Co-founded 40 years ago by Billie Jean King (more about her in a bit) and her husband, the league has showcased tour champions and up-and-coming players on the same squads, on the same courts. After all, how else could players ranked outside the Top 128 have the opportunity to play side-by-side with the Williams sisters instead of against them?
The format of WTT (wtt.com) is a bit confusing to folks who play the game on a casual basis, or watch at home. There are five sets in each match: one each in men's and women's singles; one each in men's and women's doubles; and one each in mixed doubles - one man and one woman per team. To complete a set, one team must win 5 games, which are played to four points. There is no, "win by two" requirement; if a game is tied at 3-3, the next point is the, "deciding point." If a set is tied at 4 games apiece, a 9-point tiebreaker game is played.
The overall match score is kept by aggregate method. Each time a team's player(s) win a game, they are credited with a POINT. The team with the most POINTS at the end of five sets is the winner... well, sort of. In order to ensure that the fifth set is worth hanging around for, WTT has included, "Extended Play (EP)." If the team whom was trailing after the fourth set (in overall score) wins set #5, a new twist is added to keep fans in their seats. EP will continue until A) the leading team wins one more game or, B) the trailing team wins enough extra games to come from behind and take the lead, er, the win. Confused yet?
This is why coaching decisions are important in WTT. The home team coach decides the order of play at the beginning of each match. He would want his strongest player(s) on the court in set five, in case extended play is achieved.
Last night, July 16th, was opening night at The Pavilion at Villanova for the 2015 Philadelphia Freedoms. Here was my submitted story...
LOBSTERS SPOIL HOME OPENER FOR FREEDOMS
VILLANOVA, PA
BY DAVID N ERNAY
JULY 16, 2015
Even the presence of tennis legend Billie Jean King at The Pavillion at Villanova could not help the Philadelphia Freedoms' World Team Tennis squad secure a victory in their first home match of 2015 against the visiting Boston Lobsters.
In the five-set aggregate scoring match, the Lobsters, anchored by men's doubles talent Scott Lipsky, emerged with a 21-17 win. Lipsky's skills at the net and well-placed lobs throughout the evening were simply too much for the home team.
One of the bright spots for the Freedoms is Marcelo Melo, whom is ranked third -in-the-world by the ATP in men's doubles. In 2014, Melo was the Most Valuable Men's Player on the World Team Tennis circuit.
At halftime, after the men's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles sets, the Freedoms held a narrow 12-11 margin. Tennis great Billie Jean King - founder of World Team Tennis forty years ago - took center stage and received a tremendous ovation from the Villanova crowd for her achievements and the success of the summer league.
The Freedoms' home stand continues tomorrow - Friday, July 17 - with a match against the Washington Kastles at 7 PM on the Main Line. The Kastles will feature Martina Hingis, coming off her victory in the women's doubles at Wimbledon just one week ago.
Being in the same arena as Billie Jean King was a special treat for all in attendance last night. Having founded World Team Tennis in the city of Philadelphia is but a mere blip on the list of lifetime achievements for the legendary star. She was the first prominent openly gay female athlete, which was not celebrated in any manner near say, Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner. The first woman to win $100,000 on the professional tennis tour, Billie Jean smacked Bobby Riggs in their 1973 Battle of the Sexes - in straight sets - and, in the co-founding of World Team Tennis, she became the first "coach" of professional male athletes on the Philadelphia Freedoms.From Biography.com
The above aside, she is one of the friendliest, warmest people I have ever met. I was first introduced to Billie Jean in my young'un years, at about the age of 7. Any time I bumped into her at National Tennis Center, she always stopped to say, "Hi!" I've never seen her turn down an autograph opportunity for any youngster and now, frequently stops to be included in, "selfies." A truly remarkable human being.
No comments:
Post a Comment