John Mcenroe

NEWPORT BEACH — The Superbrat waited for one tennis legend to stop her filibuster and a current star to remove herself from his seat. John McEnroe was back at it, being his usual cranky self. This time before Wednesday night's festivities even started at the Breakers Stadium at Newport Beach Country Club. McEnroe interrupted the feisty Billie Jean King and then upstaged her. Tough to do. Then he unseated Maria Sharapova faster than her appearance at this year's Wimbledon.

Retired tennis great Andre Agassi is coming to Newport Beach this summer as part of the World TeamTennis tour, league officials announced Thursday. The league pits former and current tennis champions from John McEnroe to Serena Williams against each other in coed matches played on multicolored courts. Agassi retired from the professional tennis circuit a few years ago as one of the oldest premier tennis players on tour, having earned eight grand slam titles. He played World TeamTennis before from 2002 to 2004.

Tennis great Andre Agassi will return to professional team tennis competition this summer, playing two matches for the Philadelphia Freedoms, including July 17 in Newport Beach, Advanta World TeamTennis Pro League officials announced Thursday. Agassi, who won 60 career singles titles including eight Grand Slam singles championships, is the only man to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal. Marquee player John McEnroe will compete for the New York Sportimes in Newport Beach against the Breakers July 21. Tennis Hall of Famer Michael Chang makes his Advanta WTT debut for the Sacramento Capitals this summer and will play in Newport Beach July 11. — From staff reports

KOURNIKOVA RETURNS Anna Kournikova, the featured player during the Newport Beach Breakers’ 2007 season opener, will return to Newport Beach on July 16 playing for the St. Louis Aces. Kournikova, the fifth marquee player announced by the Breakers on their 2008 schedule, joins Lindsay Davenport, John McEnroe, Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova. Davenport, playing for the Breakers, will play her only match in Newport Beach on July 10 against the Springfield Lasers.

John McEnroe is the latest marquee player to visit Newport Beach. The last two Grand Slam champions have fallen. Michael Chang. Andre Agassi. Is McEnroe next? The way Ramon Delgado is playing for the Breakers, it looks likely. Delgado rallied Newport Beach Sunday, clinching a World Team Tennis playoff spot for the Breakers in the final set. The reigning WTT Male MVP will try to finish off McEnroe and the New York Sportimes tonight at Breakers Stadium at Newport Beach Country Club at 7:05.

Maria Sharapova has played for the Newport Beach Breakers since she was 16. Now 20, the Russian-born tennis superstar makes her only appearance of the season for the Breakers (3-10) in their season finale tonight at 7 against the New York Sportimes. The Sportimes (5-8) will feature tennis legend John McEnroe in the sold-out match. Sharapova, who is ranked No. 2 in the world, played for the Breakers from 2003-05. She is the defending U.S. Open women's singles champion and also won Wimbledon in 2004.

Tennis legend John McEnroe, whose on-court antics are almost as notable as his Hall of Fame talent, will play for the New York Sportimes when the top team in World Team Tennis' Eastern Conference meets the Newport Beach Breakers tonight at 7 at Palisades Tennis Club. McEnroe, in his sixth WTT season, is making his first appearance for the Sportimes (9-3) this season. The team, for which McEnroe's brother Patrick McEnroe is a part-owner, has clinched a berth in the playoffs and shares the league's top record with the Sacramento Capitals.

Richard Dunn NEWPORT BEACH - If tennis could ever get wild, watch out tonight when headliner John McEnroe plays local favorite Scott Davis. When Davis takes the court tonight at 7 o'clock against McEnroe, about 20 of his closest tennis supporters will be in the crowd at Newport Beach Tennis Club as Davis makes his debut on the Success Magazine Champions Tour. "It's going to be crazy," Davis, the director of tennis at Newport Beach Tennis Club, said following Wednesday's press conference.

Lindsay Davenport, one of the most decorated female tennis players, will play at the Newport Beach Country Club July 10. Davenport, who recently rejoined the Women’s Tennis Assn. after giving birth to her son, Jagger, in June, will play for the Newport Beach Breakers this summer with July 10 being the lone home date at Breakers Stadium. The Breakers hope Davenport will provide a winning touch for them. She helped lead Sacramento to its World Team Tennis-record sixth championship last year.

NEWPORT BEACH — The first serve John McEnroe hit was an ace Thursday night. McEnroe, now 51, appeared humble in the World Team Tennis match at The Tennis Club Newport Beach. "It's the first [ace] I've got in 30 years," he said. It was early; the humility could only last so long. Ten minutes later in the men's doubles set, he was back to the fiery personality, yelling at a lineswoman after a call didn't go his way and putting his hands on his hips in that trademark pouty attitude the 17-time Grand Slam winner made famous.

NEWPORT BEACH — Newport Beach missed the heated John McEnroe. The Hall of Famer last week ripped into an opponent, stepping on his side of the tennis court after a ball intentionally hit a teammate. It was vintage McEnroe, never backing down. McEnroe did not have to put up a fight Tuesday night. That is because he saw the Newport Beach Breakers lay down. By the time the 50-year-old stepped on the court at Breakers Stadium, his New York Sportimes team took ownership of the World Team Tennis match.

It didn’t take long for John McEnroe to answer the first question posed to him during a pre-match press conference at Newport Beach Country Club Tuesday. Who’s the greatest men’s tennis player of all time? “Roger [Federer], I guess,” he said. “I would have to go with him. [Rod] Laver is my idol. Pete [Sampras] may be the quickest, best grass court player. Roger’s the most beautiful guy I’ve ever seen, watching him.” Perhaps because of Federer, who has won a record 15 Grand Slam singles championships, McEnroe’s place among the greats is moving down.

John McEnroe is the latest marquee player to visit Newport Beach. The last two Grand Slam champions have fallen. Michael Chang. Andre Agassi. Is McEnroe next? The way Ramon Delgado is playing for the Breakers, it looks likely. Delgado rallied Newport Beach Sunday, clinching a World Team Tennis playoff spot for the Breakers in the final set. The reigning WTT Male MVP will try to finish off McEnroe and the New York Sportimes tonight at Breakers Stadium at Newport Beach Country Club at 7:05.

Retired tennis great Andre Agassi is coming to Newport Beach this summer as part of the World TeamTennis tour, league officials announced Thursday. The league pits former and current tennis champions from John McEnroe to Serena Williams against each other in coed matches played on multicolored courts. Agassi retired from the professional tennis circuit a few years ago as one of the oldest premier tennis players on tour, having earned eight grand slam titles. He played World TeamTennis before from 2002 to 2004.

Tennis great Andre Agassi will return to professional team tennis competition this summer, playing two matches for the Philadelphia Freedoms, including July 17 in Newport Beach, Advanta World TeamTennis Pro League officials announced Thursday. Agassi, who won 60 career singles titles including eight Grand Slam singles championships, is the only man to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal. Marquee player John McEnroe will compete for the New York Sportimes in Newport Beach against the Breakers July 21. Tennis Hall of Famer Michael Chang makes his Advanta WTT debut for the Sacramento Capitals this summer and will play in Newport Beach July 11. — From staff reports

KOURNIKOVA RETURNS Anna Kournikova, the featured player during the Newport Beach Breakers’ 2007 season opener, will return to Newport Beach on July 16 playing for the St. Louis Aces. Kournikova, the fifth marquee player announced by the Breakers on their 2008 schedule, joins Lindsay Davenport, John McEnroe, Serena Williams and Martina Navratilova. Davenport, playing for the Breakers, will play her only match in Newport Beach on July 10 against the Springfield Lasers.

Lindsay Davenport, one of the most decorated female tennis players, will play at the Newport Beach Country Club July 10. Davenport, who recently rejoined the Women’s Tennis Assn. after giving birth to her son, Jagger, in June, will play for the Newport Beach Breakers this summer with July 10 being the lone home date at Breakers Stadium. The Breakers hope Davenport will provide a winning touch for them. She helped lead Sacramento to its World Team Tennis-record sixth championship last year.

NEWPORT BEACH — A lucky fan during halftime of Wednesday night's Newport Beach Breakers season finale bid $15,000 for an exclusive trip for two to this year's U.S. Open. Maria Sharapova doesn't need to rely on luck. She plans to be there, too — as the defending women's singles champion. Sharapova, the No. 2-ranked women's player in the world, was at sold-out Breakers Stadium on Wednesday, making her only appearance of the season for Newport Beach. And even as the Breakers lost 24-14 to finish the year 3-11, Sharapova, in her fourth year with the franchise, gave the 2,358 fans — the largest crowd of the season — a show.