The 2012 World TeamTennis Pro League schedule kicks off on Monday, July 9, with the defending champion Washington Kastles vying to continue their 16-match winning streak that started last summer as they face off against the Orange County Breakers in Irvine, Calif.

It won’t be difficult to find a player in the World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League presented by GEICO this summer who has spent time at the top of the world rankings. Ten current or former world number one players highlighted the 2011 World TeamTennis Marquee Draft held on Feb. 15th.

Coming off an outstanding 2010 campaign in which they advanced to the World TeamTennis Finals, the New York Sportimes have announced their 2011 schedule, with seven home matches in July, including five at Sportime Randall’s Island Tennis Center in Manhattan and two at SEFCU Arena at the University of Albany.

USTA Player Development has announced that eight junior development programs in six states have been named USTA Certified Regional Training Centers as part of its continuing effort to develop the next generation of world-class American players. The eight programs will create networks serving the Northeast portion of the country and the USTA’s Missouri Valley section.

The New York Sportimes saw their very successful season come to a close on Sunday evening as they fell in a tight final to the Kansas City Explorers in a match that was played at Explorers Stadium at Barney Allis Plaza in Kansas City, Mo.

The 2010 World TeamTennis Pro League season will be highlighted by head-to-head matches between five former and current world number one-ranked players–Martina Hingis, Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport and current world number one Serena Williams–during the three-week season, which starts July 5. League officials have released the 73-match season schedule for the 10 WTT franchises.