World Team Tennis Makes a Comeback with Fresh Format and Star Players

World Team Tennis, originally launched by Billie Jean King in the 1970s and last held in 2021, is making a comeback. This time, the league features a revamped structure, new teams, and a spot on the calendar set for early December.

The relaunch will include three franchises: New York Empire, Florida Flamingos, and Toronto North. Matches will be hosted in arenas typically reserved for basketball and hockey—Brooklyn's Barclays Center (home of the NBA Nets and WNBA Liberty), Florida's Amerant Bank Arena (NHL Panthers), and Toronto's Coca-Cola Coliseum (PWHL Scepters and WNBA Tempo).

A one-year broadcast agreement with Versant will bring all six nighttime matches to CNBC and the Fandango streaming platform.

Modern Approach with Player Equity and Top Talent

The new World Team Tennis adopts a strategy similar to emerging sports leagues like Unrivaled and TGL, which attract elite athletes by offering equity stakes. TGL recently hit a $1 billion valuation, while Unrivaled’s August funding round valued it at $650 million. Both have doubled their worth over two years.

This tennis league is the first to offer players ownership shares. Fifteen leading men’s and women’s players have already committed, including Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Victoria Mboko, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Tommy Paul. Gauff stands out as the sole player-owner, holding equity in the Florida Flamingos franchise.

Insights from CEO Stephen Amritraj

Front Office Sports: What motivated you to revive World Team Tennis?Stephen Amritraj: My father and uncle were prominent Indian tennis players in the 1970s who played in the original WTT. It helped them settle in the U.S. I’ve always admired the mixed-gender team concept. Billie Jean King and her co-founders were ahead of their time promoting men and women competing together equally.FOS: How is this version different from before?SA: We kept the core principle that men and women contribute equally to the team score. We changed the timing, moving the season to December to avoid conflict with traditional tennis schedules, based on player feedback. The format now includes one set each of No. 1 men’s singles, No. 1 women’s singles, No. 2 men’s singles, No. 2 women’s singles—all no-ad scoring—and ends with a mixed doubles super tiebreaker.FOS: Why December? Will players stay competitive then?SA: Players are very committed, receiving base pay, equity, and bonuses for wins. December fits well as it falls between seasons, offering rest or a chance to regain form before the Australian Open in January. The one-set format reduces travel and pressure, making it appealing even if they don’t want to play every match.FOS: Tell us about the equity given to players.SA: Most players get equity, with vesting terms to encourage long-term commitment. This aligns our goals and is a first for tennis players.FOS: Mixed doubles has gained popularity recently. Why is it important for WTT?SA: Mixed doubles isn’t a trend; it’s been a staple for 50 years. The top tournaments globally are mixed-gender events. The US Open’s efforts to boost mixed doubles confirm what WTT pioneered decades ago.FOS: What kind of atmosphere will fans experience?SA: Tennis today blends sport with fashion, culture, and entertainment. We’ll have live DJs and high-tech arena experiences like Jumbotrons to create an energetic vibe similar to the US Open, definitely more lively than Wimbledon.

Key Details of the 2026 World Team Tennis Season

• Teams: New York Empire, Florida Flamingos, Toronto North
• Venues: Barclays Center (Brooklyn), Amerant Bank Arena (Florida), Coca-Cola Coliseum (Toronto)
• Schedule: Early December 2026
• Broadcast: Six night matches on CNBC and Fandango stream via Versant deal
• Format: One set each of No. 1 men’s singles, No. 1 women’s singles, No. 2 men’s singles, No. 2 women’s singles (no-ad scoring), plus mixed doubles super tiebreaker
• Player compensation: Base salary, equity stakes, match-win bonuses
• Star Players Committed: Coco Gauff (player-owner), Jessica Pegula, Victoria Mboko, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and others