World Team Tennis (WTT) will make its debut Down Under at Melbourne Park during the second week of Australian Open 2010.
The American-based concept was founded by tennis legend Billie-Jean King in the 1970s. The WTT Pro League aims to showcase three generations of tennis standouts, including legends, current tour players and future champions.
A special WTT match between an Australian team and an ‘Internationals’ side will be held at Margaret Court Arena from 5.30pm on Wednesday January 27. An Australian Open ground pass ($29) will admit fans to the match.
The Australian team of Pat Rafter, Pat Cash, Nicole Bradtke and Alicia Molik will take to the court under the guidance of team coach John Fitzgerald, while the International team comprises Tracy Austin, Goran Ivanisevic, Todd Martin and Mary Joe Fernandez, who will also coach the team.
Billie-Jean King is also travelling to the event, and said she was delighted the concept would be introduced to Australia.
“This year marks our 35th season and some of my favourite moments in WTT were playing alongside and against some of the Australian greats. To have the opportunity to introduce WTT to an entirely new generation of Australian fans is both an honour and a privilege.”
The WTT match consists of five sets, with one set each of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. The first team to reach five games wins each set, and team scoring is cumulative over the five sets.
Since the League’s debut in 1974, virtually every major champion of the Open era has played World Team Tennis.
Australian tennis champions have been a big part of the WTT history, with Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Evonne Cawley, Roy Emerson, Pat Rafter, John Newcombe, Tony Roche, Ken Rosewall, Wendy Turnbull and Mark Philippoussis all playing at some point in their careers.
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