The Lasers are extremely pleased with this years draft results, said Belote. Given the quality of the teams playing World TeamTennis this year, we felt we need to make a few moves to remain competitive at that high of a level. It was nice to start the draft knowing we had Alisa Kleybanova and Jean-Julien Rojer as protected players. Combined with our marquee player, James Blake, we have a very dynamic Lasers team heading into the 2014 season. I want to thank (Lasers owner) John Cooper for his ongoing support of the team.
Drafted to the team are:
1st Round Pick (Roster Draft- protected): Alisa Kleybanova Returning for a second season in Springfield after leading the Lasers to the 2013 Western Conference Championship. Kleybanova, 24, from Moscow, Russia, also was named 2013 WTT Female Rookie of the Year. Her Mylan WTT debut with the Lasers came just months after returning to pro tennis after a two-year battle with Hodgkins lymphoma. In the last 12 months, Kleybanova has climbed from No. 549 to No. 142, and she is well on her way to reclaiming her career-high No. 10 singles and No. 20 doubles rankings, both set in February 2011. Kleybanova has two singles and five doubles titles.
1st Round Pick (Roster Draft): Anna-Lena Groenefeld Now playing her fourth season of Mylan WTT, most recently with the New York Sportimes. Groenefeld, 28, from Nordhorn, Germany, won mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2009. She has a 14 doubles titles and a singles title, with a career high ranking of No. 14 in singles and No. 7 in doubles, both in 2006. She has played doubles exclusively since 2012 and is currently ranked No. 14. She has been a member of the German Fed Cup team since 2004.
Anna-Lena is known for a big, hard-hitting game, said Belote. She and Alisa together will be an imposing doubles team. Interestingly, Groenefeld beat Jean-Julien Rojer in mixed doubles earlier this year at the Australian Open.
2nd Round Pick (Roster Draft- protected): Jean-Julien Rojer Returning for a second season in Springfield after leading the Lasers to the 2013 Western Conference Championship. Rojer, 32, from Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, earned the WTT Male MVP in 2013 and was also 2011 Male Rookie of the Year, after playing his first WTT with the St. Louis Aces. Rojer reached his career-high doubles ranking of No. 6 in May 2013, just before making it to the mixed doubles semifinals at Wimbledon. He holds 10 doubles titles and is currently ranked No. 18.
3rd Round Pick (Roster Draft): Michael Russell Returning to WTT for the first time since 2009, when he was named WTT Male Rookie of the Year while playing with former Lasers rivals, the Kansas City Explorers. Russell, 35, from Detroit was the oldest American to finish 2013 in the ATP Top 100 for the fifth year in a row. He is currently ranked No. 107 in singles, following a career high No. 60 in 2007.
He is known for being an incredible fighter on court and a nice guy off court, said Belote. Weve admired him from afar and its exciting to know hes playing for the Lasers this year.
The 2014 WTT season runs for three weeks in July, with the Springfield Lasers playing home matches at Mediacom Tennis Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex, 2331 E. Pythian, Springfield. A full schedule will be available in a few weeks, including two home matches with James Blake and one home match with former Laser Andy Roddick, who now plays for the Austin Aces. Season tickets for the Springfield Lasers are available now at (417) 837-5800, with individual tickets available in May.
For a previously posted article about James Blake go here.
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