WASHINGTON, July 21, 2022 (by Michael Dickens)
World TeamTennis, the nation’s only professional, mixed-gender team tennis league that was founded by Billie Jean King nearly a half-century ago, cancelled its 2022 season on Wednesday. In a statement, WTT announced it is accepting expansion proposals from prospective ownership groups and markets that are interested in acquiring a WTT franchise. The expansion fee is $1 million per franchise.
The WTT, which played the past two seasons in single locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic – July 2020 in Greenbrier, West Virginia and last year in November at Indian Wells, Calif. – is planning to return match play to venues hosted by the individual teams’ markets in the summer of 2023. Prior to 2020, the World TeamTennis season usually took place during July, following the completion of the Wimbledon Championships and prior to the start of the North American hard-court season.
2021 @WORLDTEAMTENNIS CHAMPIONS!!!!!
The #KingTrophy is returning to Orange County for the third time in franchise history 🌊🌊
Shoutout to this year’s whole squad: coach Rick Leach, @AnisimovaAmanda, @SJohnson_89, @Maria_Tatjana, @desiraekrawczyk, @AustinKrajicek, #NateLammons pic.twitter.com/BHsUZByin0
— Orange County Breakers (@BreakersTennis) November 29, 2021
“We are excited to announce that WTT is looking to add expansion franchises and returning to playing in individual cities across the United States in 2023,” WTT Chairman & CEO Eric Davidson said. “While hosting all of the WTT matches at one site in 2020 and 2021 was necessary due to the pandemic, our fans have missed the access that the teams bring in their home markets and we are excited to bring that model back in 2023.”
During the 2021 season, the WTT had franchises representing: Chicago; New York; Orange County, Calif.; San Diego, Calif., and Springfield, Mo. In addition, in 2020, there were additional franchises located in Las Vegas; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
