NEW YORK (March 1, 2006) — Pete Sampras will make his World TeamTennis Pro League debut this July when the 14-time Grand Slam Champion returns to professional tennis for the first time since 2002. Sampras is expected to play six or seven matches this summer during the WTT Pro League regular season, July 6-26. Sampras’ team and match schedule will be determined at the WTT Player Draft, March 28 in Miami.

For WTT co-founder Billie Jean King, Sampras’ participation has always been at the top of her wish list. Last year King was asked in an interview who is the one player she always wanted to play World TeamTennis but hadn’t been able to get. The answer was simple – Pete Sampras. “I guess I’ll have to update my list,” said King.

“The timing is right,” said Sampras of his agreement to play WTT. “I’ve been busy with my family and enjoying retirement but this feels like the right time to get back on the court and play World TeamTennis. I respect what Billie Jean has done for the sport and her support of me throughout the years so I’m glad it finally worked out that I can play WTT this summer.”

“This is an exciting day for World TeamTennis,” said WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss. “Pete is a great champion and fans have really missed his talent and character since he retired. His WTT matches will be the hottest ticket in tennis this summer.”

Sampras closed out his brilliant career by winning the 2002 U.S. Open title over longtime rival Andre Agassi. During his 15-year pro career, Sampras won 64 singles titles and more than $43 million in prize money. His legacy was his success at winning the “big ones”, 14 Grand Slam singles titles including five U.S. Opens and seven Wimbledon championships.

Although Sampras has never played in the WTT Pro League presented by Advanta, he is familiar with the format after participating in the WTT Smash Hits charity event for several years. “World TeamTennis gives me an opportunity to play singles, doubles and mixed doubles and that’s something I didn’t get to do during my career,” Sampras said.

The regular season runs July 6-26 with the top two teams from the Eastern Conference and the top two from the Western Conference advancing to the WTT Finals, July 28-30.

Now in its 31st consecutive year of play, World TeamTennis is well known for introducing innovative elements to tennis. Instant replay, which debuted at WTT matches in 2005 as the WTT Coaches Challenge and marked the first time the technology had been used in a professional tennis match, will return to select WTT matches in 2006. Other WTT firsts include co-ed format, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court coaching, Supertiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on back of their shirts.

The unique gender-balanced team concept for WTT was created in the early 70s by League cofounders Billie Jean King and Larry King. The format used for a WTT Pro League match features teams comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Each match consists of five sets, with one set each of men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixeddoubles.

Advanta is the presenting sponsor of the WTT Pro League and the official business credit card of World TeamTennis. Official WTT Pro League sponsors also include Gatorade, Geico and Wilson Racquet Sports. For more information on WTT, visit http://www.wtt.com/.

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