Breakers Headed Back to Mylan WTT Finals
August 2, 2017 - World TeamTennis (WTT) - Orange County Breakers News Release
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. (August 1, 2017) - With a spot in the Mylan WTT Finals hanging in the balance, the Orange County Breakers got a much needed win over the Washington Kastles.
"I thought tonight was a really tough match for us because everyone is tired," Breakers coach Rick Leach said. "It's the end of the season. They really dug deep to win this match. I think we're in good shape now. I don't know about mathematical equations but at least we control our own destiny."
Shortly after, the San Diego Aviators knocked off the Philadelphia Freedoms, which helped the Breakers lock up the finals spot.
The night started in the Kastles favor as Madison Brengle got an early break over Yanina Wickmayer in Women's Singles. Wickmayer fought hard to get the break back but ended up dropping the set in a tiebreaker, 5-4.
The Breakers started to turn the tables on the Kastles when Wickmayer and Andreja Klepac took the court for Women's Doubles. Brengle and Anastasia Rodionova were broken twice in the set as the Breakers opened up a 9-5 lead with a 5-1 set win.
Ken Skupski of the Breakers provided the biggest fireworks of the match while playing Men's Doubles alongside Teymuraz Gabashvili. The big serving Sam Groth was broken on his first service game and his partner Robert Lindstedt also had his serve broken two games later. The 5-1 set win gave the Breakers a 17-7 overall lead that proved to be insurmountable for Washington.
Mixed Doubles was the last set Washington would take on the night when Rodionova partnered with Lindstedt. Skupski and Klepac kept it close for the Breakers before the Kastles took the set 5-4 in a tiebreaker.
However, the Breakers six game lead was too large for Sam Groth to overcome in Men's Singles. Gabashvili came out quick and jumped on a few of Groth's second serves, which led to the only break in the final frame. Gabashvili held serve the rest of the way for a 5-2 set victory and 23-14 overall Breakers win.
The win helped Orange County clinch the first available spot in the Mylan WTT Finals, which will take place in Carlsbad at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa on August 5 at 8:00pm PT.
The Breakers will finish out the 2017 Mylan WTT regular season slate on August 2 at Breakers Stadium at 6:05pm against the Philadelphia Freedoms. If the Breakers win the final match of the regular season, then Orange County will be the number one seed at the Mylan WTT Finals.
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World TeamTennis Stories from August 2, 2017
- Breakers Headed Back to Mylan WTT Finals - Orange County Breakers
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