First Serve: New York SPORTIMES Open Home World TeamTennis Schedule Wednesday On Randall's Island

June 30, 2011 - PRLog -- The New York SPORTIMES will begin defense of their Eastern Division championship on Wednesday, July 6, when they take on the Boston Lobsters to open the 2011 World TeamTennis home schedule at SPORTIME Randall's Island Tennis Center in Manhattan.  The SPORTIMES, who advanced to the WTT Finals last year, will be led by former world No. 1 Martina Hingis as they battle last year's East runners up in the second half of a “home and home” series, beginning at 7 p.m.  The two teams begin the regular season at Boston on Tuesday, July 5.

Wednesday is also the first night of the season-long youth tennis racquet giveaways, in which kids 12 and under will receive a free racquet, courtesy of USTA/Eastern and the SPORTIMES.  Giveaways will take place at each home match at Randall's Island and SEFCU Arena.

It also marks the first of three appearances by reBounces and its “Green Tennis Machine,” a bulk tennis ball re-pressurization system that restore dead balls back to their original bounce.

And fans should get to SPORTIMES Stadium early on Wednesday, as New York's own teen sensation vocalist Tiffany Giardina will perform a set of pop/rock music.  Her song “I'm Not Crazy” landed on the Top 30 Countdown, and the music video for “Hurry Up and Save Me” reached over one million views on YouTube.  “Gia” will also sing the National Anthem.

The “Season of No. 1's” continues with four other home matches at SPORTIME and two at the SEFCU Arena at the University of Albany during the month.  John McEnroe will compete in four matches, including a matchup vs. Jimmy Connors on July 14 on Randall's Island.  Chris Evert will play an exhibition set during the Sportimes' match vs. the St. Louis Aces (July 11 at SPORTIME), Serena Williams will pace the Washington Kastles (July 19 in Albany, July 19 at SPORTIME), and Bob and Mike Bryan team up for the Kansas City Explorers (July 18 in Albany).

In addition to the Marquee players, the SPORTIMES welcome back veteran players Jesse Witten and Robert Kendrick and the newest addition to the team, Katie O'Brien of Great Britain, who will make her WTT debut under first-year Head Coach Fritz Buehning.  

Tickets for SPORTIME matches are available by calling 888-WTT-NYC1 or by visiting www.nysportimes.com.  For more information on matches in Albany, visit www.NYSportimes.com/Albany or call 518-393-0440.

2011 SPORTIMES Home Schedule
July 6   (ST)   Boston Lobsters, 7 p.m. - “Opening Night,” “Community Tennis Associations Night”
   (Sportimes – Martina Hingis)

July 11   (ST)   St. Louis Aces, 7 p.m. - “Mom's Night Out”
   (Sportimes – Hingis; Chris Evert exhibition)

July 14   (ST)   Philadelphia Freedoms, 7 p.m. - “Johnny Mac Tennis Project Night”)
   (Sportimes – Hingis, John McEnroe vs. Jimmy Connors – Phila.)

July 15   (ST)   Springfield Lasers, 7 p.m.
   (Sportimes – Hingis, McEnroe)

July 18   (AL)   Kansas City Explorers, 7:30 p.m.
   (Sportimes – Hingis; K.C. - Bob & Mike Bryan)

July 19   (AL)   Washington Kastles , 7:30 p.m.
   (Sportimes – Hingis, Wash. - Serena Williams)

July 20   (ST)   Washington Kastles, 7 p.m.
   (Sportimes – Hingis, Wash. - Williams)

(ST) matches at SPORTIME, Randall's Island, New York
(AL) matches at SEFCU Arena at the University of Albany,

2011 Sportimes Away Schedule
July 5   @ Boston Lobsters, 7 p.m.
July 7   @ Philadelphia Freedoms, 7 p.m.
July 8   @ Sacramento Capitals, 7:30 p.m. PDT
July 9   @ Newport Beach Breakers (N.B. – Pete Sampras), 7:15 p.m. PDT
July 12   @ Washington Kastles (Sportimes – McEnroe), 7 p.m.
July 13   @ Philadelphia Freedoms (Sportimes – McEnroe; Phila. - Melanie Oudin), 7 p.m.
July 16   @ Kansas City Explorers (K.C. - Bob & Mike Bryan), 7:35 p.m. CDT

The 2011 regular season runs from July 4-21, with the top two teams in both the Western and Eastern Conferences advancing to the WTT Conference Championships on July 22.  The WTT Finals presented by GEICO will be on Sunday, July 24.

Sponsorship opportunities are available by calling 212-792-8500.

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The World TeamTennis N.Y. Sportimes compete at the new Sportime tennis facility on Randall's Island in Manhattan, in July. Visit http://www.nysportimes.com for more info.