SAN DIEGO AVIATORS ANNOUNCE NEW ROSTER FOR UPCOMING
WORLD TEAM TENNIS SEASON AT OMNI LA COSTA RESORT & SPA
Regular Season to be Played July 15 through August 2 in Carlsbad, Calif.
CARLSBAD, Calif. – (March 15, 2018) – The San Diego Aviators have named their roster for the upcoming World TeamTennis season which will take place this summer from July 15 through August 2 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
The Aviators, who reached the 2017 WTT Finals, have resigned 28-year-old Naomi Broady from last year’s team. Broady, a native of Great Britain, will be playing her second straight season with the Aviators and her third year of World TeamTennis.
Broady, who reached a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 76 in 2016, enjoys competing in World TeamTennis and is looking forward to playing another season with the Aviators.
“I just love the atmosphere. The competitiveness in those pressure moments are what I love the most in tennis and the format of World TeamTennis means it’s like that from the first point. I thrive in that environment,” she said.
Earlier this week, the Aviators drafted Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany, Marcus Willis of Great Britain and Marcin Matkowski of Poland to fill the remaining three roster spots.
The 32-year-old Groenefeld holds 15 career WTA doubles title along with one singles title. A former Top 20 player in singles and doubles, Groenefeld has represented Germany in Fed Cup play and the Olympics, in addition to winning Mixed Doubles titles at Roland Garros (2014) and Wimbledon (2009).
Willis had the most memorable tournament of his professional career in 2016 when he made a spirited run through qualifying to reach the main draw at Wimbledon. The 27-year-old advanced to the second round before falling to Roger Federer. Willis will be competing in his third season of World TeamTennis after representing the New York Empire the past two seasons.
The 37-year-old Matkowski, who turned pro in 2003, is an experienced doubles specialist after capturing 18 career doubles titles on the ATP World Tour and representing Poland in Davis Cup and the Olympics. A former Top Ten doubles player, he is currently ranked No. 48 in the world. Matkowski has fond memories of the San Diego area. Back in 2001 while playing collegiate tennis for UCLA, he won the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
“We have a very strong veteran team with lots of experience. We’re going to be very tough, especially in doubles,” said Aviators Coach John Lloyd, who returns for his fourth year at the helm. “We feel with the depth of this team, we have an excellent chance to regain the WTT title we won in 2016. It’s going to be an exciting season at La Costa this summer.”
