Breakers' new home taking shape

Construction is advancing on the new home court of the Newport Beach Breakers, who are scheduled to hold their World Team Tennis home opener July 6 against the Sacramento Capitals.

The Breakers, who have played at the Palisades Tennis Club, will move to the Newport Beach Country Club this season, where a facility that will seat around 2,200 spectators is going up quickly in the parking lot.

The projected cost of construction is $200,000 and will include the creation of 13 sky boxes. Breakers Executive Director Jeff Purser said recently that more than half of the sky boxes have been sold for the upcoming season, in which the Breakers will be coached by UC Irvine men's coach Trevor Kronemann.

Spectators at seven Breakers regular-season home matches, July 6, 7, 10, 16, 22 and 25, will have an opportunity to see such visiting stars as Anna Kournikova (Sacramento on July 6), Venus Williams (Philadelphia Freedoms on July 22) and John McEnroe (New York Sportimes on July 25).

In addition, Pete Sampras, who won a record 14 grand slam titles before retiring, is scheduled to play for the Breakers in their July 10 home match.

Maria Sharapova, ranked No. 2 in the world and the 2005 U.S. Open women's singles champion, is slated to play for the Breakers in their July 16 match.

The Breakers, who were WTT runners-up in 2006 and 2005, after winning the title in 2004, are also expected to feature crowd favorite Ramon Delgado.

Last season, Newport Beach was defeated by Philadelphia in the title match at Palisades.

Individual general admission prices range from $15 to $45.

The Breakers will be managed by the Hoag Hospital Foundation and profits will go to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.