Mylan WTT relocates; Roddick to star on team
November 21, 2013
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Austin, Texas will be home to a new Mylan World TeamTennis team in 2014, with a familiar name on the roster – Austin resident Andy Roddick.
The Austin Aces will join Mylan WTT after entrepreneur Lorne Abony purchased the Orange County franchise and has relocated the team to Austin beginning with the 2014 season. This will be the first time a Mylan WTT team has played in Austin. The team is currently reviewing potential venue options and Abony expects to finalize a location by the end of the year.
Abony’s first move after acquiring the franchise was to add Roddick to the team’s roster. The Aces picked up Roddick in a trade with the Springfield Lasers this week for financial consideration and Marquee Draft position. Roddick, along with Venus Williams, joined the World TeamTennis ownership group in May 2013. He helped lead the Lasers to a runner-up finish in 2013.
“The fans and team in Springfield were great to me and I really appreciate their support. Austin however is my home and I am excited to be able to play here in front of my friends and family,” said Roddick. “I have played Mylan World TeamTennis since I was a teenager and I believe in the way this league connects with community and provides kids access to professional tennis.”
Roddick, who knew Abony through tennis connections, was aware of Abony’s business accomplishments and involvement in tennis and thought he would be a perfect fit for Mylan WTT. “Lorne is a business visionary who I know will do great things for tennis in Austin. I am very much looking forward to being part of something very exciting.”
“I have a great passion for tennis and great passion for the city of Austin,” said Abony. “The Mylan World TeamTennis product is the best and most exciting brand of tennis there is in the world. I am honored to have the opportunity to bring a professional Mylan World TeamTennis franchise to Austin and to build a championship team for our city. With Andy on board, we are well on our way to building something incredibly special for, and with the Austin community.”
The Austin Aces will compete in Mylan World TeamTennis presented by GEICO which showcases the best in professional team tennis competition, playing an innovative coed team format over a three-week season in July. Co-founded by Billie Jean King in the 1970s and based on a concept of gender equity, Mylan WTT offers unique access to the sport and some of its greatest champions who have played over the past 38 seasons.
“Austin is a great tennis market to continue to grow our fan base,” said Mylan WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss. “Lorne has the business background and passion that we look for in team ownership. We are excited to work with him to introduce Mylan World TeamTennis to Austin. “
Austin will also retain the rights to the 2013 Orange County Breakers players although their 2014 team lineup will not be determined until the Mylan WTT Marquee Player Draft on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and the Mylan WTT Roster Player Draft on Tuesday, March 11. The 39th season of Mylan World TeamTennis will commence July 2014.
Each Mylan WTT team is comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Team matches consist of five sets, with one set each of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
The first team to reach five games wins each set. One point is awarded for each game won, and a nine-point tiebreaker is played if a set reaches four all. If necessary, Overtime and a Supertiebreaker are played to determine the outright winner of the match.
Mylan WTT is well known for showcasing and introducing innovative elements to tennis including instant replay, coed format, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court coaching and timeouts, Overtime and Supertiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on the back of shirts.
For more information on the Austin Aces, please visit www.AustinAcesTennis.com or call 512-508-3069. For more information on Mylan WTT, visit WTT.com.