Regular-season World TeamTennis champion Philadelphia Freedoms face the upstart New York Empire in the 2019 WTT Playoffs, held for the first time in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena.
The semifinals will be staged on Friday, with the WTT Final to follow on Saturday.
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The teams vying to hoist the King Trophy—the iconic moment symbolic of winning the World TeamTennis championship—include the regular-season champion Philadelphia Freedoms, two of the league’s past three champions—the 2018 WTT champion Springfield (Mo.) Lasers and 2016 WTT champion San Diego Aviators—and the New York Empire, making its first ever appearance in the WTT Playoffs.
These teams finished in the top four (of eight teams) in WTT’s regular season standings.
The entire WTT Finals weekend will air live and exclusively on CBS Sports Network, with Friday’s WTT semifinals taking place at 4 p.m. PT (local time) and 7 p.m. PT and Saturday’s WTT Final airing at 7 p.m. PT.
Jason Knapp and analyst Sam Groth will call the WTT Playoffs action, with Olivia Dekker and Nick Gismondi serving as sideline reporters, and guest analyst Katrina Adams and lifestyle reporter Shaun T also contributing to the telecasts.
Below is a breakdown of World TeamTennis’ semifinal matchups and playoff schedule:
WTT Semifinal No. 1 – Friday, August 2nd at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas – 4 p.m. PT (CBS Sports Network)
Springfield (Mo.) Lasers vs. San Diego Aviators
Records: Springfield (9-5; No. 2 seed); San Diego (9-5, No. 3 seed)
2019 Head-to-Head: July 21 (at San Diego): San Diego def. Springfield, 24-20
July 24 (at Springfield): Springfield def. San Diego, 22-17
Franchise history in the WTT Final:
Springfield won the King Trophy in 2018 and finished runner-up in 1999, 2001, 2009, 2013 and 2014.
San Diego (including its past franchise history when known as the San Diego Buds) won the King Trophy in 1984, 1985 and 2016 and finished runner-up in 2017.
Springfield roster:
Anna Blinkova (Russia), Olga Govortsova (Belarus), Robert Lindstedt (Sweden), Enrique Lopez Perez (Spain), Abigail Spears USA, Coach: John-Laffnie de Jager (South Africa)
San Diego roster:
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Germany), Jonny O’Mara (England), Arina Rodionova (Australia), James Ward (England), Coach: John Lloyd (England).
WTT Semifinal No. 2: Friday, August 2nd at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas – 7 p.m. PT (CBS Sports Network)
Philadelphia Freedoms vs. New York Empire
Records: Philadelphia (11-3; regular season champion and No. 1 seed); New York (8-6; No. 4 seed)
2019 Head-to-Head: July 30 (at New York) Philadelphia def. New York, 25-15
July 31 (at Philadelphia): New York def. Philadelphia, 21-16
Franchise history in the WTT Final:
Philadelphia won the King Trophy in 2001 and 2006 and finished runner-up in 1974 and 2018. New York is making its first WTT Playoffs appearance in franchise history.
Philadelphia roster:
Raquel Atawo (USA), Fabrice Martin (France), Mitchell Krueger (USA), Taylor Townsend (USA), Coach: Craig Kardon (USA)
New York roster:
Ulises Blanch (USA), Mardy Fish (USA), Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium), Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (Spain), Neal Skupski (England), Coach: Luke Jensen (USA).
Photo credit: World TeamTennis