{
  "id": 13963803,
  "title": "World Team Tennis Returns With New Model—and Some Star Players",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/world-team-tennis-returns-with-new-model-and-some-star-players",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-12T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Front Office Sports",
    "slug": "front-office-sports",
    "url": "https://frontofficesports.com/article/world-team-tennis-returns-with-new-model-and-some-star-players/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "World Team Tennis (WTT) is making a triumphant return with a fresh model and star-studded lineup. Originally founded by Billie Jean King in the 1970s, the event has now been revived, with three new teams set to compete: The New York Empire, Florida Flamingos, and Toronto North. These teams will play against each other at basketball and hockey venues in their respective cities, including Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Amerant Bank Arena in Florida, and Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto.\n\nThe revamped WTT will air all six night matches on CNBC and stream on Fandango, making it more accessible to fans. The event marks a modern approach to rebuilding, reminiscent of other successful startup leagues such as Unrivaled and TGL, which have enlisted top players by offering equity stakes. WTT will be the first to provide players with equity, securing commitments from 15 top men's and women's stars, including Coco Gauff, who has an equity stake in the Florida Flamingos.\n\nWTT CEO Stephen Amritraj, who acquired the intellectual property in 2024, explained the motivation behind bringing the league back. Inspired by his father and uncle, prominent tennis players who played in the 1970s and 1980s, Amritraj has always admired WTT's unique concept of mixed-gender team play. He believes that the league stays true to its foundational values, emphasizing equal contribution from both genders to the team score. Amritraj also introduced changes to the format, moving the tournament from summer to December and adjusting the match structure to include one set of matches each for men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.",
  "summary": "World Team Tennis returns in December.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}