Newport Beach downs Sacramento in WTT Western Conference Semi
September 17, 2005 - World TeamTennis (WTT) News Release
(Citrus Heights, Calif.) -- The Newport Beach Breakers moved a step closer to defending their World TeamTennis championship, ousting the Sacramento Capitals 22-14 Friday evening in the WTT Western Conference semifinal at Allstate Stadium in Citrus Heights, Calif. On Saturday, the Breakers will face the New York Sportimes, winners over the Boston Lobsters in the Eastern Conference semifinal, in the WTT Championship.
"We win and lose as a team and we have been fortunate to have the same strong team there for us in every match," said Newport Beach coach Dick Leach following the match. "We've been a complete team this entire season and the fact that we really played well tonight is mostly due to being together all season. It was a great win for us."
Friday's match marked the fifth time this summer the two California teams faced each other and were 2-2 coming into the semifinal match. Newport Beach won four of the five sets in the match. Ramon Delgado and Devin Bowen played the strongest set of the night for the Breakers, surprising Sam Warburg and Travis Parrott 5-1 to clinch the match. Delgado also dominated Warburg in the men's singles, winning 5-2. "This game is just a matter of inches and tonight we were a little off," said Sacramento's Sam Warburg. "Unfortunately we got off to a slow start and everyone knows momentum is such an important thing in WTT play. It just wasn't our night."
Newport Beach's Katerina Bondarenko defeated Nicole Vaidisova of Sacramento 5-2 in the women's singles and Delgado paired with Anastassia Rodionova to take the mixed doubles over Elena Likhovtseva and Parrott, 5-3.
Sacramento's only win of the match came in women's doubles where Likhovtseva and Vaidisova defeated Bondarenko and Rodionova 5-2.
"I don't know much about the Sportimes, as they have a whole new team this week," said Leach. "We know tomorrow will be tough, especially the way Hingis played this afternoon. We will definitely have our hands full."
Play continues at 3 p.m. Saturday at Allstate Stadium with Newport Beach meeting the New York Sportimes in the battle for the WTT King Trophy.
World TeamTennis Stories from September 17, 2005
- New York Sportimes Win First World TeamTennis Title - New York Sportimes
- Newport Beach downs Sacramento in WTT Western Conference Semi - WTT
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