Springfield, Mo. — The Springfield Lasers 2017 Mylan World TeamTennis home season opens this Sunday, July 16, 6 p.m., bringing world-class tennis players straight from Wimbledon to Springfield.

The Lasers face the Washington Kastles in the opening match of the season, which includes seven home matches, July 16- Aug. 2, at Cooper Tennis Complex’s Mediacom Tennis Stadium, 2331 E. Pythian Ave., Springfield.

All the Lasers team members, and most players in the Mylan WTT league, competed at Wimbledon.

Lasers marquee player Jack Sock, the No. 1 American male player, made headlines at Wimbledon July 4, when he tossed a towel to a young fan in the stands. An older couple sitting in front of the kid snatched the towel as their own. The video went viral. Sock later found the kid through Twitter, sent a replacement towel and posed for a selfie. Sock, ranked No. 18 in the world in singles, No. 17 in doubles, made it to Round 2 in both men’s singles and mixed doubles. Sock is in Springfield Friday, July 21.

Lasers doubles specialist Anna-Lena Groenefeld (ranked No. 28) has made it to the Wimbledon semifinals in women’s doubles, with partner Kveta Peschke. The match is scheduled for Friday, July 14. She also reached Round 2 in mixed doubles. In women’s singles, Sorana Cirstea (ranked No. 63), made it to Round 3. Jean-Julien Rojer (No. 23) made it to Round 2 in mixed doubles.

Longtime Coach John-Laffnie (JL) de Jager, returning for his 11th season with the Lasers, is already in Springfield, offering lessons and clinic at Cooper Tennis Complex before the rest of the team arrives.

A complete Lasers line-up is at springfieldlasers.com/players

The complete Lasers season home dates, including scheduled marquee player appearances, include:

Sunday, July 16, v. Washington Kastles, 6 p.m.

Thursday, July 20, v. Philadelphia Freedoms, featuring Sloane Stephens, 7 p.m.

Friday, July 21, featuring Jack Sock, v. San Diego Aviators, 7 p.m.

Thursday, July 27, v. San Diego Aviators, featuring Ryan Harrison, 7 p.m.

Friday, July 28, v. Washington Kastles, featuring Sam Querrey and Bruno Soares, 7 p.m.

Sunday, July 30, v. Philadelphia Freedoms, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 2, v. New York Empire, 7 p.m.

Tickets, news and more at springfieldlasers.com.

The Springfield Lasers were established in 1996 and are one of the oldest teams in the Mylan WTT league. They are managed by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and play home matches at Cooper Tennis Complex’s Mediacom Tennis Stadium. The Lasers have won the Western Conference Championship five times, making it to the Mylan WTT finals in 2014, 2013, 2009, 2001 and 1999.

For more information on Springfield Lasers, visit springfieldlasers.com, or Facebook or Twitter @sgflasers.

For more information on Mylan World TeamTennis, visit wtt.com.

For media inquiries, call Jenny Fillmer Edwards, Public Information Administrator for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, at 417-874-2943 (office) or 417-224-5510 (mobile), or email.