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| Serena in NEW YORK! | |  |
NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 10, 2008) – Serena
Williams will make her first-ever playing appearance at Sportime Stadium in
Mamaroneck, on Thursday, July 10, 2008, match time 7:30pm. She will be
joined by her team, the Washington Kastles, and she will compete in a World
TeamTennis (“WTT”) match versus the NY Sportimes. This is the
only opportunity for New York
based fans to see Ms. Williams in WTT action this summer.
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Since turning pro in 1995, Serena Williams has become one
of the most exciting names in professional tennis. Ms. Williams has won
28 singles titles, 11 doubles titles, 2 mixed doubles titles, and was a
member of the U.S. Fed Cup team (1999, 2003, 2007) and the U.S. Olympic Team
(2000). The 5’ 9” beauty plays right handed with a
two-handed backhand. She has received countless awards for her
accomplishments both on and off the court and is a successful clothing
designer setting on-court fashion trends to delight the fans.
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Photo
credit: Camerawork U.S.A.
– Fred & Susan Mullane
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The Sportimes have brought top international tennis talent
to Westchester since 2003. “July
10th will be an exciting day for New York tennis fans and for our franchise,”
said managing partner and team owner, Claude Okin. “Serena is an
amazing athlete and we are thrilled to host her at Sportime Stadium.
Venus has been here twice, but we have always wanted Serena - this year we got
her”, he continued, “we expect to sell the stadium out quickly for
her visit.” The Sportimes enjoyed a capacity crowd last season when
Serena’s sister, Venus Williams, played.
The Sportimes will round out their roster on April 1 when
WTT holds its annual player draft in Miami.
Tickets to see Serena Williams and other NY Sportime home matches go on
sale May 1, 2008. For more information about the team, visit www.nysportimes.com.
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The 2008 WTT schedule includes 77 matches in 11 markets
beginning July 3 through July 23. Five teams will advance to the WTT
Championship Weekend, July 24-27 in Roseville,
California.
Now in its 33rd consecutive year of play, World
TeamTennis is well known for introducing innovative elements to tennis.
Other WTT firsts include co-ed format, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court
coaching, Supertiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on back of
their shirts.
The unique gender-balanced team
concept for WTT was created in the early 70s by League co-founders Billie Jean
King and Larry King. 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.
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 Balle de Match, FirmGreen, Gatorade, Geico and
Wilson. For more information on WTT, visit www.WTT.com.