Orlando Lands Floridians Madison Keys, Whitney Osuigwe in World Team Tennis 2019 Draft

The New York Empire selected WTA veteran Kirsten Flipkens with the first overall pick during the annual World Team Tennis draft on Tuesday, and top Americans Venus Williams, John Isner, Sam Querrey, Mike and Bob Bryan, and former world No. 1 player Victoria Azarenka will also return to WTT play this summer.

The expansion Vegas Rollers and Orlando Storm, World Team Tennis’ newest franchises, took part in their first draft. The Orlando Storm and coach Scott Lipsky will rely on the services of 2017 US Open singles finalist Madison Keys as its franchise player. She will play home matches at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Fla., on July 17-18, 24-25 and 27.

“The format is what makes World Team Tennis,” said WTT CEO Carlos Silva. “It’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s men and women competing on the same stage with the same goal to try and win a championship. It’s going to be a great 2019 season and the Springfield Lasers will be defending the King Trophy. The WTT Finals will be on Aug. 3 at the Orleans Arena on CBS Sports Network. We can’t wait.”

The Storm selected 16-year-old Whitney Osuigwe with their first-ever draft pick and acquired the rights to Ken Skupski in a trade with New York. Other roster players drafted include Daija Jurak and former University of Michigan star Evan King.

WTT’s 44th season will run from July 14-31. The 2019 WTT playoffs, to be hosted at Orleans Arena at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, begin with the league’s semifinals on Aug. 2 and conclude with the WTT Finals on Aug. 3.

To read the full story and see the entire 2019 schedule go to www.wtt.com.