Posted March 31, 2009
by Staff

(Miami) – In a groundbreaking move, the defending WTT Champion New York Buzz selected World TeamTennis’ youngest team ever today with a lineup of four up-and-coming American USTA juniors, a WTT first. The new-look New York Buzz will be Alex Domijan, 17; Evan King, 17; Christina McHale, 16; and Sloane Stephens, 16.

The team will be coached by USTA national coach Bahamian Roger Smith who previously played for the NY Buzz in 1995 in their franchise rookie year.

The USTA became a minority owner of World TeamTennis and the organizations are teaming up to promote the growth and development of youth team tennis in the U.S. “One of the main goals of the USTA’s partnership with World TeamTennis, is to create innovative new ways to showcase our sport,” said Lucy S. Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “By creating this WTT team that features some of the country’s top junior prospects, the young players will gain valuable experience while showcasing our next generation of up-and-coming talent to new audiences.”

The lineup for the U.S. team was put together by Patrick McEnroe, General Manager, USTA Player Development and his USTA coaching staff. “An integral part of our new player development philosophy is to foster a team concept among our rising junior talent, while providing them the best opportunities to face tough competition,” said McEnroe. “The New York Buzz will provide the perfect opportunity to fulfill both these goals for the boys and girls working with the USTA.”

Buzz owner Nitty Singh has a long history of supporting young tennis talent. “We are extremely excited to showcase America’s finest juniors on our New York Buzz team this season,” said Singh. “This keeps with our tradition of presenting the game’s future stars such as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Lindsay Davenport who also played tournaments here in the Capital Region during the early part of their careers.

“The Buzz are the first to have an all-junior USTA amateur team, but then we have always been innovative and creative,” said Singh. “Last year our Capital Region junior Buzz team won the USTA nationals and I’m sure our new U.S. all-star team will be an inspiration and will serve as great role models for all the junior tennis players in the area including the 15-love program. Our fans and sponsors will be in for another great season of fun and competitive tennis at the SEFCU Arena.”

The 2009 Buzz begin their season on July 3 at home against the Philadelphia Freedoms. The Buzz will welcome to town 8-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams to the Capital Region on July 9, and tennis legend Martina Navratilova on July 14.

Tickets for both Venus Williams and Martina Navaratilova night, or for any of the other home matches at University of Albany's SEFCU Arena are on sale now by clicking the ticket link on the left or by calling 518-378-BUZZ. Don't miss out on the future stars taking on the greats of the game.

2009 NEW YORK BUZZ: Alex Domijan, Evan King, Christina McHale, Sloane Stephens. Coach: Roger Smith

Player/Coach Bios:

Alexander Domijan, 17, of Wesley Chapel, Fla., is ranked a career-high No. 733. Domijan has scored major successes in both pro and junior events in the past year, and has done so on multiple surfaces. Domijan reached his first career quarterfinal on the USTA Pro Circuit in January of 2008 at $10,000 North Miami Beach, Fla. In June, he reached her first professional final on clay at $10,000 Rochester, N.Y., and has also recorded semifinals appearances at Futures events in Tampa, Fla., Honolulu, Hawaii, and this January in Hollywood, Fla. On the junior circuit, Domijan put together a remarkable 16 match winning streak in ITF Junior events to end the year, winning the Pan-American Closed ITF Championships and the Eddie Herr International before losing in the semifinals of the Dunlop Orange Bowl. He also reached the semifinals of the USTA Boys’ 18s Clay Court Championships. Domijan is currently No. 1 is USTA Boys’ 18s National Standings and was a practice partner during March’s Davis Cup first round tie against Switzerland.

Evan King, 17, of Chicago, is one of the country’s top junior players and has recently begun competing in professional events on the USTA Pro Circuit. In March, he played his first tour-level match at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships via a wild card he earned by winning the 2008 USTA Boys’ 18s Clay Court Championships last July. King also swept the singles and doubles titles at the Evert American ITF event last October, and he also captured the doubles title at the USTA Pan-American ITF Junior Tennis Championships that same month. King, who trains at the USTA Training Center Headquarters and will play at the University of Michigan in the fall, is currently No. 2 in the USTA Boys’ 18s National Standings.

Christina McHale, 16, of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is ranked No. 381 and has firmly established herself as one of America’s top juniors over the last year. On the 2008 USTA Pro Circuit, she reached the semifinals of the $25,000 event in Augusta, Ga., and also reached the quarterfinals of $50,000 events in Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., and San Diego. In January, she won a USTA wild card tournament and earned entry into the Australian Open, and pushed her first round opponent to three sets before losing 9-7 in the third. On the junior circuit, McHale is coming off a doubles victory at the Australian Open, one month after reaching the girls’ 18s final at the Dunlop Orange Bowl. She also helped lead the U.S. to the Junior Fed Cup title last September. McHale, who trains at the USTA Player Development Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., is No. 29 in the USTA Girls’ 18s National Standings.

Sloane Stephens, 15, of Lauderhill, Fla., is ranked No. 561 and No. 80 in the ITF World Junior Rankings (for players 18-and-under). Stephens had strong success in limited appearances on the USTA Pro Circuit in 2008, sandwiching two quarterfinals appearances at $10,000 events in Landisville, Pa., and Wichita, Kan., around a semifinals appearance at the $10,000 event in Sumter, S.C. Stephens also recorded a mixed doubles victory at the US Open with partner Robert Kendrick over the No. 1 ranked mixed doubles team of Daniel Nestor and Chia-Jung Chuang. As a junior, Stephens won the doubles title at the 2008 Easter Bowl with Mallory Burdette in April, and following a third place finish at the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships, the pair went on to reach the girls’ doubles final at the US Open. In December, Stephens reached the girls’ 18s semifinal of the Dunlop Orange Bowl. She also helped lead the U.S. to the Junior Fed Cup title – for girls aged 16-and-under – last year. She currently is No. 21 in the USTA Girls’ 18s National Standings.

Roger Smith, 45, of the Bahamas, joined the USTA Player Development staff as National Coach for Men's tennis in January 2003. Prior to his role as National Coach, Roger was the Managing Director and Head Tennis Pro at The Tennis Place in Nassau, Bahamas and was the Managing Director of the Bahamian Lawn Tennis Association. He played on the tour for 13 years and was ranked in the Top 100 in singles and doubles. Smith competed in singles and doubles at the 1996 Olympics and coached the Bahamian team at the Sydney Games in 2000. He was a member of the Bahamian Davis Cup team for 15 years and played varsity tennis at Ohio State University from 1982-86 and still holds the school record for career singles wins.

For more information, please call Nitty Singh at 518-365-6603.