Azarenka Set for World TeamTennis Return for 2014 Season

February 18, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

WTA world number two Victoria Azarenka will return to Mylan World TeamTennis for the first time in four years after being selected second overall in the 2014 Mylan WTT Marquee Player Draft. Following the San Diego Aviators protecting the rights to number one-ranked men’s doubles team of Bob & Mike Bryan in the first slot, the Philadelphia Freedoms picked Azarenka. The Belarusian previously played for the Springfield Lasers in 2006, when she earned Female Rookie of the Year honors and later the Washington Kastles in 2010. Azarenka has since gone on to win two Australian Open singles titles, ascend to the top of the WTA Rankings and claim two Olympic medals in London (Gold in mixed-doubles and bronze in singles).

The Bryans will be joined on the Aviators squad by WTA standout Daniela Hantuchova, who will make her Mylan WTT debut this summer. Currently ranked 30th in singles, Hantuchova has been ranked as high as fifth in the world in both singles and doubles. She has won six WTA singles titles including last year’s Birmingham tournament. Hantuchova, who is scheduled to play the full season for the Aviators, also owns a Career Grand Slam in mixed doubles.

Martina Hingis, the 2013 Mylan WTT Female MVP, returns to the Washington Kastles to lead the team’s campaign for their fourth consecutive championship. This will be Hingis’ seventh Mylan WTT season. She will be joined by another former world number one as longtime Kastles star Venus Williams returns to the team after missing the 2013 season due to injury.

Andy Roddick heads up the lineup for the 2014 Austin Aces in their inaugural season. The 2003 U.S. Open Champion and former world number one will be joined by 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli who is making her Mylan WTT debut for the Aces.

The Las Vegas Neon will have local favorite Sam Querrey on their roster this summer. Currently the second-ranked American player, Querrey finished 2013 in the top 50 for the fifth time in the past six years. He was won seven singles and four doubles titles on the ATP World Tour. This will be Querrey’s fourth Mylan WTT season.

The Springfield Lasers picked up James Blake in a pre-draft trade with the Boston Lobsters. The former world number returns for his eighth Mylan WTT season. Blake has won 10 singles and seven doubles titles in his career.

Team rosters will be completed at the Mylan WTT Roster Player Draft on March 11, in Indian Wells, Calif. The Mylan WTT regular season begins July 6 and runs through July 23. The top two teams from each conference advance to the Mylan WTT Conference Championships on Thursday, July 24. The Eastern and Western Conference champions will face off at the Mylan WTT Finals on July 27, on the home court of the Western Conference champion.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
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