WTT Chicago Smash

Chicago Rallies Past Springfield Thanks to Bouchard and Mattek-Sands

July 22, 2020 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Chicago Smash News Release


With a one-game advantage heading into the final set, the Chicago Smash turned to its mixed doubles team of Rajeev Ram and Bethanie Mattek-Sands to seal the victory over the two-time defending champion Springfield Lasers. They would not disappoint, closing out Robert Lindstedt and Caty McNally, 5-3, and delivering an 18-15 win for Chicago.

"Through the whole season we've been up and we've been down and I've been the last set a couple of times, and I like it," Mattek-Sands said. "If it comes down to that I feel comfortable in the pressure. My team is all behind me, and I feel that's a big thing. I've been playing great doubles with both Rajeev and Genie, so it's been a lot of fun."

The Lasers and Smash swapped dominating sets to start the match with Mitchell Krueger giving the Lasers a 5-1 lead in Men's Singles before the Smash's top-flight Women's Doubles duo of Mattek-Sands and Genie Bouchard tied the match with a 5-1 thumping of their own.

Springfield would bounce back behind its men's doubles team of Lindstedt and Jean-Julien Rojer with a 5-2 third set win to take an 11-8 advantage.

Genie Bouchard would rally the Smash with a dominant 5-1 victory in women's singles, beating the combo of Olga Govortsova and McNally, who replaced Govortsova at 3-0, setting up the final set drama.

Notebook

The Chicago Smash's Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Genie Bouchard lead the league in winning percentage in Woman's Doubles at 68% (36-17)

Up Next

Springfield has a quick turnaround, facing the San Diego Aviators on Thursday, July 23rd at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT. While Chicago will take on the Washington Kastles on Friday at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

Final Results

Men's Singles - Mitchell Krueger (Lasers) def. Brandon Nakashima (Smash), 5-1

Women's Doubles - Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Genie Bouchard (Smash) vs. Hayley Carter/Caty McNally (Lasers), 5-1

Men's Doubles - Robert Lindstedt/Jean-Julien Rojer (Lasers) vs. Rajeev Ram/Evan King (Smash), 5-2

Women's Singles - Genie Bouchard (Smash) def. Olga Govortsova* (Lasers), 5-1

Mixed Doubles - Ram/Mattek-Sands def. Lindstedt/McNally (Lasers), 5-3

*Caty McNally substituted for Olga Govortsova at 3-0 Smash in the third set



World TeamTennis Stories from July 22, 2020


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