News

Springfield Lasers announce player changes

Posted on July 15, 2017

Springfield, Mo. — The Springfield Lasers Mylan World TeamTennis pro tennis team announces two late-breaking player changes ahead of the team’s opening match Sunday, July 16, 6 p.m., at Cooper Tennis Complex, 2331 E. Pythian St., Springfield.

Francesca Schiavone has been added to the team as a sub for Daria Kasatkina, who has withdrawn from the season due to injury. Schiavone, 37, from Milan, Italy, has eight career singles titles and seven doubles titles — including a 2010 grand slam title at the French Open. She is currently ranked No. 72 in singles. Schiavone appears with the Lasers for the team’s first three matches, including Sunday’s opening night. The Lasers had already added Sorana Cirstea to the roster, to cover the last three matches of the season for Kasatkina. Additional player announcements for remaining matches will come next week.

Doubles specialist Anna-Lena Groenefeld, who made it to the semifinals in women’s doubles at Wimbledon, is also recovering from an injury. Groenefeld will miss the team’s first four matches, including two home matches, but plans to rejoin the team Friday, July 21. Serving in her place for the first four matches is American Abigale Spears, 35, subbed with the Lasers in 2014 and has appeared n several other Mylan WTT teams. She is currently ranked No. 18 in doubles and has 19 doubles titles.

Lasers marquee player Jack Sock, the No. 1 American male player, appears in Springfield Friday, July 21.

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.

Find a complete schedule, player line-up, news releases and more at SpringfieldLasers.com.

Find a complete schedule, player line-up, news releases and more at WTT.com/media. Contact Jenny Edwards for the password.

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, Twitter @sgflasers, or call Cooper Tennis Complex at 417-837-5800.

For more information on Mylan World TeamTennis, visit

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 .

(Photo: Francesca Schiavone, left, and Abigale Spears, right.)