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.
Will the June 2010 WTT use EOY 2009 ratings?
ReplyDeleteYes, they will.
ReplyDeleteGood job bringing this event to Houston, Lance. I've only played a few times but it's a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI really like the fast pace of WTT. I wish there was a way though to see the winners out of all the other texas WTT leagues though.
ReplyDeleteGood news for Htown tennis.
ReplyDeleteMichael, You may check out their location, just like you check on Houston to see the standings of their events.I have done some research on other "leagues" in the state of TX and it hasn't been good. Houston is by far the most active. Amarillo is second busiest but their main focus is on the 4.0 level due to the size of Amarillo. No one else has had any success running these events including: Austin, Colleyville, Dallas, San Antonio and Lubbock. Last weekend we had a team attend from San Antonio and they had so much fun that they will be bringing more teams with them for the June event. Yes, to run these events is a lot of work, but the quality of tennis and the fun that players have by participating far outweighs the work. Hopefully in the near future, we will have teams from Austin and Corpus Christi travel here for events as well.
ReplyDeleteIs WTT a for-profit company?
ReplyDeleteYes, WTT is a for-profit company; just like the USTA. However, I don't make any money on the events because I put all of the proceeds back into the event by purchasing t-shirts, tennis balls, providing kegs of beer, bananas, oranges and lunch each day. That, PLUS 3 matches of tennis in one day! If you submit a team, the entry fee is $100 for each day you participate. Therefore, for a team of 10 the cost comes to $10/person. Quite a bargain, in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteLance you do a great job with the events. It's definitely a nice break from all the USTA tennis. The atmosphere is definitely more laid back but that might be because I just captain instead of playing :P
ReplyDeleteit's fun and laid back when you're kicking everyone's butt! It's a lot more intense and there is a ton of cheering going on when you're near the end of the match with the potential to go into Overtime or a Super Tie-breaker!!! That's the best time!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment, Michael. I just want everyone to WANT to attend this event so I try to keep it organized, on schedule, and most of all, FUN!
Just got a text that the WTT is being pushed back until January because the courts are a little wet???it is 10% rain until noon, then 0% the rest of the day. Someone made a premature call. Move it back a few hours, not a month!
ReplyDeleteI postponed the event for the following reasons:
ReplyDelete1) The courts have puddles on them and there wasn't a dry spot on the court.
2) There was still a misting/rain falling at the Club as of 9 am
3) I read the forecast, just as everyone else did and was hoping for a great day of tennis. HOWEVER, the courts wouldn't have been in playable conditions until 1 pm at the earliest. The matches would have been going on until after 9 pm tonight. In my opinion, people would not have been happy with that situation.
Therefore, instead of ruining everyone's day and with no guarantees that the mist/fog/rain would stop and that the sun would indeed come out, I postponed the event until January due to the holiday season.
I apologize for any inconvenience. Believe me, I wanted this event to happen. I had been at the Club since 5:30 am trying to get the courts in playable condition.
Should have stuck with today. You would have gotten credit for the effort and dedication in seeing it through and people would know that if they sign up for your events, they will not get ripped off with cancellations, etc. Too many events in Houston, (Kingwood in March, Woodlands in November, Galvestion in May and fall) have seen participation diminish greatly or the event itself no longer exists because of the organizers always cancelling matches or pushing off the event every time weather rears its head. That's one thing I liked about the lady who used to run the Coke and Fallfest. No matter what happened with the weather, you knew the event would be seen throught to completion, no matter how late that kept players there. I admired that.
ReplyDeleteLance, you did the right thing. Everyone's a critic but you're the one putting in the time and effort. You made the right decision. With Christmas, I know I appreciated having the day for shopping.
ReplyDeleteSo when is the WTT make up date gonna be?
ReplyDeleteLance,
ReplyDeleteDon't listen to the negative stuff. People are always throwing stones at captains or anyone who actually puts in a large amount of time, energy and effort into doing anything positive tennis related. True tennis folks appreciate the effort and hope you keep bringing different tennis opportunities to the Houston area.
Now that the event has been postponed will you be excepting new entries?
ReplyDeleteIs that anything like "accepting"?
ReplyDeleteThe WTT event has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 23rd, 2010.
ReplyDelete3.5 level will play at 8 am & 12 noon
4.5 level will play at 10 am, 2 pm and 4 pm
Teams may add/drop players, but since this is a continuation of the December event, we cannot add teams.
Lance, do you know if the 4.5 SA team is coming back? Could we at least add another 4.5 team so that we have 4 teams in that group.
ReplyDeleteWHEN IS TRI LEVEL? CAN U STILL PUT A TEAM TOGETHER? WHO IS THE CONTACT?
ReplyDeleteTri Level is January 8-10 at Lost Forest. You can still put together a team. Contact the HTA league people (either Lera or Diana) - look on the HTA website for their contact information.
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