers @ Kansas City Explorers
Monday, July 13
Newport Beach Breakers @ NY Sportimes (John McEnroe)
Washington Kastles (Serena Williams) @ Philadelphia Freedoms
St. Louis Aces (Anna Kournikova) @ Sacramento Capitals
Tuesday, July 14
Boston Lobsters (Martina Navratilova) @ New York Buzz
NY Sportimes (John McEnroe) @ Philadelphia Freedoms
Newport Beach Breakers @ Washington Kastles (Serena Williams)
Sacramento Capitals @ Kansas City Explorers
Wednesday, July 15
Boston Lobsters (Martina Navratilova) @ NY Sportimes (John McEnroe)
Sacramento Capitals @ Springfield Lasers
Newport Beach Breakers @ St. Louis Aces
Thursday, July 16
Springfield Lasers @ Boston Lobsters (Martina Navratilova)
Kansas City Explorers @ New York Buzz
NY Sportimes (John McEnroe) @ Washington Kastles
Friday, July 17
Springfield Lasers @ New York Buzz
Kansas City Explorers (Bob & Mike Bryan) @ NY Sportimes
Sacramento Capitals @ St. Louis Aces
Philadelphia Freedoms (Andre Agassi) @ Newport Beach Breakers
Saturday, July 18
New York Buzz @ Boston Lobsters
St. Louis Aces @ Springfield Lasers
Washington Kastles @ Kansas City Explorers (Bob & Mike Bryan)
Philadelphia Freedoms @ Sacramento Capitals
Sunday, July 19
New York Buzz @ NY Sportimes
Kansas City Explorers (Bob & Mike Bryan) @ St. Louis Aces
Sacramento Capitals @ Newport Beach Breakers
Monday, July 20
Boston Lobsters (Martina Navratilova) @ Philadelphia Freedoms
Washington Kastles @ Springfield Lasers
Tuesday, July 21
New York Buzz @ Washington Kastles
Springfiel d Lasers @ St. Louis Aces
NY Sportimes (John McEnroe) @ Newport Beach Breakers
Kansas City Explorers (Bob & Mike Bryan) @ Sacramento Capitals
Wednesday, July 22
New York Buzz @ Boston Lobsters
St. Louis Aces @ Philadelphia Freedoms
Springfield Lasers @ Washington Kastles
Kansas City Explorers @ Newport Beach Breakers
NY Sportimes @ Sacramento Capitals
Friday, July 24
Conference Championships - location TBD
Western #1 vs. Western #2
Eastern #1 vs. Eastern #2
Sunday, July 26
Advanta WTT Championship Finals - location TBD
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World TeamTennis Stories from February 26, 2009
- Lasers '09 Schedule/ Kournikova Date - Springfield Lasers
- WTT signs Agassi, releases 2009 schedule - WTT
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