Venus, Serena Ready to Play WorldTeamTennis

Published July 7, 2009
By Staff

IT’S THE NOT THE WAY YOU START, IT’S THE WAY YOU FINISH – LASERS STAGE HISTORIC COMEBACK:  The Newport Beach Breakers got off to a rough start on Monday, landing in Springfield, Ill., instead of Springfield, Mo.  Travel snafu aside, the Breakers rolled through the first four sets and built a 20-12 lead over the Springfield Lasers going into the final set.  That’s when the night turned and ended the way it started for the Breakers – not so great.  For the Lasers, it was the most improbable of wins as Springfield’s Vania King led her squad to the second biggest comeback in WTT history.  King dominated women’s singles with a 5-1 win over Marie-Eve Pelletier to send the match into Overtime.  King rolled through Overtime winning four games to bring the match even and set up a Supertiebreaker.  King ruled in the Supertiebreaker to give the Lasers an improbable 22-21 win.  The Kansas City Explorers hold the record for largest comeback, rallying from nine games down to defeat the Sacramento Capitals in 1997.

HOME SWEET HOME FOR FREEDOMS:  The Philadelphia Freedoms opened their 2009 season with a 22-18 Overtime win over the St. Louis Aces on Monday night, but the news wasn’t all good.  Philadelphia’s Travis Parrott announced to the crowd after his men’s doubles match that a shoulder injury would sideline him for the remainder of the WTT season.  Monday’s match also marked the debut of the youngest player in WTT history, 14-year-old Madison Keys.  Keys dropped her singles match to St. Louis’ Ashley Weinhold 5-3, but rallied in women’s doubles with WTT veteran Lisa Raymond for a 5-2 win over Weinhold and Liga Dekmeijere.

Anna Kournikova was on the bench for the Aces.  Kournikova, who couldn’t play due to a wrist injury, participated in a kids QuickStart clinic for a local Junior TeamTennis League.  The clinic was a reward for 40 kids, age 10 and under, for good conduct and sportsmanship in their league.  Kournikova also visited a number of sponsor tents, participated in half-time on-court promotions and joined both teams following the match to sign autographs for all kids at the match.

AROUND THE LEAGUE – VENUS AND SERENA START WTT PLAY THIS WEEK:  Wimbledon doubles champion Venus Williams joins her Freedoms teammates on Tuesday, July 7 in Washington, D.C., for the first of her three World TeamTennis matches.  Venus plays in Philadelphia at Freedoms Stadium at the King of Prussia Mall on July 8 and travels to Albany, N.Y., on July 9 to take on the New York Buzz, a team made up of top America junior talent.

2009 Wimbledon singles champion Serena Williams of the Washington Kastles begins her WTT campaign on July 9 in Boston for the first of four matches, including three consecutive on the road.  Serena plays July 10 in New York City at the New York Sportimes’ new $16 million Sportimes Stadium at Randall’s Island, and July 13 in Philadelphia.  Serena plays her only home match at Kastles Stadium in Washington, D.C., on July 14.

Tickets for Venus night at Albany U's SEFCU Arena are still available by calling 518-378-BUZZ.