Watch World Team Tennis on Tennis Channel
- 2013
- 2 Seasons
World Team Tennis is a unique team tennis league that brings together some of the world's top tennis players for a fast-paced and exciting competition. The league was founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King, and over the years it has become known for its innovative format, which includes men's and women's singles and doubles matches, mixed doubles, and even some non-traditional events like "power points" and "supertiebreakers."
The league consists of eight teams, each named after a city or region in the United States. These teams compete over the course of a five-week season, with both an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference. Each team is made up of both men and women players, and they play both home and away matches against the other teams in their conference.
One of the things that makes World Team Tennis so unique is its team format. Unlike traditional tennis, where players compete as individuals, in World Team Tennis players compete as part of a team. This means that not only do they have to win their own matches, but they also have to work together with their teammates to accumulate points and earn victories for their team.
Another unique aspect of World Team Tennis is its scoring system. Matches are played using a "no-ad" scoring system, which means that if the score is tied at deuce (40-40), the next point wins the game. This makes for faster-paced and more exciting matches, with lots of momentum swings and dramatic moments.
In addition to the traditional singles and doubles matches, World Team Tennis also features some non-traditional events like "power points." In a power point, a designated player gets to serve at a specially marked spot on the court that is worth two points instead of one. This allows teams to strategize around their best servers, and can be a great way to swing the momentum of a match.
Another unique event in World Team Tennis is the "supertiebreaker." If a match is tied at one set apiece, instead of playing a third set, the players compete in a supertiebreaker to determine the winner. This can be a high-pressure situation, as the first player to 10 points (with a margin of two) wins the match.
Overall, World Team Tennis is an exciting and fast-paced tennis league that offers a unique twist on traditional tennis. With its team format, no-ad scoring system, and non-traditional events, it's a great way for tennis fans to see some of the world's best players compete in a high-energy and unpredictable competition.