Frances Tiafoe, Iva Jovic Join World Team Tennis as Versant’s USA Sports Lands Broadcast Partnership

World Team Tennis continues to load up for its December comeback, with rising American star Iva Jovic joining the Florida Flamingos, Frances Tiafoe signing with the New York Empire and a new national broadcast deal putting all six WTT matches on CNBC and Fandango.

Jovic becomes the newest member of the Flamingos alongside Tommy Paul, giving Florida one of the league’s most intriguing combinations of established American star power and young talent. WTT announced Jovic’s addition on its social channels as the league continues revealing players ahead of its return.

Above: Iva Jovic is joining the WTT's Florida Flamingos. Source: World Team Tennis.

The Florida Flamingos will play December 14-15 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, bringing professional team tennis back to South Florida under one of World Team Tennis’ original identities.

New York added another major American name with Tiafoe, who joins Jessica Pegula on the New York Empire Racquet Club. Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semifinalist and former world No. 10, also has strong Florida ties as a Boca Raton resident. The Empire will play December 1-2 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Above: France Tiafoe is joining the WTT's New York Empire. Source: World Team Tennis.

Toronto North Racquet Club, previously announced with Denis Shapovalov, will host its matches December 5-6 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

The player additions arrive alongside a significant piece of the league’s relaunch strategy. WTT announced a broadcast partnership with USA Sports, the sports division of Versant, that will put all six matches live on CNBC in primetime this December. Fandango will simultaneously provide free live streaming coverage of all six matches.

“In creating a new era of World Team Tennis, our goal is to build a sports and entertainment property that delivers value to fans wherever they are, while tapping into adjacent audiences that can help grow the sport,” WTT Chief Executive Officer Stephen Amritraj said. “Versant's portfolio is uniquely compelling because it allows us to do both.”

Above: DJ Mad Linx and Matt Pressman from Florida Tennis attended WTT's US Open event at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Source: World Team Tennis.

The announcements follow a busy US Open stretch for the relaunched league. Florida Tennis Magazine attended WTT’s US Open event at Rockefeller Center in New York, where the league gathered guests surrounding its return and the next chapter of the WTT brand.

Originally co-founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, World Team Tennis is returning for its 47th season with a streamlined three-market format built around Florida, New York and Toronto. With Paul and Jovic now representing the Flamingos — and CNBC bringing the action to a national audience — the South Florida stop is quickly becoming one of the central pieces of the comeback.

Written by Florida Tennis Staff. Sources: World Team Tennis 

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