The World Team Tennis Association has just confirmed that a National Qualifier will be held in Houston, TX August 27-29, 2010!
Started by Billie Jean King in 1985, the Advanta WTT Recreational League format features co-ed teams competing in six sets - men's and women's doubles, men's and women's singles and mixed doubles. The unique WTT format, which is also played in the Professional League (remember the Houston Wranglers out of the Westside Tennis Club), includes no-ad scoring, let serves, substitutions and coaching. Players participate first in a local event. If you win the local event, teams have an opportunity to qualify for WTT National Qualifiers and the National Championship. National Qualifier locations include: IMG Academy (Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy) in Bradenton, FL; Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas, NV; Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, MO; Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center in Raleigh, NC; Heritage Park in Irvine, CA; Hempfield Sports Complex in Lancaster, PA and now for the first time ever, at the Copperfield Racquet & Health Club right here in Houston, TX! The National Championships are held at the Pac Life Open in Indian Wells, CA. Earlier this year, the USTA purchased 25% of the WTT. So far, Houston has had 5 sectional events in the past two years and 8 teams have gone on to the National Qualifier event in Las Vegas, NV.
From personal experience, I captained a team from Lancaster, PA back in 2003 and we won the local event. We then moved on to the National Qualifier in Bradenton, FL and fortunately won that event as well! Nick Bollettieri personally gave us a tennis clinic and it just so happened that Maria Sharapova was there and hit with us as well so it was an awesome experience. Finally, that year we went to the National Championships, which was held in Palm Springs, CA. We lost in the finals by one game!!! Ever since then, I have been a huge proponent of the WTT. It is a lot of fun with a Davis Cup type of atmosphere!
We will hold another local event in June 2010 so if you are interested in participating (just in time to participate in the August National Qualifier if you win) let me know.
