The Daily Goes One-On-One With WTT's Ilana Kloss

WTT Commissioner & CEO Ilana Kloss

The world's best doubles player in '76, ILANA KLOSS now sits atop World TeamTennis (WTT) as Commissioner & CEO. The ten-team league began its '03 season on Monday, and, as part of its philosophy of having big name talent in an intimate atmosphere, features such familiar names as AGASSI, KOURNIKOVA, RODDICK, BECKER, and McENROE. WTT also boasts eight corporate partners, including presenting sponsor ADT Security, as well as Wilson and Gatorade. Before jetting off to Wimbledon, Kloss talked to THE DAILY's Schuyler Baehman and discussed the 29-year-old league, Sir ELTON JOHN (turns out he's a sports fanatic), and more.

THE DAILY: What is your favorite TV show?
Kloss: Law & Order.

THE DAILY: Any particular version of the Law & Order franchise?
Kloss: I like them all, but I do like Criminal Intent.

THE DAILY: What was the last movie you saw?
Kloss: "Laurel Canyon."

THE DAILY: What do you listen to in the car?
Kloss: I don't have a car anymore, living in N.Y., because parking my car here costs more than my apartment did in Chicago. But my favorite two artists are Elton John and CHER. I think they are both great. I love their longevity.

THE DAILY: You sit on the Elton John AIDS Foundation board, so what is Sir Elton really like?
Kloss: I've even played tennis with him. He is a great guy. Really down to earth. Loves sports. He can tell you the results and scores of baseball, basketball, football, tennis, etc. Truly a passionate sports fan. He actually travels with his own tennis pro when he tours. He has a very special place in all of our hearts here at World TeamTennis because he wrote the song Philadelphia Freedom for our co-Founder BILLIE JEAN KING. It was written in honor of the Philadelphia Freedoms — one of the first teams to play in WTT.

THE DAILY: The other co-Founder is LARRY KING ...
Kloss: But not CNN Larry King.

THE DAILY: Do people get that confused?
Kloss: Everybody asks. It's really funny, whenever Billie Jean gives a speech she says her "former husband and co-Founder." She always has to qualify that by saying, "Not Larry King of CNN."

THE DAILY: It probably doesn't help that he has had multiple marriages.
Kloss: That's true. Somehow I don't see them together.

THE DAILY: Tell me why you think, if you do, that the Tennis Channel will succeed.
Kloss: It's great for the sport of tennis. I hope it will succeed. I think everyone in the tennis industry is pulling for them and is trying to help them. It would be so great for our sport to broaden the exposure and get more eyeballs to see tennis. From WTT's perspective, we would love it. We have 70 matches in three weeks in our season. It would be incredible for us to have our matches live on the Tennis Channel.

Kloss Has Good Things To Say About Elton John

THE DAILY: Who is the most engaging athlete you have ever worked with?
Kloss: Every generation has athletes that are special. For sure, Billie Jean would be at the top of the list because of her passion and understanding of all sides of the business. I think you'd have to say that JIMMY CONNORS was unbelievable. He always understood what the fans and the sponsors and the media needed. Andre Agassi — again someone with incredibly special qualities and a real understanding of what it means to give back.

THE DAILY: Is there an up-and-comer catching your eye?
Kloss: MARIA SHARAPOVA has some star power. She's talented, she's passionate, and she likes the media. Obviously time will tell.

THE DAILY: Which is your favorite Grand Slam and why?
Kloss: It has to be Wimbledon. I grew up in South Africa and we always used to listen to Wimbledon on the radio. We didn't have television until 1975. I used to always dream of trying to win Wimbledon.

THE DAILY: And you did win a Wimbledon title. In fact, while they are not in singles, you are an Australian Open title away from the career Grand Slam, right?
Kloss: (laughs) I always tease VENUS and SERENA WILLIAMS by saying that I am the first African-American to win a title at the U.S. Open by virtue of my doubles championship in 1976. They look at me with a strange look, and then I take them through it.

King The Queen Of Kloss’ Engaging Athletes List

THE DAILY: You and the partner of your choice play what team in your dream doubles match up?
Kloss: I would choose to play with Billie Jean. The other players would be HOLLY HUNTER and Elton John. I don't know who I would want to win.

THE DAILY: What is your pitch when selling WTT to sponsors?
Kloss: We offer a different product that includes men and women. You get to see five different events in under three hours. It is accessible and affordable. We offer participation versus observation. The most important thing is that it is major league players in a minor baseball environment — fan-friendly, accessible and affordable.

THE DAILY: What would signal a successful year for WTT?
Kloss: No rainouts (laughs). Close competition and our sponsors coming back and saying, "How can we do more?"