Two of the most recognizable athletes in the world will team up in a blockbuster move sure to excite tennis fans everywhere.
According to the New York Times, superstars Venus Williams and Andy Roddick have become part owners of the World Team Tennis league, an association that features some of the best tennis talent from around the globe.
The move will now put Roddick and Williams alongside WTT co-founder Billie Jean King and four other partial owners, creating an extremely legitimate and highly recognizable ownership band.
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Uniting these major figures in the game of tennis along with the U.S. Tennis Association - who will serve a part in ownership duties - the WTT will now look to further their league by utilizing individuals who have helped the game grow.
"It was really important to Billie and me to bring in young owners who are current, close to the players and have great ideas, Ilana Kloss, CEO and Commissioner of the WTT told the Washington Post.
According to Kloss, the additions of Roddick and Williams will aid the league in expanding from the current 8-team field to a league of 16.
"There are a lot of U.S. markets that don't have professional tennis: Chicago, Seattle, Austin," Kloss said. An expansion to a total of 16 teams would certainly help launch the WTT to heights previously unimagined.
While recently retired from the game of tennis, Andy Roddick continues to play for the Springfield Lasers. One of the former U.S. Open champions goals in joining the ownership division of the WTT will be to bring a team to his hometown of Austin, Texas.
"Tennis has always done pretty well in Texas," Roddick said to Yahoo Sports. "Whether that's in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, there's plenty of opportunity in Texas right now."
Roddick will certainly carry a lot of weight when it comes to building up the WTT since he was a remarkable player during his career.
Winning the U.S. Open in 2003, the 30-year-old Roddick advanced to 3 Wimbledon Finals, even though he was never able to capture the championship. He achieved his highest individual ranking in 2003, ascending to World No. 1.
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While Roddick may only be playing in the team tennis circuit, Venus Williams is still very much a contender in the Women's Tennis Association.
The 7-time Grand Slam champion is currently ranked 21st in the World and is extremely proud to partner up with the WTT in an ownership role.
"I believe in Billie and Ilana's vision for tennis," Williams said to Yahoo Sports. "For us to continue to grow the sport, we have to be more inventive. We have to capture the attention of fans and capture the attention of young people."
The game of tennis is certainly a sport that continues to grow and it has become extremely appealing to younger athletes. With leaders such as Roddick, Williams and Billie Jean King, the game of tennis should have no problem continuing in a positive manner.
The World Team Tennis league will being its 38th season this July and fans of the sport will have the opportunity to see some of the world's best players for what promises to be another exciting battle for a championship.
Watch The Final Game From Andy Roddick's Loss To Juan Martin del Potro in the 2012 U.S. Open:
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