{blackbabes} Williams, Roddick become new WTT part owners

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NEW YORK — Venus Williams and Andy Roddick are joining the business side of World Team Tennis.

WTT announced Monday that Williams and Roddick will become part owners of Billie Jean King's summer league for male and female players. She has run the WTT since the 1970s.

The former top-ranked players will help identify new markets and reach out to potential owners, sponsors, fans and players. King says it's "important to have the younger generation involved in our strategic planning."

Roddick hopes to start a team in his current home of Austin, Texas.

They'll both keep playing for their WTT teams. Williams leads the two-time defending champion Washington Kastles, and Roddick will compete with the Lasers of Springfield, Mo.

The summer league runs from July 7 to 28 and features professional players in eight cities. The league aims to expand to 16 teams by 2018.