2017 US Open Champ Sloane Stephens Returns to Play for Freedoms at Home Opener Thursday, July 19.
PHILADELPHIA, March 13, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Today at the 2018 World TeamTennis player draft in Indian Wells, Calif., the Philadelphia Freedoms selected current world #9 Kevin Anderson, as well as 16-year-old American phenom Amanda Anisimova, along with former Georgia Tech standout Kevin King for their roster ahead of the 2018 season.
The three rising pro tennis stars join Philly fan favorites Taylor Townsend and Fabrice Martin (who re-signed with the Freedoms last week) on coach Craig Kardon’s roster for the 2018 season of World TeamTennis presented by GEICO. AmerisourceBergen Corporation is the presenting sponsor of the Freedoms.
I couldn't have asked for a better result, I had all my picks in order, and we got every player we wanted. Getting the world's ninth-ranked player in the third round of the draft is unbelievable.
Craig Kardon, Coach of the Philadelphia Freedoms
Also returning to the Freedoms this summer is Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion who will be on hand for the home opener at Hagan Arena in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 19. Freedoms fans saw her last season come into her own, just before her victory in Queens.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better result, I had all my picks in order, and we got every player we wanted,” said Kardon. “Getting the world’s ninth-ranked player in the third round of the draft is unbelievable.”
Tickets for the 2018 Freedoms home matches go on sale on Thursday, March 22 at noon Eastern Time at PhiladelphiaFreedoms.com.
Anderson returns to WTT for the first time since 2014. Currently the #9-ranked player in the world, he made his Grand Slam final debut at the 2017 US Open. He is the first South African to be ranked in the top 10 since Wayne Ferreira in 1997. The 6’10” power hitter first played for the Sacramento Capitals in 2012, leading them to the WTT Finals as a league rookie.
Anisimova will make her WTT debut with the Freedoms this summer. Born in Freehold, New Jersey, Anisimova became the youngest woman to play the main draw at the French Open last year since Alizé Cornet in 2005. Months later, she rolled to the US Open junior title without losing a set and dropping just two games in the final. She is currently on the best run of her pro career this week at Indian Wells, where she has knocked out two top 25 players, including two-time Wimbledon champion and current world #9 Petra Kvitova.
King will make his WTT debut with the Freedoms this summer. He was a two-time ITA All-American (2011 and 2012) at Georgia Tech and a three-time All-ACC performer. The son of former Villanova football player Bill King (1973-1975), he is a native of Peachtree City, Georgia.
The Freedoms began to play in WTT’s inaugural 1974 season where they played their home matches at the legendary Spectrum in South Philadelphia, the former home of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers. The centerpiece of the team was current Freedoms owner (and Tennis Hall of Famer) Billie Jean King, who served as player-coach. She became the first woman to coach a professional sports team that included male players.
The 2018 WTT regular season is scheduled for Sunday, July 15 through Thursday, August 2, with the top two teams advancing to the WTT Finals on Sunday, August 5. The full 2018 Philadelphia Freedoms season schedule will be released later this week.
The Freedoms will play 14 matches during their 2018 regular season schedule, including six home matches at Michael J. Hagan ‘85 Arena at Saint Joseph’s University.
AmerisourceBergen Corporation is the presenting sponsor of the Freedoms. Penn Medicine provides additional sponsorship support, Beneficial Bank, USTA Middle States, Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia-Valley Forge, ChatterBlast Media, Chaddsford Winery, 23K Studios, Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa & Salon, Sweet Street Desserts, PECO, Grimm & Grove Communications, Geico, Wilson and Deco Turf. Additional information about the Philadelphia Freedoms is available online at www.PhiladelphiaFreedoms.com.
About World TeamTennis:
World TeamTennis (WTT) showcases the best in professional tennis with the innovative team format co-founded by Billie Jean King in the 1970s. Recognized as the leader in professional team tennis competition, WTT features many of the world’s best players competing annually for the King Trophy, the league’s championship trophy named after King. In July 2015, WTT became the fifth major professional team sports league in the U.S. to reach the 40th season milestone. In 2017, team owners Mark Ein and Fred Luddy acquired majority ownership of the organization. The 43rd season of WTT presented by GEICO begins July 15 and concludes with the WTT Finals on August 5. For more information, visit www.WTT.com.
Media Contacts:
Jim DeLorenzo, Philadelphia Freedoms, (215) 266-5943, jim@jhdenterprises.com
Rosie Crews, World TeamTennis, (817) 684-0366, rcrews@wtt.com
Source: Philadelphia Freedoms
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