It has been a great two weeks (and almost three weeks when you include the qualifying rounds) at the US Open for several 2009 World TeamTennis players and for the WTT format.

 As the finals start to take shape and with the mixed doubles final already in the record book, it looks like there will be at least one WTT player from the 2009 season participating in every US Open final, with the exception of men’s singles.  That’s a great showing and I am so happy for, and proud of, our players.  I have had so much fun sending text messages to the players.  I want them to know we are supporting them and I think they really appreciate the positive thoughts from all of us.

Thursday, Travis Parrott, who played for the Philadelphia Freedoms, paired with Carly Gullickson to win the mixed doubles crown over Leander Paes (Washington Kastles) and Cara Black.  It was a great win for Travis and Carly, who received a wildcard into the draw.   Both Carly and Cara have played WTT in previous seasons.

Here is the rundown of the 2009 WTT Players still in the tournament as of Friday, Sept. 11:

·         Travis Parrott (Philadelphia Freedoms) won mixed doubles championship with Carly Gullickson

·         Serena Williams (Washington Kastles) – women’s semifinals

·         Kim Clijsters (St. Louis Aces) – women’s semifinals

·         Venus Williams (Philadelphia Freedoms) and Serena Williams (Washington Kastles) – women’s doubles final

·         Liezel Huber (Springfield Lasers) and Cara Black – women’s doubles semifinals

·         Rennae Stubbs (Washington Kastles) and Sam Stosur – women’s doubles semifinals

·         Leander Paes (Washington Kastles) – mixed doubles runner-up and men’s doubles final with Lukas Dlouhy

·         Mark Knowles (Sacramento Capitals) – men’s doubles final with Mahesh Bhupathi

·         Matt Kandath (New York Buzz) / Jack Sock (New York Buzz ) – semifinals of boy’s doubles

·         Bea Capra (New York Buzz) – quarterfinals of girls’ singles

Hopefully you got a chance to catch some of Leander and Lukas’ win over the Bryan brothers (Bob and Mike played for the Kansas City Explorers) on Wednesday morning.  It was a great match – on both sides of the net -- and one of those matches that made you wish they would put more doubles on television.  Kudos to ESPN and the USTA for showing several great doubles matches this week.

The two weeks of the Open have presented us with some excellent tennis and the WTT players have been in the mix.  Jesse Witten’s (New York Sportimes) run through qualifying and into the 3^rd round of the main draw where he eventually lost a four-setter to Novak Djokovic is a special moment, as is WTT MVP Vania King (Springfield Lasers) knocking out 15^th seeded Sam Stosur in the 2^nd round.

We also debuted the WTT format in the Champions Invitational this year.  The event features former Grand Slam Champions and finalists competing in WTT’s co-ed team format.  Team King split their matches, losing Wednesday to Ivan Lendl’s squad and then on Thursday, with Ilana Kloss filling in for me as coach, they crushed Pat Cash’s team 21-17. I wasn’t sure they could walk after the first match, but even though they were huffing and puffing, they pulled out a win.  Overall the WTT format was very well received by the fans and the players.

Well, it’s just past 5 p.m. Friday and they still haven’t hit a ball at the Open today.  I have a big work schedule at the tennis center on Saturday, including meetings with the WTA, Women’s Sports Foundation and World TeamTennis, and appearances for Lexus and Merrill Lynch.  It will be a busy day, but a fun one.