World TeamTennis Names Greatest Players For WTT All-Star 30 Team
The list of the 15 best men and the 15 greatest women ever to play in the WTT Pro League was determined from a vote of sports media and tennis industry officials. The collective group of 30 players account for 47 World TeamTennis championship titles and 31 Most Valuable Player Awards. The All-Time WTT All-Star Team, the top two men and two women vote-getters, will be unveiled on September 8 when WTT and Advanta host a 30th Reunion party on the grounds of the USTA National Tennis Center.
"World TeamTennis is celebrating its 30th season of play by honoring players who have excelled in the WTT co-ed team format over the past three decades," said Ilana Kloss, WTT CEO and Commissioner. "With more than 600 players who have suited up for WTT teams since the inaugural season in 1974, the list was long and voting was based on WTT performance, MVP awards and WTT Championship titles to narrow it down to the best in team tennis. We definitely have some legends of the game represented but we are also very pleased to recognize several players who, although they recorded impressive careers on the men's and women's professional tours, were truly superstars in WTT."
WTT's 30th season has been one of the most successful for the maverick League, including the introduction of instant replay technology into pro competition and the return of Steffi Graf to tennis for the first time since 1999. The WTT Finals, featuring the top two teams from both the Western and Eastern Conference, is set for Sept. 16-17 in Sacramento.
Named to the WTT All-Star 30 (in alphabetical order are):
WOMEN: Rosie Casals, Lindsay Davenport, Mariaan de Swardt, Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong, Liezel Huber, Billie Jean King, Elena Likhovtseva, Martina Navratilova, Mary Lou Piatek-Daniels, Lisa Raymond, Elna Reinach, Anne Smith, Virginia Wade, Robin White
MEN: Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Vitas Gerulaitis, Paul Goldstein, Mark Knowles, Trevor Kronemann, Brian MacPhie, Sandy Mayer, John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Frew McMillan, Richey Reneberg, Andy Roddick, Robert Van't Hof, Kim Warwick
About WTT:
This year marks the 30th season of play for the World TeamTennis Pro League presented by Advanta.Billie Jean King and Larry King created the unique gender-balanced team concept in the early 70s. The format used for a WTT Pro League match features teams comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Each match consists of five sets, with one set each of men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles. The regular season ran July 4-24 and the two top teams from both the Western and Eastern Conferences will battle for the King Trophy at the WTT Finals, Sept. 16-17, in Sacramento, Calif.
Advanta is the presenting sponsor of the WTT Pro League and the official business credit card of World TeamTennis. Official WTT Pro League sponsors also include Gatorade, Head/Penn Racquet Sports (official ball) and Wilson Racquet Sports (official racquet). For more information on WTT, visit http://www.wtt.com/.
Media Contacts: Rosie Crews - GEM Group, PH: 817.684.0366, rcrews@gemgroup.com
Troy Ergenbright, GEM Group, PH: 303.234.5744, tergenbright@gemgroup.com