Captain John McEnroe Leads the New York Sportimes Into the 2012 WTT Season

Opening Night Set for Tuesday, July 10th at Sportime Stadium

July 10, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
NY Sportimes

After coming one victory short of first place in the Eastern Conference last year, the New York Sportimes of World TeamTennis (WTT) look to rebound in 2012 as the team will play seven July home dates this season, including five at the Sportime Randall’s Island Tennis Center and two at SEFCU Arena at the University of Albany. For the second consecutive year, Hall of Famer Martina Hingis is scheduled to compete in all seven NY Sportimes home matches. Venus Williams and John Isner are scheduled to compete for the opposition, Venus for the Washington Kastles and Isner for the Boston Lobsters, in the two matches at the SEFCU Arena in Albany. Andre Agassi will compete for the Boston Lobsters at Sportime Stadium. The team will be coached by Chuck Adams for the 2012 season.

Sportimes team captain and New York tennis legend John McEnroe will compete in the matches at Randall’s Island on Thursday, July 19 (against the Boston Lobsters) and Wednesday, July 25 (against the Washington Kastles). Agassi will appear and compete on the night of July 19th against John McEnroe, which, for the second straight year, will be an evening to benefit the Johnny Mac Tennis Project, a charitable foundation that raises money to support youth tennis in the New York City area.

The Sportimes open their 2012 campaign on Tuesday, July 10 against the Springfield Lasers, and also have home dates scheduled at Randall's Island against the Philadelphia Freedoms on Friday, July 13 and again on Wednesday, July 18; against the Boston Lobsters on Thursday, July 19; and on Wednesday, July 25, meet the defending WTT champion Washington Kastles. In Albany, the Sportimes will face the Washington Kastles again on Monday, July 23 and the Lobsters again on Tuesday, July 24. Home matches at Sportime Stadium Randall's Island begin at 7:00 p.m., while first serve for the Albany events is at 7:30 p.m.

“This schedule is a challenging one, with two home matches against our big rival, the defending champion Washington Kastles. The matchups should be great this year,” said Sportime Clubs and New York Sportimes CEO Claude Okin. “Every night of WTT action offers intense tennis and fun for the whole family. Our Captain and leader, Johnny Mac, will inspire us and we have all-time great Martina Hingis leading the charge at every home match. Our goal is to return to the WTT Finals for the second time in three years.”

The Sportimes finished one win out of first place in the Eastern Conference in 2011 after winning the Eastern Conference title in 2010. They were WTT Champion in 2005. The 2012 WTT regular season runs from July 9-28, with the top two teams from both the Western and Eastern Conference advancing to the WTT Finals Weekend, presented by GEICO, Friday-Sunday, Sept. 14-16 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C.

The Sportimes also have seven road dates scheduled, including matches against Eastern Conference rivals the Washington Kastles on Thursday, July 12; the Philadelphia Freedoms on Friday, July 20; the Boston Lobsters on Sunday, July 22; and two swings through the Western Conference, Sunday, July 15 against the Kansas City Explorers and the following night, Monday, July 16 against the Sacramento Capitals; Friday, July 27 against the Springfield Lasers and the following night, Saturday, July 28 against the Explorers in Kansas City.

Another highlight on the schedule will be on Wednesday, July 18 at 5:00 p.m. prior to the Sportimes matchup with the Philadelphia Freedoms. That evening, the Sportimes are looking to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people bouncing a tennis ball in the air at the same time for 10 seconds. Mark down July 18 as only the first 750 registrants will be able to take part in this record-breaking attempt. In order to participate and be a part of history, you must purchase a ticket to the July 18th Sportimes-Freedoms match. Racquets and balls will be provided by the Sportimes.

Tickets for Sportimes matches are available by calling (888) WTT-NYC1 or by visiting NYSportimes.com, or for more information on the matches in Albany, visit NYSportimes.com/Albany or call (518) 393-0440.

A number of companies and firms have aligned themselves to support the Sportimes’ 2012 season, including: the USTA Eastern Section, GEICO, USTA, Wilson, DecoTurf, Principal Funds, SPORTIME Clubs, Tennis.com, Arizon Tennis Domes, NY Orthopedics, Warren-Tricomi Salons, Metal Building Restoration, Zurita Architects, Lazer Aptheker Rosella & Yedid PC, Tamir Kfir-Orthotist and Prothetist, Florida Atlantic University-College of Business, Smart & Skinny Snacks, Powerade, Fernando Limousine, and Randall's Island Sports Foundation.

Who’s who on the Sportimes?
At the 2012 World TeamTennis Draft, the Sportimes welcomed back some familiar faces for another season of World TeamTennis. In the first round, the Sportimes selected California native Robert Kendrick, followed by Jesse Witten of Naples, Fla. in round two, and Georgia native Ashley Harkelroad in round three. These three selections will join John McEnroe and Martin Hingis, who are already on the Sportimes roster, having been selected in the Marquee Draft.



 

Ashley Harkleroad
Residence: Los Angeles, Calif.
Birthdate: 05/02/85
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
A native of Flintstone Ga., and a long-time crowd favorite on the WTA Tour, Ashley Harkleroad, aka “Pebbles,” is playing in her fourth WTT season and her fourth for the Sportimes. She resumed her professional career in Miami, playing with a protected ranking of 77th in the world after having given birth to her first child, with husband and Sportimes Head Coach Chuck Adams in March of 2009. Ashley has achieved a career-high ranking of 39th in the world in both singles and doubles.

 



Martina Hingis

Residence: Hurden, Switzerland
Birthdate: 09/30/80
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
The Sportimes boast two former number one players, John McEnroe and Martina Hingis. Hingis returns to the Sportimes for a third season, having been a member of the Sportimes championship team in 2005. Over her professional career, Hingis has won five Grand Slam singles titles and nine doubles titles. In 1998, she became the fourth woman in tennis history to win all four Grand Slams in the same year. Hingis is also one of only five players in WTA history to simultaneously be ranked number one in singles and in doubles.

 

 



 

Robert Kendrick
Residence: Orlando, Fla.
Birthdate: 11/15/79
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
The 2012 season will be Robert Kendrick’s fifth season playing for the Sportimes, having been a member of the Sportimes 2005 WTT Championship team. Kendrick has a career-high singles ranking of 69th and has wins over many of the world’s top players. He is a former All-American at both the University of Washington and Pepperdine University.

 

 



John McEnroe

Residence: New York, N.Y.
Birthdate: 02/16/59
Plays: Left-handed (one-handed backhand)
Queens native John McEnroe will be back with the Sportimes this summer, his 11th season with his hometown team. John has won seven Grand Slam singles titles and 10 doubles titles throughout his career. After a long and stellar career, he was inducted into the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Hall of Fame in 1999.

 



 

Jesse Witten
Residence: Naples, Fla.
Birthdate: 10/15/87
Plays: Right-handed
Participating in his sixth season with the New York Sportimes, Jesse Witten is now a seasoned veteran of World TeamTennis. His career high singles ranking is 163rd and his best performance in a Grand Slam came in 2009 where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the third round of the U.S. Open. Last year, he qualified for both Wimbledon and the French Open. Jesse is a former All-American with the University of Kentucky.



NY Sportimes 2012 Home Schedule

►Tuesday, July 10 – Springfield Lasers at New York Sportimes – Martina Hingis (Sportimes)

►Friday, July 13 – Philadelphia Freedoms at New York Sportimes – Martina Hingis (Sportimes) & Ryan Harrison (Freedoms)

►Wednesday, July 18 – Philadelphia Freedoms at New York Sportimes – Martina Hingis (Sportimes)

►Thursday, July 19 – Boston Lobsters at New York Sportimes – Martina Hingis & John McEnroe (Sportimes) and Andre Agassi (Lobsters)

►Monday, July 23 Washington Kastles at New York Sportimes in Albany, N.Y. Martina Hingis (Sportimes) & Venus Williams (Kastles)

►Tuesday, July 24 – Boston Lobsters at New York Sportimes in Albany, N.Y. – Martina Hingis (Sportimes) & John Isner (Lobsters)

►Wednesday, July 25 – Washington Kastles at New York Sportimes – Martina Hingis & John McEnroe (Sportimes)

2012 New York Sportimes ticket information
Guarantee your seat with the New York Sportimes for 2012! WTT Fans see some of the best tennis players in the world compete, at a stadium court with seats no further than 200-ft. away from the action. Kids receive autographs after all matches, families can arrive early for activities and festivities, and everyone will experience first-class amenities at the Sportimes’ beautiful venue.

The costs listed below are for all five matches at SPORTIME Randall’s Island, include a discount for season ticket holders, with an additional 10 percent off for members of the USTA, or an additional 15 percent off for Sportime members!

Match   Seat/Section and Price   USTA Member 10% Discount   Sportime Member 15% Discount  

Tuesday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m.  

Sportimes Featuring Martina Hingis vs. Springfield Lasers

Box: $50

Loge: $30

Grandstand: $12

$45

$27

$10.80

$42.50  

$25.50

$10.20

Friday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m.  

Sportimes Featuring Martina Hingis vs. Philadelphia Freedoms

Box: $50

Loge: $30

Grandstand: $12

 

$45

$27

$10.80

 

$42.50

$25.50

$10.20

 

 

 

Wednesday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m. 

 

Sportimes Featuring Martina Hingis
vs. Boston Lobsters

Featuring Andre Agassi

Box: $50

Loge: $30

Grandstand: $12

$45

$27

$10.80

$42.50

$25.50

$10.20

Thursday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Featuring john McEnroe & Martina Hingis vs. Boston Lobsters Featuring Andre Agassi
*(Johnny Mac Tennis Project Benefit Night)  

Box: $250

Loge: $150

Grandstand: $60

N/A N/A
Wednesday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m.

Sportimes featuring John McEnroe & Martina Hingis vs. Washington Kastles

 Box: $65

Loge: $35

Grandstand: $12

$58.50

$31.50

$10.80

$55.25

$29.75

$10.20

 

Season Ticket Pricing 

 

Price for five home matches at Sprotime Randall's Island

Box: $440

Loge: $260

Grandstand: $100

$395

$235

$90

$375

$220

$85

 

 

*The purchase of a second ticket of the same category is required for a second match night on July 10, July 13, July 18 or July 25 in order to purchase a ticket for the McEnroe-Agassi match on July 19th.

For more information on tickets to Sportime matches at Randall’s Island, call (888) WTT-NYC1 or visit NYSportimes.com, or for more information on the matches in Albany, visit NYSportimes.com/Albany or call (518) 393-0440.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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