The 25-year old U.S. Open Champion, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, will play one night for the Aces and be one of many highlights this summer.

“We’re so excited to have Andy back in St. Louis,” said Aces General Manager Danielle Apted, adding that Roddick last played here in 2005. “Let’s just say the truth – the best in the world are playing in St. Louis this summer.”

The WTT schedule runs from July 3-23 and includes seven home matches. The Aces hope to announce more top 10 players in the world coming to St. Louis in the next few weeks when the WTT 2008 official schedule is announced.

Apted said the Aces consistently draft top ranked players, and looks forward to announcing her most competitive team yet following the April 1 draft.

The last several months have been busy as the Aces work on their season, which will be geared toward young adults, families, kids and pets.

The Aces 2008 motto “Party in the Parks” comes to light with VIP Hospitality packages, meet the player parties, beer samplings and exciting promotions while the matches are a place to mix and mingle with the best athletes in the world – and of course your friends.

Our bar won’t break your budget, Apted said, and the matches are the perfect pre-party to any event. Additionally, the Aces and Dwight Davis Tennis Center have pledged to “go green” this year, adding more recycling containers to the facility, implementing a recycling initiative for kids to get discounted tickets and more.

Beside the featured Merrill Lynch sponsored Andy Roddick match, the season will include a mix of themes that grab at a wide group of interests from “Bring Your Pooch to the Match” to “Rally for a Cure Night” to raise money to cure breast cancer.

Kids aren’t left out of the action either. The Aces are the only WTT team to offer a kids clinic each match night where ticketholders 6 to 13 years of age get a 45-minute clinic and tennis racquet to keep!

“We’re here to get people excited about tennis and to grow the game,” Apted said. “By giving kids racquets they can take them back to their public parks or clubs and keep on playing.”

Returning to coach the Aces this summer is Greg Patton. Patton is Head Coach for the Boise State University men’s tennis and has lead his team to four Big Sky Championships and one Big West Championship. He coached the Aces from 2003 to 2006.

Apted said she is hoping to bring 2007 Aces players Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich back for a match during the 2008 season.

Ram and Erlich captured the mens double’s title at this year’s Australian Open, becoming the first Israeli doubles tennis team to win a Grand Slam tennis title. Preparation for this summer’s Olympics and the 2008 schedule is keeping the champs busy.

“I’m doing all I can to bring ‘our boys’ back to St. Louis; if it means a bonus night for our fans – even better,” Apted said.

Season tickets, gift certificates and group sales are currently available. Individual tickets for matches go on sale June 1.

For more information, visit www.stlouisaces.com or call (314) 647-2237. All matches are held at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center, 5620 Grand Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO.

League Background

The 2008 season will be the 33^rd year of World TeamTennis action. WTT is well known for introducing innovative elements to tennis including instant replay, co-ed format, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court coaching, Supertiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on back of their shirts.

The unique gender-balanced team concept for WTT was created in the early 70s by League co-founders Billie Jean King and Larry King. The format used for a WTT Pro League match features teams comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Each match consists of five sets, with one set each of men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles.   Eleven teams throughout the U.S. compete in the WTT Pro League presented by Advanta during July.

Advanta is the presenting sponsor of the WTT Pro League and the official business credit card of World TeamTennis.  Official WTT Pro League sponsors for the 2008 season are Bälle dê Mätch, FirmGreen Energy, Gatorade, GEICO and Wilson Racquet Sports.

Visit www.WTT.com for more information.

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