Las Vegas gets Team Tennis entry; let’s hope Andre, Steffi are in shape

Las Vegas’ entry in the obscure but longstanding World Team Tennis league became official today. It was announced the Las Vegas Neon would replace the Sacramento Double Faults, or whatever the team that sometimes played matches in a mall parking lot was called.

It is expected the Las Vegas team’s marquee player will be Sam Querrey, who was on the U.S. Davis Cup team that lost to England last weekend.

Querrey also played for the team in Sacramento, whose name was the Capitals, not the Double Faults. But it did sometimes play tennis in a mall parking lot, which explains why it is moving to Las Vegas, where it will play at the Darling Tennis Center. Querrey’s parents help operate the Darling Tennis Center.

The Neon will play 14 matches in the WTT, including seven at the Darling Tennis Center, beginning July 6.

The way I see it, that gives Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf almost five months to get into tennis-playing shape. If they aren’t already.

No offense to Sam Querrey, but if it’s long-term viability the Las Vegas Neon is seeking, it should get Andre and Steffi on the court. Even if it’s just to play doubles once or twice. I’m serious about this. Having Agassi and Graf out there hitting ground strokes would be huge.

Andre is 43; Steffi is 44. Maybe that’s too old to compete at Wimbledon. But this is world team tennis. This is the Boston Lobsters and the Springfield (Mo.) Lasers.

This ain’t Wimbledon.

This is more like playing tennis in the parking lot of a mall in Sacramento.