World TeamTennis welcomes Chicago Smash as the ninth franchise ahead of 2020 season

The 45th edition of the World TeamTennis will take place between July 12 - August 1, 2020, in what promise to be the most exciting three weeks in the history of the famous team event. Orlando Storm and Vegas Rollers joined the action in 2019, allowing more players to experience the magic of the WTT and the crowd to see some of their favorite competitors in action, with two more franchises entering the competition this year, including Chicago Smash. Staged on the unique multi-colored court, WTT was the first professional sports league that featured men and women in the same team, guided by the WTA trailblazer and one of the greatest players of all time, Billie Jean King. On May 9, 1974, WTT became the first regularly scheduled tennis serves coverage on HBO and it has brought the names like Andre Agassi, Kevin Anderson, Tracy Austin, Victoria Azarenka, Boris Becker, James Blake, Bjorn Borg, Bob and Mike Bryan, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick and many others.

The Springfield Lasers completed a thrilling 20-19 victory over the New York Empire to defend the title last August and the WTT Playoff will return to Orleans Arena at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on July 31 and August 1, gathering four best teams that will fight for the prestigious title and the record-breaking prize money! The organizers have increased it to a tremendous $5 million, with the added $1 million awarded in WTT Playoffs compensation, including a $500,000 bonus to the team that wins the King Trophy. Two years after hosting the second edition of the Laver Cup, tennis fans in Chicago will have the opportunity to cheer for the Chicago Smash, the new franchise of the World TeamTennis that will host the rivals at the Credit Union 1 Arena at the University of Illinois, coached by the Chicago native Kamau Murray who led Sloane Stephens towards the US Open crown in 2017.

The Smash will kick off the action on July 13 against the two-time defending champions Springfield Lasers before hosting the same rivals on the next night. Former world no. 3 Sloane Stephens will play all seven home matches for the Smash, together with the Chicago native Evan King. Chicago has a rich tradition in the World TeamTennis, with Chicago Aces competing from the very first edition in 1974, changing the name to Chicago Fyre in 1983 when they won the title thanks to Billy Jean King herself. 

"Chicago is one of the greatest sports towns in the country and has a huge tennis community," said Chicago Smash General Manager Jocelyn Davie, who grew up in Chicago. "The city is a great fit for World TeamTennis and I am thrilled to be bringing professional tennis back to my hometown."

"It's something we've wanted to do for some time because we feel like Chicago is the perfect place for a World TeamTennis expansion team," Murray said. "You saw it during Laver Cup, Chicago's tennis loving community came out in huge numbers and supported that team event. We expect them to do the same this July," coach Kamau Murray said.

"Chicago is an amazing sports city and in a way, it's become one of my second homes," Sloane Stephens said. "I can't wait to play for the Chicago Smash this summer alongside my teammates and my coach Kamau Murray who has profound ties to the city Chicago. I hope to inspire the kids of Chicago and to help the community."

"We feel like Chicago is an important market for World TeamTennis and are excited to debut the new Smash franchise as our ninth team," WTT CEO Carlos Silva said. "With the team tennis format on the rise and World TeamTennis at the forefront of its growing popularity, we look forward to returning to one of our original host franchise cities in a tennis-rich area like Chicago."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2UFU7fp