New-look Breakers hope to contend at Palisades

By Matt SzaboStaff Writer

July 6, 2017 8:05 PM PT

The Orange County Breakers have a new venue, new owner and even a new logo.

Gone is the wave playing tennis. Instead, the Breakers logo now features a tennis racquet and the team’s new colors of tennis ball green, cerulean blue, black and white.

Of course, the goal is the same, and that is to win the World Team Tennis title. The team came close last year in its second straight title match appearance, losing to rival San Diego in the championship.

But the Breakers are revamped for 2017, and they have moved from Newport Beach Tennis Club to Palisades Tennis Club. Palisades is the site the Breakers played at when they won their first and only WTT title, in 2004.

New owner Eric Davidson, a businessman from Laguna Beach, is excited for the team’s prospects this season, and so are Breakers general manager Allen Hardison and coach Rick Leach, who both return.

“Eric is the first local owner in the 13-year history of this franchise being here in Newport Beach,” Hardison said. “It’s extremely exciting for our fans and our players, to know that we have someone very committed and obviously very dedicated in this community to what we’re trying to do here with the Breakers organization, growing tennis in Newport Beach and Orange County.”

Steve Johnson and Maria Sharapova headline the action for Orange County. Johnson, who is ranked No. 31 in the world and starred at Orange High and USC, will play in the Breakers’ first four home matches, beginning July 17 against Springfield.

“He’s a current star, he’s a local star and he’s very familiar with the Breakers and the World Team Tennis format,” Hardison said. “Having Steve back here for four home matches is really huge for us.”

Sharapova, playing in her seventh season with the Breakers but first since 2010, will play in two matches, including the season opener July 16 at San Diego. Her lone home match at Palisades will be July 24.

Nicole Gibbs, last year’s World Team Tennis Female MVP, was unable to commit to a full season this year. But she will play in the Breakers’ home opener July 17.

The scheduling worked out for Orange County. Hardison said that women’s player Yanina Wickmayer, the Breakers’ first-round draft pick, is getting married July 16 and will be unavailable for the first two matches. But when she gets back, the team expects big things.

“Yanina is a real fighter,” Hardison said of Wickmayer, 27, who has been ranked as high as No. 12 in the world and will be making her WTT debut. “In World Team Tennis, women’s singles and women’s doubles are a really huge piece for us, because it’s easier for the women to get the breaks [of serve]. We’re hoping that Yanina can step up. We think she’s got MVP potential this year, and we certainly hope that she’ll be one of the best women’s singles players in the league.”

The other woman on the roster is Andreja Klepac, 31, who played for the Washington Kastles last season. She is ranked No. 26 in the world in doubles.

Teymuraz Gabashvili will be a key men’s player for Orange County. Gabashvili, 32, was the 2015 World Team Tennis Male MVP for the franchise when it was known as the Austin Aces, but did not play in 2016 due to participating in the Olympics for Russia.

The other men’s player on the Breakers’ roster is Ken Skupski, 34, who will be playing in his first full season of World Team Tennis. Skupski, from England, has won three ATP Tour doubles titles.

The presence of Wickmayer and Gabashvili should help the Breakers contend in singles. Gabashvili beat world No. 1 Andy Murray in 2015.

“Both of those two players have been giant-killers in the past, and we expect them to come into World Team Tennis and be giants in their own right,” Hardison said. “Obviously, we add Stevie into that mix, and I think we have three really phenomenal singles players. And Maria’s credentials speak for themselves for the two matches that she’ll be playing, as well.”

Another trip to the WTT Finals would be a shorter one this year, as they will be held in San Diego on Aug. 5. But the Breakers will also enjoy playing their home matches at Palisades. Hardison said there are 22 VIP tables, and all seats have padded backs this year. Breakers Stadium will remain at a capacity of about 1,000.

“We’re very optimistic,” Hardison said. “I think we upgraded every position. I think everybody likes their team right now … [but] we certainly expect to be there on Aug. 5.”

Orange County Breakers

2017 schedule

July 16 — at San Diego

July 17 — Springfield, 6:05 p.m. (Steve Johnson)*

July 19 — at Washington

July 20 — at New York

July 22 — New York, 7:05 p.m. (Steve Johnson)*

July 23 — Springfield, 5:05 p.m. (Steve Johnson)*

July 24 — San Diego, 6:05 p.m. (Steve Johnson and Maria Sharapova)*

July 25 — at San Diego

July 27 — at New York

July 28 — at Philadelphia