Breakers’ schedule packed

Chris Yemma

Newport Beach Breakers General Manager Jim Haley expressed excitement

about the World TeamTennis squad’s upcoming schedule, featuring three

major stars of the tennis world.

As expected, the Breakers, who open their season July 5 against

the Springfield Lasers, will be showcasing defending Wimbledon

champion Maria Sharapova as the team’s marquee player for one night.

Sharapova, ranked No. 3 in the world, will play one home match for

the Breakers -- July 23 against the St. Louis Aces.

But it’s the other two visitors who also have Haley rather

pleased. Former world No. 1 player and two-time Grand Slam singles

champion Patrick Rafter will be visiting July 11 with the

Philadelphia Freedoms.

And Anna Kournikova, who has become more of a celebrity than a

tennis player in the last few years, will be visiting July 7 with the

Sacramento Capitals.

“I’m really excited,” Haley said. “I thought the schedule was good

last year but this is even better. The feedback about the players

coming to Newport, from fans -- they’re all very excited. It’s a real

winner for us.”

The Breakers will play 14 matches during the three-week season in

July, including seven home matches at Palisades Tennis Club.

Rafter, who in 1997 became the first Australian to win the U.S.

Open since John Newcombe in 1973, is entering his second season in

the WTT.

In a conference call with reporters Thursday, Rafter said he was

looking forward to playing in Newport Beach.

“How are the waves?” he asked jokingly. “I’ve never played there

before but I’ve only heard great things about it.”

Haley said the Australian

should draw a crowd.

“He’s likable, loose and has an infectious enthusiasm that men

love,” Haley said. “And women just love this guy. Guys can’t hate him

because he’s so nice and women love him because he’s Patrick Rafter.”

The Breakers, who also consist of Russia’s Anastassia Rodionova,

Ukraine’s Katerina Bondarenko, Paraguay’s Ramon Delgado and

Huntington Beach’s Devin Brown, open the season with two straight

home matches, the second of which is July 7 against Kournikova and

Sacramento.