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VENUS WILLIAMS AND ANDY RODDICK JOIN WORLD TEAMTENNIS OWNERSHIP GROUP

Global Sports Icons To Help League Maximize Future Growth Opportunities 

NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 6, 2013) – As the next milestone its ongoing resurgence, World TeamTennis announced today that tennis champions and global sports icons Venus Williams and Andy Roddick have become part owners of the business and of the professional team tennis league co-founded by Billie Jean King.

Both longtime Mylan WTT players, Williams and Roddick will help lead the organization forward and have an active voice in shaping its direction and expansion roadmap in both U.S. and international markets in the coming years.  As global ambassadors for sport, the pair will have an important role in broadening visibility for World TeamTennis internationally, while helping attract new business partners and players to become part of the league.  In addition, they will continue to compete in Mylan WTT, with Roddick taking the court for the Springfield Lasers and Williams returning to the Washington Kastles.

Billie Jean King, the majority owner of World TeamTennis, said, “I’m thrilled to have Venus and Andy become part of our leadership. They have always been more than amazing athletes - they are champions in life who have inspired so many and who I’m sure will bring an exciting perspective and valuable ideas to how we expand WTT both domestically and internationally.”

Williams’ connection to Mylan WTT goes back more than 20 years when she and her sister Serena attended a World TeamTennis youth clinic in Long Beach, Calif., when they were young children and met King.  It was a moment that Williams never forgot and has spurred her to consistently play Mylan WTT throughout the years for both the competition and the opportunity to give back.  Williams also played a pivotal role in getting equal prize money at the four majors and has been active in a number of charitable efforts.

Commenting on her new commitment to WTT, Venus Williams said, “I am very excited to join the ownership group for the organization that Billie Jean co-founded almost 40 years ago and for which I have played for over a decade.  It’s no secret that she has been a great mentor and inspiration to me and this new ownership role is an opportunity to give back while also having an active hand in shaping the future direction of the league in a much more substantial way.  WTT is on a great path and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”

Roddick has been a longtime supporter of Mylan WTT, dating back to his start on the professional tour at age 17.  He returns for his 7th season this July, his first with the Springfield Lasers.  Roddick has also participated for most of the past decade in Mylan WTT Smash Hits, the annual charity event co-hosted by Sir Elton John and King.  Roddick has raised millions through the Andy Roddick Foundation (ARF) to develop and inspire underserved youth through education and sports-based mentoring.

Andy Roddick said, “I’ve always been a big supporter of Billie Jean’s and of WTT over the years. In my time playing in the league, I’ve seen firsthand not only the way it engages fans, but also what I see is a big opportunity to bring this type of competition to a broader audience in innovative new ways. I’m excited to have a seat at the table in helping guide where we take the league next.”

King concluded, “Venus and Andy also understand the connection that Mylan WTT teams make with local communities and can inspire so many young children to take up the sport and dream of one day playing for their hometown team.”

This announcement follows on a number of important developments with WTT in recent months including a new multi-year title sponsorship with Mylan Pharmaceuticals and multi-year renewals with GEICO as presenting sponsor and Wilson as the official tennis brand of Mylan World TeamTennis, and the addition of a new sponsorship partner, Adecco.  Earlier this year, WTT added a presence in another major U.S. market with the relocation of a franchise to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex where the Texas Wild will make their Mylan WTT debut this July in Irving, Texas. 

The 2013 season will start out with an opportunity to make sports history as the defending Mylan WTT champion Washington Kastles, led by Venus Williams, put their 32-match win streak on the line on July 8 in Washington, D.C.  The Kastles are only one win away from tying the major U.S. pro sports team record of 33 wins by the NBA’s 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers. 

The 2013 season of Mylan World TeamTennis presented by GEICO runs July 7-28 in eight U.S. markets.  The regular season is July 7-24 with the top two teams from both the Western and Eastern Conference advancing to the 2013 Mylan WTT Conference Championships on Thursday, July 25.  The 2013 Mylan WTT Finals will be contested on Sunday, July 28, on the home court of the Eastern Conference Champions.

Andy Roddick & Mardy Fish Join Athlete Ally: First Male Tennis Players Take Stand Against Homophobia

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - American star tennis players and good friends Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish have become the first professional men’s tennis players to align with Athlete Ally, a leading organization working to raise awareness about and end homophobia in sports. This announcement comes as part of Athlete Ally’s ongoing movement to empower allies across all professional and international sports.

Andy Roddick noted: “Yesterday was an incredible day for athletes everywhere. Jason Collin’s courage and leadership in coming out reminds me of how important it is for an athlete to be able to be true to him or herself.  As an Athlete Ally, I want to support every athlete to feel comfortable and confident being themselves and to make sure that all people - players and fans alike - are  welcome and included in tennis.”

“Everybody deserves a shot at playing sports. It shouldn’t matter in the least if that person is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Building community through healthy and inclusive activities should be one of the main focuses behind athletics, and that isn’t possible if you exclude LGBT individuals, especially our youth,” said Fish.

Athlete Ally Advisory Board Member Martina Navratilova added: “It’s people like Andy and Mardy who will help pave the way for LGBT athletes in tennis. Though coming out is an intensely personal decision, with each new Athlete Ally that speaks out, an LGBT athlete could feel more comfortable coming out.”

Roddick is a retired American professional tennis player who ranked among the top 10 in the world for almost a decade including number one, winning the U.S. Open and Grand Slam Singles titles. Andy launched the Andy Roddick Foundation at 18 years old with the goal of developing and inspiring underserved youth through sports-based mentoring. He received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2005 and the Arthur Ashe Leadership Award in 2007. Roddick was also awarded the 2009 Heineken Star Award for his philanthropy.

An admired and decorated American tennis player of the last decade in his own right, Mardy Fish reached a career high ranking of number seven in the world in 2011, won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, and has clamed six ATP titles in his career. Off-court, he is also a committed humanitarian.  Mardy establishing his own charitable organization, The Mardy Fish Foundation, which helps promote balanced, healthy lifestyles for youth in Indian River County, Florida.

No professional men’s tennis player has ever publicly come out of the closet, but there have been gay male tennis players. Francisco Rodriguez came out after retirement in 2008, and one of the greatest of all time, Bill Tilden who dominated the sport in the 1920’s, is widely known as having been gay. 

Hudson Taylor, Founder and Executive Director of Athlete Ally said, “As Athlete Ally advances the conversation of LGBT inclusion in athletics, it’s critical that we empower new voices and new sports. It’s amazing to have our first Athlete Allies in professional men’s tennis, and particularly powerful for them to be two of the world’s most successful and admired players.” Taylor added: “We couldn’t be happier to have such remarkable athletes join our organization, and we look forward to continued leadership in men’s and women’s tennis.”

Taylor’s enthusiasm was shared by fellow advisory board member Rennae Stubbs, who said: Athlete Ally has been moving the needle forward from sport to sport. We’re seeing allies in football, men’s and women’s basketball, hockey, rugby, cricket, UFC, soccer and now I am proud to say tennis. All these sports are standing up for principles common to every sport on Earth: respect, equality and acceptance.”

Brett Haber, a host for Tennis Channel, who also serves on the Athlete Ally Advisory Board, said: “Tennis fans have applauded Andy and Mardy for years. They have been warriors on the court and inspirational figures for the battles they have fought off of it. Each is a tremendous humanitarian, and it’s only appropriate that these two leaders would be the first among men’s professional tennis to take such a stand.”

As an Athlete Ally Ambassador, Roddick and Fish join NBA star Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets), WNBA Player Kristi Toliver (Los Angeles Sparks), Brendon Ayanbadejo (Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens,) Chris Kluwe (Minnesota Vikings), Scott Fujita (New Orleans Saints), Donte Stallworth (New England Patriots), Connor Barwin (Philadelphia Eagles), MLS stars Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Stephen McCarthy and Chris Seitz, Dan Grunfeld (Israeli Basketball), Rashad Evans (UFC), 12 Minnesota United soccer players, and four Australians in rugby stars David Pocock and James Hilterbrand, Australian Rules Football player Brock McLean, and World-Champion cricketer Alex Blackwell along with scores of college athletes who have already signed on. Roddick and Fish will act as liaisons between Athlete Ally and the ATP. Athlete Ally Ambassadors help promote Athlete Ally’s mission to end homophobia in sports by speaking out to their peers, sports and fan bases, and encouraging their colleagues to join in the effort.