On Tuesday, March 11th, The World Team Tennis draft took place in which the seven competing teams choose players for the upcoming season. As a Austin based company, MyTennisLessons is excited to not just welcome a World Team, the Austin Aces, to town but to also act as one of their sponsors this season.
With Andy Roddick and Marion Bartoli already chosen to be a part of the Austin team, they had three more players to select at yesterdays draft. Here’s the breakdown of who the Aces selected and what kind of impact they could have come July.
Andy Roddick
Age: 31 (30.08.1982)
Nationality: American
Highest Ranking: World No 1.
Plays: Right-handed
Known for his big serve on the ATP Tour, Austin’s own Andy Roddick, retired in 2012 after the US Open. He won his lone Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2003 after dialing up 22 aces and dropping only six first-serve points in the final against Juan Carlos Ferrero. If not for Federer Roddick, whom he lost four grand slam titles to, he surely would have won his fair share of grand slams. His performance was very consistent from 2003 to 2009, making it to 5 Grand Slam finals and finished within the TOP 10 nine years in a row. Austin tennis fans are certainly excited to cheer on their hometown hero.
Marion Bartoli
Age: 29
Nationality: French
Highest Ranking: World No. 7 (2012/ 2013)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed both sides)
The former French No. 1 player, Marion Bartoli, was known mostly for her unusual technique, using two hand on her forehand and backhand. During her career, she defeated three World No. 1 players, Justine Henin in 2007, Jelena Jankovic in 2009, and Victoria Azarenka in 2012. Shortly after gaining her first and only Grand Slam title by winning the final of the Wimbledon Championships against Sabine Lisicki, she decided to retire. Bartoli holds the distinction of playing in the most Grand Slams, 46, before winning one.
Vera Zvonareva
Age: 29
Nationality: Russian
Highest Ranking: World No. 2
Plays: Right-handed
The Russian, Vera Zvonareva, is a real doubles specialist considering she has won 4 overall Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed. She gained her first Grand Slam title in the US Open Mixed Doubles Championships in 2004 partnering up with Bob Bryan. Just two years later she won the Wimbledon Championships winning the mixed doubles with Andy Ram in London. She also won the 2006 US Open title as well as the 2012 Australian Open title where she played doubles with Svetlana Kuznetsova. As a singles player she hit her peak in 2010 in which she made it to both the US Open and Wimbledon finals, ending the year as the No. 2 ranked player in the world.
Eva Hrdinova
Age: 29
Nationality: Czech
Highest Ranking: World No. 168 (Singles), World No. 55 (Doubles)
Plays: Right-handed
By selecting Hrdinova, the Austin Aces now have the tallest woman on the WTA Tour on its team. Standing 6’ 3’’, she poses a huge threat when she approaches the net. Though she is not currently ranked in singles, she did make it up No. 168 in the world in 2008. As expected, her doubles performance is quite promising as she was ranked No. 55 in 2008. The video below gives you a look at just how tall she really is.
Treat Huey
Age: 28
Nationality: American (of Filipino)
Highest Ranking: World No. 21 (Doubles)
Plays: Left-handed
The fifth player on the Austin Aces,Treat Huey was born in the United States but represents the Philipines in international tournaments. He mainly focus on playing doubles on the ATP World Tour, and has reached three ATP titles in his career. With his partner Dominic Inglot, he won the 2012 Citi Open in the United States as well as made it to the third round of the French Open Doubles Championships.He already has experience playing World Team Tennis as he was a part of the Washington Kastles in 2012.
