World TeamTennis was co-founded by Dennis Murphy, Larry King, Billie Jean King, Fred Barman, and Jordan Kaiser in 1973. The league broke traditional sports barriers by launching its inaugural season in 1974. It introduced a revolutionary co-ed team format where men and women competed on equal terms, forever changing the landscape of professional tennis. By mixing genders and adding unique entertainment rules, World TeamTennis brought a fresh energy to a quiet sport.

The creation of the league was a collaborative effort between sports entrepreneurs and tennis advocates. They wanted to create a new way for fans to watch live sports:

• Dennis Murphy: A sports entrepreneur who used his experience from founding the World Hockey Association and the American Basketball Association to help structure the new league.
• Larry King: An attorney and promoter who designed the league’s rules, scoring systems, and visual identity.
• Billie Jean King: A legendary tennis champion who used her platform to champion gender equality and the co-ed team format.
• Fred Barman: A business executive and key co-founder who helped organize the league’s initial structure.
• Jordan Kaiser: A business executive and co-founder who provided vital early support.

The league introduced several major changes to traditional tennis to make the sport more exciting for fans and better suited for television:

• Mixed-Gender Format: Each team consisted of an equal number of male and female players competing in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches.
• Gender Equality: The league was the first professional sports league where men and women shared equal weight toward a team’s final score.
• Multi-Colored Courts: The league replaced traditional green and clay courts with a vibrant, four-color court designed to improve visibility on television.
• No-Ad Scoring: To speed up play and keep matches exciting, games ended on the very next point after a deuce rather than requiring a two-point advantage.

The league officially started playing in May 1974 with 16 teams across the United States. Many top tennis stars joined the league, including Jimmy Connors, Evonne Goolagong, and Chris Evert. Fans loved the loud, team-centered energy that was very different from standard tennis tournaments. Instead of sitting quietly, crowds were encouraged to cheer loudly and heckle opponents. The unique format proved that team sports and tennis could successfully merge.

Despite early fan excitement, the league faced big financial problems during its first few years. Travel costs for 16 teams vinci tennis across the country were very high. Many teams lost money and had to close or move to new cities. By 1978, the league took a break to rebuild its business plan. It returned in 1981 with a smaller, more stable format. Today, World TeamTennis is remembered as a true pioneer for equality in professional sports.