OC Breakers finalize roster
The Orange County Breakers finalized their roster during Friday’s 2016 World Team Tennis Draft in Miami, adding world No. 43 doubles player Scott Lipsky and former UCLA star Dennis Novikov.
Lipsky and Novikov join Southern California resident Nicole Gibbs and 2015 WTT Female Rookie of the Year Alla Kudryavtseva on the Breakers roster. Gibbs and Kudryavtseva were both added to the Breakers roster earlier this month when the team utilized the league’s player protection rule.
“Scott Lipsky and Dennis Novikov are both excellent additions to this team and we believe they can help lead us to a championship in Orange County,” Breakers Coach Rick Leach said in a release. “Scott is one of the top doubles players in tennis and Dennis is one of the best young players on the tour. When we put these two guys next to Nicole Gibbs and Alla Kudryavtseva, it should make for a really dangerous team.”
Lipsky, who was selected in the third round of the draft, will be entering his third WTT season in 2016. The 2011 French Open mixed doubles champion and Orange County resident is also coached by Leach on the ATP World Tour. Lipsky holds 13 ATP doubles titles and has reached the quarterfinal of all four Grand Slams in doubles. Prior to his success at the professional level, Lipsky was a three-time All-American at Stanford and brought home a NCAA team title in 2000.
Former UCLA standout Dennis Novikov was selected in the fourth round of the draft and will be entering his rookie season in Mylan WTT. The right-handed Novikov, who turned pro in 2013, was recently in the singles main draw at the Miami Open and reached the round of 32 at the Delray Beach Open in February. Aside from his impressive singles background, Novikov is also an accomplished doubles player.
Gibbs, who recently reached the round of 16 in singles at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells by taking down Madison Keys, has reached the third round of the Miami Open. Kudryavtseva is also still alive in the doubles draw in Miami and holds a doubles ranking of No. 27 in the world.
Other top players selected in the draft included John Isner of the Springfield Lasers, Caroline Wozniacki of the Philadelphia Freedoms, Andy Roddick of the New York Empire, James Blake of the San Diego Aviators and the Bryan Brothers, Martina Hingis and Mardy Fish of the Washington Kastles.
The WTT regular season is scheduled for July 31-Aug. 13. The Breakers will host six home matches during that time at Breakers Stadium at Newport Beach Tennis Club. Season tickets are on sale now for the upcoming season. To purchase tickets and reserve the best seating locations, please visit www.BreakersTennis.com to find out more information.
— From staff reports