REIGNING US OPEN CHAMPION SLOANE STEPHENS AND PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS SET TO OPEN WORLD TEAMTENNIS HOME SCHEDULE AT HAGAN ARENA AT SAINT JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY ON JULY 19
INDIVIDUAL MATCH TICKETS ON SALE ON APRIL 19
The Philadelphia Freedoms of World TeamTennis presented by GEICO will open their 2018 season with a three-game road trip beginning on Sunday, July 15, when they meet the Orange County Breakers at Breakers Stadium at Palisades Tennis Club at 8 p.m. The Freedoms will open their home schedule against the Breakers at Hagan Arena on the campus of Saint Joseph’s University on Thursday, July 19 at 7 p.m. AmerisourceBergen Corporation is the presenting sponsor of the Freedoms.
Individual tickets for the 2018 Freedoms home matches will go on sale on Thursday, April 19 at 12 p.m. at PhiladelphiaFreedoms.com.
Sloane Stephens, the reigning US Open Champion and world No. 9, will play for the Freedoms in the home opener on July 19.
The Freedoms roster also boasts 2017 US Open Finalist and world No. 8 Kevin Anderson, who is playing in the WTT for the first time since 2014. Anderson is scheduled to play July 19 and 20.
Amanda Anisimova, the 16-year-old American phenom from Freehold, N.J., will make her WTT debut with the Freedoms this summer. 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.
Former Georgia Tech standout Kevin King, a two-time ITA All-American (2011 and 2012) and a three-time All-ACC student-athlete, will also make his Freedoms debut this summer. Freedoms fan favorites Taylor Townsend and Fabrice Martin return for the 2018 season.
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS 2018 WORLD TEAMTENNIS SCHEDULE
Sun. July 15 @ Orange County Breakers 8 p.m. ET
Mon. July 16 @ San Diego Aviators 10 p.m. ET
Wed. July 18 @ New York Empire 7 p.m. ET
Thur. July 19 vs. ORANGE COUNTY BREAKERS 7 p.m. ET
Fri. July 20 vs. WASHINGTON KASTLES 7 p.m. ET
Sun. July 22 @ Springfield Lasers 7 p.m. ET
Tues. July 24 vs. SPRINGFIELD LASERS 7 p.m. ET
Wed. July 25 vs. ORANGE COUNTY BREAKERS 7 p.m. ET
Thurs. July 26 vs. SAN DIEGO AVIATORS 12 p.m. ET
Fri. July 27 vs. WASHINGTON KASTLES TBD
Sat. July 28 @ Washington Kastles 5 p.m. ET
Tues. July 31 @ Springfield Lasers 8 p.m. ET
Wed. August 1 vs. NEW YORK EMPIRE 7 p.m. ET
Thurs. August 2 @ New York Empire 7 p.m. ET
*Home matches in bold; all home matches at Hagan Arena at Saint Joseph’s University
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.
Penn Medicine provides additional sponsorship support, Beneficial Bank, USTA Middle States, Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia-Valley Forge, ChatterBlast Media, CBS3/CW Philly, 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.