Springfield to host world tennis playoff

The level of tennis play in Springfield will be turned up a notch this summer.

The United States Tennis Association June 13 selected Springfield's Cooper Tennis Complex to host its Fed Cup World Group playoff July 20-21.

The U.S. Fed Cup team, lead by women's tennis legend Billie Jean King, will face Israel in a best-of-five match series.

Two singles matches will be played on both Saturday and Sunday. A doubles match will conclude the tournament on Sunday.

"It will definitely be the biggest event we've ever had in Springfield," said Jodie Adams, superintendent of recreation for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board.

"This is going to be great for Springfield and the area."

According to a USTA press release, tickets go on sale June 17 and can be purchased by calling (888) 334-8782.

USTA president Merv Heller said, "Taking a professional event of global stature to a public park in Springfield is another way of supporting the USTA's mission to promote and develop the growth of tennis."

Cooper Tennis Complex, where the Springfield Lasers of World TeamTennis play, seats 2,500 spectators. Adams said the final two sites were Springfield and Denver.

The United States and Israel squad members will be announced within the next four weeks.

"This is a critical match for the United States, as we seek to return to the Fed Cup World Group," said U.S. team captain King. "We promise to field an outstanding team in Springfield to begin our quest for the 2003 Fed Cup championship."

The Fed Cup has historically attracted the best women tennis players. Former Fed Cup players include King, Venus and Serena Williams, Monica Seles, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Steffi Graff and Martina Hingis.

The U.S. team lost its 2002 Fed Cup first-round series 3-2 to Austria in April. It was held in Charlotte, N.C.

The United States has won a record 17 Fed Cup championships more than any other nation since the inception of the competition in 1963.

The winner of the U.S.-Israel playoff in Springfield will qualify for the 2003 Fed Cup World Group.

The USTA owns and stages the U.S. Open and selects the teams that represent the United States in Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Olympic Games. The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and is a not-for-profit organization with more than 650,000 members.