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Looking Back at the Empire’s 2019 Run to the Finals
Looking Back at the Empire
Last summer was a special one for the New York Empire. The city’s World TeamTennis franchise put together the best season in its history en route to reaching the league’s championship match.
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The Empire earned a trip to Las Vegas for the league’s playoffs, beating their archrival and top-seeded Philadelphia Freedoms in the final match of the year (21-16) to qualify, then beating them again in the semifinals setting the stage for the finals against the defending WTT champion Springfield Lasers. Despite the difficult, 20- 19 loss to the Lasers, it concluded what was a magical summer for the Empire. “I just love the way we fought, I love the way
we played,” said Luke Jensen, who was in his first year as head coach of the Empire. “It came down to losing by one game. What an amazing opportunity to be in this arena, this league, this atmosphere.”
Prior to the finals, the Empire took out the Philadelphia Freedoms in a thrilling 24- 18 victory. The team received a clutch performance from Ulises Blanch, who filled in for an injured Mardy Fish to earn a key win in the Men’s Singles match.
“I just tried to focus and when I stepped on the court, I knew a great part of it was mental and I just tried to deliver,” said Blanch.
Those types of performances symbolized the type of season it was for
the Empire, and one it hopes to duplicate in 2020 as they move to a new venue in Manhattan for seven home matches.
At the time this publication went to print, the WTT season is still on schedule to start on July 12. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, we are living in an unprecedented time. The WTT will continue to adhere to government recommendations and will update fans both on its site, WTT.com, and social media throughout the spring and summer.
If the team is able to hit the court in 2020, the Empire will look to return to the league’s championship. Helping push the Empire towards its goal of a title will be the addition of International Tennis Hall of Famer and
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re’s 2019 Run to the Finals
six-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters, who is making her return to professional tennis this year. Owner of 41 singles titles, Clijsters retired for the second time in her career in 2012, and after a seven-year hiatus, returns to the pro ranks this year in what will be her third season competing in WTT.
Joining Clijsters in the lineup is Neal Skupski, the league’s Male MVP from last year and a member of the Empire since the team’s inception. American Mardy Fish also returns to the team in 2020, marking his fourth season with the Empire and 11th in the league overall. A former Top 10 player, Fish won six singles titles and eight doubles titles during his time on the ATP World Tour, and in 2019 was named captain of the United States Davis Cup team.
Making her debut both for the Empire and WTT will be German Sabine Lisicki. The 30-year-old lefty reached the finals of Wimbledon in 2011 and has won four career titles on the WTA Tour. Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic rounds out the team’s roster as she enters her eighth career WTT season. Peschke is a former world number one ranked doubles player who captured the 2011 Wimbledon Women’s Doubles title, one of her 34 career doubles titles.
In charge of meshing all of these pieces together is second-year head coach Luke Jensen. As the Director of Racquet Sports at The West Side Tennis Club, the 1993 French Open doubles champion now calls New York home and will look to guide the Empire back to the playoffs for another chance to bring home the King Trophy.
The Empire is scheduled to open their season on the road against the Washington Kastles before making its home debut on Tuesday, July 14 against the Las Vegas Rollers.
See the full schedule below, including the featured players from the opposing teams:
2020 New York Empire Home Schedule
Date Opponent Featured Players
Wednesday, July 15 Orange County Breakers Grigor Dimitrov
Friday, July 17 San Diego Aviators Ryan Harrison
Saturday, July 18 Orlando Storm Danielle Collins, Tennys Sandgren
Sunday, July 19 Philadelphia Freedoms Sofia Kenin
Monday, July 20 Chicago Smash Sloane Stephens
Be sure to visit www.NYEmpireTennis.com to learn more about promotional nights and special events the Empire will have throughout the season.
