This article is about the tennis team currently playing in WTT. For the team of the same name that played in WTT in 1974, see Philadelphia Freedoms (1974).
Julie Anthony later married the owner of the team, Dick Butera, and they settled in Aspen, Colorado, where she practices as a sports psychologist. Nagelsen married the late Mark McCormack, the founder and chairman of International Management Group. McCormack who represented Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan amongst others, was often referred to as one of the most powerful men in sports. Mottram was a controversial figure who spoke publicly about his extreme right wing views and made unsuccessful attempts to become a Conservative candidate for the British Parliament. Stolle was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. Fretz was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.
Pop singer Elton John was a friend of Billie Jean King's, and was invited to participate in a promotional match during one of the team's games. In return, he was later inspired to write a song about King, also called "Philadelphia Freedom." In 1974, the Freedoms had the league's best regular-season record, but were upset by the Denver Racquets in the championship game. The following year, the Freedoms merged with the Boston Lobsters.
Logo used by the Freedoms in 1974 and from 2001 to 2007.
The current team joined WTT in 2001. Before the beginning of the 2008 season, the Philadelphia Freedoms announced they would be leaving their previous home at Cabrini College. Their home matches would be played at a temporary tennis stadium that seated 3,000 in a parking lot outside the King of Prussia mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania (located near Philadelphia) from 2008 to 2009. From 2010 to 2016, the Freedoms played their home matches at The Pavilion on the campus of Villanova University.[1] In 2017, the Freedoms home court moved to Hagan Arena on the campus of Saint Joseph's University, returning to play within the City of Philadelphia for the first time since 1974.[2]
During the 2019 WTT draft, the Freedoms protected Taylor Townsend, Fabrice Martin and Raquel Atawo. The Freedoms also drafted Adrian Menendez-Maceiras with the 7th pick in the first round.
Later, the Freedoms signed Donald Young who was the 2017 French Open men's doubles finalist, Danielle Collins who was a Seminfalist at the 2019 Australian Open, Grigor Dimitrov who has eight ATP Tour titles to his name, and Tommy Paul, who was #129th in the world in men's singles at the time of his signing.
Led by returning coach and Coach of the Year, Craig Karden, US Open (tennis) champion Sloane Stephens, WTT Male Rookie of the Year, Kevin King and returning fan favorite and WTT Female MVP Taylor Townsend, the Freedoms managed to put together a successful regular season by going 12-2 and qualifying for a spot in the championship.
While the Freedom's played their home games at Hagan Arena at St. Joe's, the championship game was held at the Daskalakis Athletic Center at Drexel University. The Freedoms took on the Springfield Lasers and lost the first two sets of the match in men's and women's doubles and went down 10–5 at the half. However, the Freedoms managed to re-take the lead 15-14 following two convincing wins in mixed doubles and a dominating woman's singles performance by Taylor Townsend. The championship came down to the final set in the form of men's singles where Kevin King took a 3–1 lead over Miomir Kecmanović. However, Kecmanović stormed back and won four straight games including a break of King twice to give Lasers a 19–18 victory and a Championship.[4]
Led by 2017 US Open (tennis) champion Sloane Stephens, 2017 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Andy Roddick and returning fan favorite Donald Young, the Freedoms played competitively, going into the final weekend of the season in playoff contention. Led by returning championship-winning coach Craig Kardon, the 2017 squad also featured familiar faces like Taylor Townsend (tennis), in her third season with the Freedoms, and 2016 World TeamTennis Male Rookie of the Year Fabrice Martin, returning to dominate in men's and mixed doubles for the second consecutive season. The 2017 season also featured the WTT debut of sensational rookie Darian King, the highest-ranked professional tennis player in the history of Barbados. Freedoms fans were thrilled by a visiting appearance from tennis great Venus Williams (Washington Kastles), who played in Philadelphia just weeks after reaching the final of the 2017 The Championships, Wimbledon.
Led by recent world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, past junior world no. 1 Donald Young, and returning fan favorite CoCo Vandeweghe, the Freedoms finished with a winning record once again in 2016. Led by fifth-year Head Coach Josh Cohen and returning Director of Player Development Craig Kardon, the towering tandem of 6’5" Fabrice Martin and 6"2’ Naomi Broady were the top mixed doubles combination in World TeamTennis while Martin, Young, and Lukáš Lacko combined for the second-best men's doubles record in the league. Broady and rookie American Samantha Crawford were a force to be reckoned with in Women's doubles. Freedoms fans were also thrilled by a visiting appearance from tennis great Andy Roddick (New York Empire (tennis)).
Once again, the Freedoms hosted seven home matches at the Villanova Pavilion. Serena Williams was drafted to play for the Washington Kastles at Philadelphia on July 20, 2015, but sustained an elbow injury that prevented her from playing.[5] The Bryan brothers and Eugenie Bouchard played for the California Dream and the Boston Lobsters, respectively, at Philadelphia in the last two home matches.[6]
The Freedoms made it into the Eastern Conference Finals against the Washington Kastles. In a game played on the Kastles' home court, the Freedoms lost 25-9 and fell short of making it into the championship match.[7]
The Philadelphia Freedoms played 14 regular season matches in the 2014 season, and hosted 7 of them at the Villanova Pavilion. Victoria Azarenka played for the Freedoms against the San Diego Aviators; Andy Roddick also made an appearance at a home match, playing for the Austin Aces.[8]
The Freedoms made it into the playoffs but lost to the Washington Kastles before they could reach the Eastern Conference Finals, achieving their best season since 2007. Team member Marcelo Melo was named the 2014 WTT MVP.[9]
During the 2013 season, the Philadelphia Freedoms also welcomed a new member to their team. They unveiled their new mascot, Nettie, at their home opener against the Springfield Lasers with the help of World TeamTennis co-founder Billie Jean King.
The Washington Kastles was one of eight franchises that compete in World TeamTennis. Founded in 2008 and based in Washington, D.C., the Kastles won the WTT championship six times, tied for a league record. The team was named for Kastle Systems, a security company founded by owner Mark Ein.
The 2014 World TeamTennis season was the 39th season of the top professional team tennis league in the United States. Pursuant to a sponsorship agreement with Mylan N.V., the official name of the league was Mylan World TeamTennis in 2014. The Washington Kastles defeated the Springfield Lasers in the WTT Final to win their fourth consecutive King Trophy.
The San Diego Aviators were a World TeamTennis (WTT) team that plays at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California in the United States. The team is the successor to two WTT franchises. The first was created in 1995, as the New York OTBzz, later renamed the Schenectady County Electrics and then the New York Buzz. The second was created in 2000, as the New York Hamptons, later renamed the New York Sportimes. The Aviators, founded in 1995, are the oldest continuously operating franchise in WTT. The team has won the King Trophy as WTT champions three times: once playing as the New York Sportimes in 2005, once as the New York Buzz in 2008, and once as the San Diego Aviators in 2016. As of 2016, the three championships is the second most of any active WTT franchise behind the Washington Kastles, who have won six.
The Philadelphia Freedoms were a charter franchise of World Team Tennis (WTT) founded by Dick and Ken Butera. The Freedoms played only one season in Philadelphia before being sold at the end of the 1974 season, moving to Boston and changing their name to the Boston Lobsters. Led by WTT Most Valuable Player Billie Jean King, the Freedoms posted the best regular-season record in WTT's inaugural season with 39 wins and 5 losses. The Freedoms won the Eastern Division Championship and reached the WTT Finals where they lost to the Denver Racquets.
The 2014 Washington Kastles season was the seventh season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2014 Springfield Lasers season was the 19th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2014 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 14th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2015 World TeamTennis season was the 40th season of the top professional team tennis league in the United States. Pursuant to a sponsorship agreement with Mylan N.V., the official name of the league was Mylan World TeamTennis in 2015. The Washington Kastles defeated the Austin Aces in the WTT Final to win their fifth consecutive King Trophy.
The 2015 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 15th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2015 Austin Aces season was the 13th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT) and its second and final season in Greater Austin, Texas.
The New York Empire is a World TeamTennis (WTT) team that plays its home matches at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, New York City.
The 2016 New York Empire season was the inaugural season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT). The Empire finished last in WTT with 2 wins and 10 losses.
The 2016 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 16th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2008 World TeamTennis season was the 33rd season of the top professional team tennis league in the United States.
The 2008 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the eighth season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2017 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 17th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2018 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 18th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2019 World TeamTennis season was the 44th season of the top professional team tennis league in the United States.
The 2020 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 20th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2019 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 19th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
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