Orange County Breakers may not play in Newport Beach this summer

World Team Tennis announced this week that it is hopeful that it will have a 2020 season this summer, with some modifications.

The league said that due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, it is not possible for players and staff to complete the necessary air travel between the nine host cities. As a result, the league is pursuing a plan to conduct the season in one venue, in one city and more than likely without fans.

World Team Tennis CEO Carlos Silva said the league is still optimistic it can start as scheduled on July 12.

The Orange County Breakers, who are owned by Laguna Beach businessman Eric Davidson and play their home matches at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, may not be playing there this summer. Silva said Tuesday that the league is currently looking at several different sites to complete the season.

Silva said that the league wants to compete in a state where a franchise currently exists.

“There’s a number of good possibilities,” Silva said. “[Southern California] is definitely possible. We’ve just got to see if Governor [Gavin] Newsom will open things up for us ... The first requirement that we need from any state is that if the state is open, and they allow us to come, we’ll be prepared.”

Breakers general manager Allen Hardison, set to begin his fifth season in charge of the franchise, said Wednesday that Palisades, which is also owned by Davidson, is an option to host the season.

“We’re working through a lot of different scenarios and options right now,” Hardison said. “We hope to have some decisions here in the next two or three weeks ... Orange County is definitely still in the running.”

The nine-team league abandoned its draft this year and went to a total free agency model. The Breakers signed Maria Sharapova, but she won’t play after she announced her retirement from professional tennis.

Orange County kept two players from last year, Luke Bambridge and Andreja Klepac, and signed former Orange High and USC star Steve Johnson for the entire season. The Breakers also signed Kristyna Pliskova for the whole season, and former world No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov for one match.

“It’s a pretty darn good lineup,” Hardison said. “With Stevie playing the full season and Kristyna coming in, she should be the highest-ranked singles player in the league on the women’s side. Obviously, Luke and Andreja are some of the best doubles players. It’s gotta be one of the best, if not the highest-ranked team we’ve had in Orange County. It’s too bad that we had to come across the coronavirus this year. The fans would have enjoyed this team.”

The Breakers finished 6-8 last year and failed to advance to the playoffs. Hardison said due to the current situation, the team is offering season-ticket holders the opportunity to move their tickets to 2021 or receive a full refund.

World Team Tennis could offer fans a rare chance to watch live tennis this summer. Professional tours are on hiatus until at least mid-July. As Silva noted, the 10-part ESPN documentary “The Last Dance,” which chronicles Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bills, has been popular.

“We could be the first and only tennis back,” he said. “That’s great for tennis, but it’s certainly great for World Team Tennis, for sure.”

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