Davenport to Breakers

The Orange County Breakers have a new home and name in 2012, but they are bringing back a fan favorite this season with the selection of Lindsay Davenport in the World Team Tennis Marquee Player Draft Tuesday.

Davenport, who was part of the original Breakers squad in 2003, returns to WTT competition for the first time since she won female MVP honors in 2010.

“I am excited to be back in Orange County and it will be great for my kids to get to see me play,” Davenport, a Laguna Beach resident, said in a press release. “I have always loved playing on a team, so I am looking forward to getting back on the court. My last WTT season [in 2010] was great, so I was really disappointed I couldn’t play last year [due to pregnancy]. I have always loved World Team Tennis. I love the atmosphere and having teammates you can rely on for support.”

Davenport is expected to play all home matches at the Bren Events Center at UC Irvine and limited road matches for the Breakers. The remainder of the Breakers lineup will be selected on March 13 at the WTT Roster Player Draft.

“Lindsay is a fan favorite and she is one of the best players ever in the WTT format,” Breakers General Manager Kerry Schneider said. “Our focus is on putting together a championship caliber team and Lindsay is an important first step to reaching that goal.”

Mark Philippoussis, former world No. 8 and the overall first pick in today’s Marquee Draft, will visit Orange County during July with his Philadelphia Freedoms. The regular season starts July 9 and runs through July 29.

The Breakers are expected to announce their home schedule in early March.

The Orange County Breakers will be playing their seven home matches at the Bren Events Center. Trevor Kronemann, a former All-American at UCI, where he coaches, returns for his sixth season as the Breakers’ head coach.

Tickets for the 2012 season go on sale in mid-March. For more information, contact the Breakers office at (949) 205-9526 or visit https://www.breakerstennis.com.

— From staff reports