Tombstone
Born: February 1, 1982 – World Team Tennis expansion franchise
Re-Branded: 1983 (Chicago Fyre)
First Game: July 8, 1982 (W 27-22 vs. California Oranges)
Last Game: July 30, 1982 (L 24-23 vs. Los Angeles Strings)
World Team Tennis Championships: None
Venue
Daley Tennis Center
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner/Operator: Larry King
WTT Wear
World Team Tennis
Logo T-Shirt
World Team Tennis has been around in one form or another for nearly fifty years now, but this chill logo tee from our partners at Old School Shirts pays tribute to the original league and its mid-70’s glory days when Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Bjorn Borg and Ilie Nastase suited up for their WTT clubs in between Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.
Also available in women’s scoop neck and women’s racerback tank styles!
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Background
This edition of the Chicago Aces was a short-lived entry in World Team Tennis (WTT) during the summer of 1982. The team was a brand re-boot of an earlier Chicago Aces team that competed in the very first season of World Team Tennis back in 1974. Aces owner Larry King was (at the time) the husband of tennis superstar and WTT co-founder Billie Jean King.
The team would ultimately play only a single month under the ‘Aces’ name. The 1982 WTT season ran for three weeks from July 8 to July 31, 1982. The Aces’ debut at the outdoor Daley Tennis Center in Grant Park on July 8th, 1982 drew an announced crowd of 1,054.1Homer, Jody. “For openers, Aces hold winning hand”. The Tribune (Chicago, IL). July 9, 1982
At the time, the WTT format featured 4-person co-ed rosters of touring professionals competing in both singles and doubles competition. The Aces roster consisted of:
- Laura Dupont
- Tim Gullikson, a 1979 Wimbledon quarter finalist in Men’s Singles
- Steve Krulevitz
- Yvonne Vermaak
Name Changes & Demise
The Kings’ Chicago franchise returned to World Team Tennis for a second season in the summer of 1983, but changed its name to the ‘Fyre’, following a sponsorship deal with radio station WFYR-FM. The Fyre also moved out of Grant Park and played their matches at the Mid-Town Tennis Club in 1983. The Fyre – later renamed simply the ‘Fire’ – muddled along for a few more years, eventually going out of business following the 1986 season.
World Team Tennis Shop
In Memoriam
After his retirement, Aces player Tim Gullikson became the coach of 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras until his life was cut tragically short by brain cancer at age 44. He passed away on May 3rd, 1996. New York Times obituary.
Laura duPont passed away after a battle with breast cancer on February 20, 2002. She was 52 years old. Baltimore Sun obituary.
Downloads
1982 Chicago Aces Ticket Brochure
1982 Chicago Aces Season Ticket Brochure
Links
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