World Team Tennis Returns to the Court in 2026

As a high schooler growing up in Orange County, the WTT’s Newport Beach Breakers were my first real introduction to professional tennis.

I had the opportunity to volunteer at matches and get up close with stars like Venus Williams, Billie Jean King, and Tracy Austin during some of my formative years as a sports fan.

That experience is a big reason why World TeamTennis has always held a unique place in the tennis world for me.

For decades, WTT represented something different. It was a faster, louder, more accessible version of tennis that embraced team competition, entertainment, and gender equity long before many other sports properties caught up.

But after years of declining momentum and inconsistent visibility throughout the 2010s, the league faded from relevance. Its most recent season came in 2022.

Now, WTT is preparing for a return in 2026 with an ambitious plan to modernize the league for a new generation of sports fans.

Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King and others, WTT helped pioneer the concept of mixed-gender professional team tennis. The format combined men’s and women’s players on the same teams, introduced innovations designed to make matches more engaging for fans, and brought professional tennis into local markets across the United States.

That original vision suddenly feels relevant again.

Today’s sports landscape is increasingly built around shorter formats, personality-driven storytelling, and fan-first entertainment experiences. Emerging leagues across multiple sports are trying to capture younger audiences looking for something more accessible and social than traditional formats.

That creates an interesting opportunity for WTT.

Unlike many newer challenger properties, WTT already has brand recognition, history, and deep roots within tennis. The league also enters the market at a time when the sport itself is searching for new ways to create year-round fan engagement outside of the four Grand Slams.

"I couldn't be more excited about a modernized vision for World Team Tennis," said Billie Jean King. "This league has always been about innovation and making tennis more accessible. It's inspiring to see that spirit carried forward in a way that connects with how fans engage with sports today."

The league still faces meaningful competition for attention.

New sports formats are launching constantly, while tennis itself has seen emerging concepts like INTENNSE attempt to create more fan-forward versions of the sport. But WTT may hold a unique advantage through its legacy, recognizable brand, and what appears to be growing buy-in from both players and the United States Tennis Association.

"We're excited about the return of a revamped World Team Tennis that gives more people access to our sport by bringing high-level, professional tennis into more markets across the country," said Brian Vahaly, Chairman of the Board and President, Interim Co-CEO, USTA. "When fans see the best athletes in the world up close, it inspires them to pick up a racquet and helps grow the sport."

Opening night is scheduled for December 2, 2026, at Barclays Center before the league transitions into a home-and-away competition model featuring city-based teams and matches staged in major-market arenas.

The league is also introducing a player equity model, giving participating athletes ownership stakes in the league, a rare structure within professional tennis that aligns players more closely with the long-term success of the property.

"I think fans are going to have a lot of fun with this," said Jessica Pegula, currently ranked world No. 5. "The matches are shorter, the team energy is different, and having players share in the ownership of the league also creates a deeper level of commitment."

On the court, the updated format will feature four singles sets (two men’s and two women’s) followed by a mixed doubles Supertiebreaker in a condensed, made-for-television presentation.

Importantly, WTT is positioning the league outside the traditional tennis calendar, creating a standalone competition window that avoids direct overlap with much of the ATP and WTA schedules.

The league is also leaning heavily into entertainment and broadcast innovation.

WTT announced a partnership with Hawk-Eye Innovations, a Sony Group company, to integrate real-time augmented reality ball tracking and advanced broadcast visuals powered by its electronic line-calling technology. Coverage will be executive produced by Emmy Award winner Michael Davies and Embassy Row, part of Sony Pictures Television.

Whether the new version of WTT becomes a breakout success or simply another interesting experiment in tennis innovation remains to be seen.

But at a time when tennis is searching for new ways to grow audiences, create year-round engagement, and compete within a crowded entertainment landscape, the return of World TeamTennis feels like a meaningful swing at reimagining how the sport can connect with modern fans.

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