Kastles Suffer 2nd Home Loss of Season

July 17, 2015 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release

Murphy Jensen and Bobby Reynolds of the Washington Kastles with Team Stars
(Washington Kastles, Credit: Christopher Levy)

They did the exact same thing on Thursday, right down to the final score, handing the 2-2 Kastles their second home loss of the season.

Washington lost only two total home matches from 2011 to 2014, but after falling to the Austin Aces on Tuesday, the Kastles could not capitalize on their chances against the 3-1 Aviators. The Mylan WTT Champions converted just three of 12 break points and two of nine deciding points on Thursday.

World No. 1 junior Taylor Fritz defeated Denis Kudla 5-3 to set the tone, then San Diego won all three sets that involved their female players Chanelle Scheepers and Darija Jurak.

Fritz was composed beyond his years in the opening set against Kudla, winning 16 of 18 service points despite making only 39% of his first serves.

For his part, Kudla came up with brilliant shots, especially a backhand overhead winner off of a Fritz lob that ended up resembling a drop shot, barely making it over the net.

But he netted an easier backhand to concede the only break of the set and give Fritz a 4-3 lead. The Aviator immediately served the set out at love.

San Diego kept its momentum at the start of women's doubles as Scheepers and Jurak combined for four winners en route to a 2-0 lead.

Anastasia Rodionova responded with a love hold punctuated by an ace, then Madison Brengle blasted a forehand return winner to break back for the Kastles and even the set at 2-2.

At 3-3, the Kastles had another opportunity to break the Aviators, but Scheepers held. Rodionova countered again, covering Brengle's side of the court for an eye-opening crosscourt backhand winner that sent the set into a tiebreaker.

Little separated the two teams throughout the set, and the same was true for the tiebreak, which came down to the 4-4 winner-take-all point.

A tense rally ensued and ended when Jurak stretched for a backhand volley that dribbled off her racquet, over the net and out of the Kastles' reach.

Down 10-7, Washington was in need of a spark. As usual, it came in the form of Leander Paes, who early in the men's doubles set smashed an overhead winner into Grandstand Section 209.

Despite Paes' power, Fritz fought off a pair of break points in his first service game. He wouldn't be as lucky the next time around.

With the teenager serving at 2-3, Paes stole the first point by poaching for a backhand volley winner, nearly colliding with a ballkid because of his momentum. He sealed the break by putting a forehand volley away, roaring to the delight of the Kastles Stadium crowd.

Serving for the set, Paes fell behind 2-3. He saved the first break point with a forehand volley winner and the second with an unreturnable serve, securing the set 5-2 and evening the match 12-12 at halftime.

Brengle entered her set with Scheepers coming off a pair of impressive road wins over 44th-ranked Varvara Lepchenko and 75th-ranked Irina Falconi.

But it was the South African who rarely missed a ball at the start, breaking Brengle at the outset, then winning a 3-all point to take a 2-0 lead.

Scheepers rode her one-break advantage until she served for the set at 4-3. She committed three backhand errors to fall behind 1-3 in the game. But Brengle misfired on her first two chances, bringing about 3-all.

On the biggest point of the match, Brengle retrieved back-to-back swinging volleys by Scheepers. But the 15th shot of the rally was the last as Scheepers finally put away a third swinging volley for a winner, claiming the set 5-3.

The Aviators held a slim 17-15 lead with only mixed doubles remaining.

As he did in men's doubles, Paes injected energy into the Kastles with rapid movement and big serving, holding in the opening game of the final set.

The Kastles held two break points on Raven Klaasen's serve immediately thereafter, but Klaasen hit an ace and an unreturnable serve to get out of trouble.

Washington would rue another missed opportunity on Rodionova's serve, letting a 3-1 lead in the third game slip away and giving away a break when the Aussie netted a forehand.

Rodionova atoned for that mistake when Klaasen served at 3-2, breaking the Aviators with a reflex lob volley winner that sailed over Jurak's head.

The set was even at 3-3, giving the Kastles a chance to tie the match score at 20-20 and force a Supertiebreaker if they could win the following two games.

Rodionova again served with a 3-1 lead. But Paes undercut his drop volley into the net. Then, Klaasen forced Paes into a difficult error at the net. And at 3-all, Klaasen hit a forehand that an off-balance Paes could not handle.

With Jurak serving at 4-3, a pair of Klaasen volley winners and missed Rodionova returns ended the match abruptly.

As was the case with the Kastles' home loss on Tuesday, Washington has little time to think about what might have been. The Kastles visit the Philadelphia Freedoms in an Eastern Conference Championship rematch tonight at 7 pm (Live Scores)

Kastles Face Freedoms Saturday at 5 pm Start Time

Important Rematch of Eastern Conference Championship Match

The Kastles return to the Smith Center Saturday at the special start time of 5 pm for a crucial Eastern Conference showdown with the Philadelphia Freedoms. Tickets are on sale for as little as $12 at Ticketmaster.com or the Smith Center box office.

Washington and Philadelphia split four regular-season matches in 2014 before the Kastles defeated the Freedoms for the Eastern Conference Championship.

Wimbledon stars Denis Kudla and Leander Paes will be in the lineup for the Kastles, while the Freedoms counter with French Open doubles champion Marcelo Melo and 19-year-old Taylor Townsend.

Your children will also want to take advantage of two of the best experiences in pro sports, which are available at all Kastles home matches: All kids 12 and under get a free tennis racquet and kids 16 and under are invited onto the court after each match for autographs from every player.

Secure your seats starting at only $12 at Ticketmaster.com or the Smith Center box office.

Washington Kastles Charity Classic Set for July 22

Congressmen, Media, Other Athletes Join Kastles for Great Cause

Some of Washington's powerhouse politicians, newsmen and other notables will vie for the Kastles Cup while raising money for a great cause during the fourth annual Washington Kastles Charity Classic this Wednesday, July 22 at the Smith Center. Tickets are on sale now for $10 at Ticketmaster.com.

Members of Congress and the national media will join the five-time Mylan World TeamTennis champion Washington Kastles for this one-of-a-kind tennis event.

Democrats, Republicans and even the Kastles will be separated into Team Stars and Team Stripes for a series of fast-paced tiebreakers. The team with the most cumulative points at the end of the final tiebreaker will capture the Charity Classic championship.

The 2014 Charity Classic ended dramatically when Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) rallied Team Stripes to a 47-46 comeback victory, earning MVP honors along the way. Representative Dent returns this year, joining his 2014 teammates Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), ABC News' Jonathan Karl, and former Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling.

Founded in 2008, the Kastles have made more than $1 million in charitable donations. The Charity Classic is an extension of those efforts with 100% of ticket proceeds benefiting Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), DC Public Education Fund, and Food & Friends. Fans can choose which organization to support when they make their ticket purchase.

"Our franchise's founding mission has been to give back to the D.C. community, which makes the Charity Classic such a meaningful night," said Kastles owner Mark Ein. "People who don't agree on much can agree that tennis is the sport of a lifetime and a wonderful way to come together. Kastles players and fans are very much looking forward to this year's event."

Want a taste of what the Charity Classic is about? Click above for 2013 match and C-SPAN highlights.

Representing the Kastles at the Charity Classic are reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open mixed doubles champion Leander Paes, Top 25 doubles player Anastasia Rodionova, big-serving American star Sam Querrey, and head coach Murphy Jensen. They will be joined on the court by:

Representative Joyce Beatty, D-OH

Representative Cheri Bustos, D-IL

Representative Charlie Dent, R-PA

Representative Bob Dold, R-IL

Representative Jared Huffman D-CA

Representative Bobby Scott, D-VA

Representative Kevin Yoder, R-KS

Senator Jeff Flake R-AZ

Senator Jeff Merkley, D-OR

Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV

Bret Baier, Fox News

Mark Ein, Washington Kastles Owner

John-Paul Flaim, The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan

Ed Henry, Fox News

Jonathan Karl, ABC News

Ben Olsen, DC United Head Coach

Gene Sperling, Former Director of the National Economic Council

More Charity Classic players will be announced on WashingtonKastles.com as the match approaches.

All ticket proceeds go to charities and general admission tickets cost $10 through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 202-397-7328). VIP dinner tables, boxes and seats start at $50 and can be purchased by calling 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647).

Leander Paes of the Washington Kastles (Kevin Koski)	Taylor Fritz of the Washington Kastles (Kevin Koski)	Anastasia Rodionova and Madison Brengle of the Washington Kastles (Kevin Koski)
Madison Brengle of the Washington Kastles (Kevin Koski)	Darija Jurak and Raven Klaasen of the San Diego Aviators (Kevin Koski/Washington Kastles)	Washington Kastles in Camouflage Warm-ups (Kevin Koski)
Anastasia Rodionova of the Washington Kastles (Kevin Koski)	Darrell Green, Gene Sperling, Leander Paes and the rest of Team Stripes (Kevin Koski)	Murphy Jensen and Bobby Reynolds of the Washington Kastles with Team Stars (Christopher Levy)

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