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WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Lose To Freedoms But Keep League-Best Record; Host Kansas City Tonight!

July 14, 2010 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


The Washington Kastles were seeking their seventh straight win and a season sweep of the Philadelphia Freedoms last night, but fell just short as they stumbled to just their second loss of the 2010 season.

The Kastles entered with the best record in all of WTT (6-1) riding a 6 game winning streak and were shooting for a third consecutive win over the Freedoms this year. But the Freedoms came out firing with revenge on their minds, converting on a majority of key 3-all points and winning the last four sets to emerge with a 24-18 victory on their home court. The Kastles' record fell to 6-2 with the loss, but maintained the best record in the league as the rival New York Sportimes also lost last night to the New York Buzz.

The Kastles' Leander Paes and Rennae Stubbs showed their resiliency early on in mixed doubles against Prakash Amritraj and Courtney Nagle as they rallied from a 4-1 deficit to draw even in the first set at 4-4. The comeback included a key break of Nagle's serve at 4-2. In the tiebreak, the Freedoms took a 4-2 lead before the Kastles won three straight points behind some great serving by Stubbs to clinch the set, 5-4.

Angie Haynes kept the Kastles in the match against talented 18-year-old Noppawan Lertcheewakarn in singles, but lost a tense set, 5-4 in a tiebreak. She took a quick 2-0 lead before allowing Lertcheewakarn to tie it up at 2-2 and then again at 4-4. In the tiebreak, Lertcheewakarn took control and tied the match at 9-all. It was a bit of revenge for Lertcheewakarn, who lost to Haynes 5-2 in their July 8 meeting.

The Kastles' Bobby Reynolds, who has the best singles record in all of WTT, had an uncharacteristic off night against Ramon Delgado. Reynolds struggled with his serve and Delgado took advantage with many strong returns, giving the Freedoms a 5-2 win of the set and a 14-11 overall lead. Delgado had lost to Reynolds in their two previous matches this season, and came out much more aggressive in all phases of his game. He broke Reynolds in his first service game for a 2-0 lead and, to his credit, showed remarkable tenacity in winning two of three crucial 3-all points and saving 3 break points. He also served two aces and a service winner in the final game to close out the match.

The Kastles desperately needed a good fourth set to keep the match close, but it was the Freedoms who extended their lead to five games as Nagle and Lertcheewakarn beat Stubbs and Haynes, 5-3 in women's doubles. The set included a clutch volley winner from Nagle to record a key break of serve at 1-1 to give the Freedoms a 2-1 lead. The Kastles pair did not give in and fought hard saving another break point at 1-3 and 3-all when Stubbs hit a volley winner off a weak Nagle return of a strong Haynes serve. The Kastles played a very aggressive game to get two more chances to break Nagles serve in the next game, up 3-2, but the Freedoms saved both to go up 4-2. After Stubbs won her service game at love, the Kastles were a point away from tying the set with two break points at 3-4 in the set. But the Freedoms recovered to 3-all and converted their first set point as Stubbs hit a return of Lertcheewakarn's serve into the net.

Down 19-14 heading into the final set, the doubles duo of Reynolds and Paes needed to big run to keep Amritraj and Delgado from closing out the match which is a tall task in men's doubles when the opposing team is serving first. They valiantly staved off a match point to tie the set at 4-4 and bring the overall score to 23-18. But Amritraj and Delgado won the tiebreak 5-1 to win the set and the match.

The team will head back home tonight for a match against the Kansas City Explorers (3-3) in a sold out match.



World TeamTennis Stories from July 14, 2010


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