WTT Washington Kastles

Epic Kastles Comeback Falls Just Short 24-22

Published on July 15, 2010 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


The Washington Kastles lost a riveting match last night, falling 24-22 in overtime to the Kansas City Explorers. In the final set, Bobby Reynolds and Leander Paes fed off the electric atmosphere in a sold-out Kastles Stadium and saved eight match points, nearly pulling off one of the most remarkable comebacks in the team's three-year history. The packed crowd was treated to a nail-biter in which four of the five sets went to a tiebreaker (5-4, 4-5, 5-4, 5-2, 4-5, 1-2 OT) in a match that no one in attendance will soon forget.

With the loss, the Kastles moved to 6-3 and are now tied for the best record in the league and the Eastern Conference lead with the New York Sportimes, who beat the Philadelphia Freedoms 20-19 last night.

Reynolds started things off against world #93 Brazilian Ricardo Mello in a battle of hard hitting baseliners. In a set that was decided by a few crucial points, Reynolds fell 5-4 after losing both 3-all points in the set, a deciding 4-all point in the tiebreaker and two chances to break Mello's serve. In the tiebreak, Reynolds rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to set up the winner-take-all point at 4-4, but Mello blasted a forehand winner past him to win the set.

Rennae Stubbs and Angie Haynes gave the Kastles the overall match lead after jumping out to a 4-2 lead against the league's top women's doubles team of Jarmila Groth and Kveta Peschke. The set was a back and forth affair with two breaks of serve by each team, but the Explorers rebounded to tie the set and then won the tiebreak 5-2 on a blistering passing shot up-the-middle by Peschke. It was a strong effort by the Kastles team as the Explorers women have been hot all year with Groth reaching the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the French Open in singles this year and Peschke was a doubles semifinalist at Wimbledon and finalist at the French.

Despite the doubles loss, the Kastles still were very much in the match after two sets, as they only trailed 10-8.

Stubbs joined Leander Paes against the husband and wife team of Sam and Jarmila Groth for the mixed doubles set. Things did not start well in the set for the Kastles. After winning the first game, the Kastles lost a key 3-3 point to allow the Explorers to tie things up. Stubbs and Paes then lost the next two games to go down 3-1, causing Stubbs to hit her racquet to the ground in frustration.

But Stubbs and Paes showed once again why they have 18 Grand Slam doubles titles between them, rebounding to go up 4-3 with a run that included a break of big-serving Sam Groth. The Explorers then forced the third tiebreaker of the match, winning a key point that saw Stubbs barely miss a volley on which she dove across the hard court in Kastles Stadium showing incredible determination to pull out the set.

In the tiebreak, the Kastles grabbed control by converting several volley winners. With Peschke serving down 3-4, Stubbs hit a fierce return right back at her inducing a forehand volley to go long and giving the Kastles the set 5-4.

Down just a game entering the fourth set, it was up to Haynes to push the match back in the Kastles' favor against Jarmila Groth. But Haynes lost a 3-all point on her serve to go down 2-0 but came right back to break the hard-serving Groth, who had 3 aces in the set, and get back on serve at 2-1. The momentum swung right back as Haynes lost her next service game to go down 3-1. The players each held serve the next three games to give the Explorers a 5-2 set win and a 19-15 lead heading into the final set.

That's when Paes and Reynolds made things interesting. Needing to win the final set to force overtime and a potential supertiebreaker, the Kastles duo took an early lead, going up 2-1 after Reynolds unleashed a ferocious overhead winner.

The teams stayed on serve until the Kastles went down 3-2 after Paes double-faulted on a crucial 3-all point. The Explorers rode that break to a 4-2 lead and held three match points at 3-1 on Reynolds' serve. The Kastles duo saved each of them as the crowd loudly cheered them on and followed by breaking Mello's serve to tie the set at 4-4 and set up the fourth tiebreaker of the match.

Paes and Reynolds found themselves down again in the tiebreaker, facing two more match points against Groth's huge serve at 4-3. But they battled back again to win both points with strong returns and forcing overtime.

Down 23-20 entering overtime, the Kastles needed three games and two breaks of serve, a considerable feat in men's doubles, to force a supertiebreaker. To spur on the home team, the PA announcer encouraged all of the fans to come down to the closest seats they could find and the atmosphere got intense. Paes and Reynolds fed off the energy and broke Groth again to win the first game, sending the Kastles Stadium crowd into a frenzy. On Reynolds' serve, the Kastles found themselves down again 3-1 and 3 more match points. But, once again, the duo proved heroic winning 3 straight points to stay in the match and pull to 23-22. Kastles Stadium was going crazy as their team now seemed destined to pull off a miraculous win.

With Mello serving, the Kastles jumped to a 3-2 lead with two chances to send the match to the supertiebreaker. On the first, Mello hit a hard flat serve wide to Reynolds backhand which he returned into the net. Paes then took the return of the 3-all point and traded a long series of cross court forehands with Mello before ripping one down Groth's line which sailed just long. The comeback had ended. It was the Explorers 8th win of the 12 decisive 3-all points in the match which proved to be the margin of victory. The fans left collecting their breath but with memories of an unforgettable evening at Kastles Stadium.

The Kastles look to regain sole possession of the Eastern Conference lead tonight on the road against the New York Sportimes. They will return to Kastles Stadium on July 18 for a match against the Boston Lobsters, when WTA Star Victoria Azarenka will join the team.

Kastles Acquire WTA Star Victoria Azarenka for Rest of Season and Playoff Run

The Washington Kastles are adding some new firepower to their lineup.

The defending WTT Champion Kastles have signed Victoria "Vika" Azarenka, one of the top female tennis players in the world, to join the team for the rest of the season and the playoffs as the team surges towards a defense of their 2009 World TeamTennis Championship. Azarenka reached career high rankings of #6 in the world in late 2009 and #7 in the world in mid 2008. She will make her Kastles debut Sunday night July 18th at Kastles Stadium as the team takes on the Boston Lobsters before a crowd that is already nearly sold-out.

Azarenka has had a successful start to the 2010 season, reaching the finals in both the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship (where she lost to Venus Williams) and the Eastbourne Tournament. At the Australian Open in January, she held a 6-4, 4-0 lead before eventual champion Serena Williams came back to win an epic quarterfinal encounter. In 2009, she won titles at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami (defeated Serena Williams), the Cellular South Cup in Memphis (defeated Caroline Wozniacki), and the Brisbane International (defeated Marion Bartoli) in Queensland, Australia. She currently holds a #18 WTA singles ranking.

She has won two Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Titles (2008 French Open and 2007 U.S. Open) and reached the finals of three other Grand Slam tournaments, including the 2009 French Open Women's Doubles, the 2008 Australian Open Women's Doubles and the 2007 Australian Open Mixed Doubles. With the addition of Azarenka, the Kastles now hold an unprecedented 68 Grand Slam titles in their trophy case.

"I am very excited about playing with the Washington Kastles this season," said Azarenka. "I love playing World TeamTennis and couldn't have found a better team to join and city to play in. I'm looking forward to playing alongside my teammates as we try to defend our title and bring the championship back to Washington, D.C."

Azarenka has earned her reputation as one of the most aggressive baseline players in professional tennis, and Owner Mark Ein has brought in the star with the hopes of locking up another title.

"I am thrilled that Vika is joining us for the rest of the season and through the playoffs as we do everything possible to keep the World TeamTennis Championship in Washington, D.C.," said Ein. "Her aggressive style and world-class singles and doubles play is a perfect addition to our team which already has the league's best record. Our fans have once again provided us with incredible crowds and unbelievable support all season long, which enables us to make these kinds of moves."

Azarenka travelled to Beijing in 2008 as a member of the Belarus Olympic Team and was recently named one of FHM Magazines Top 100 Sexiest Women.

You can learn more about Vika at her site http://www.vikaazarenkatennis.com

She will join the team for the home match against the Boston Lobsters on Sunday, and will also appear in matches on July 20 against the New York Sportimes and July 21 against the St. Louis Aces. Should the Kastles make the playoffs, Azarenka will be available all the way through to the WTT Championship final.

Kastles Face Tennis Legends John McEnroe and Anna Kournikova in Final Week of WTT Regular Season

The action at Kastles Stadium gets red hot next week, playoff implications and positioning are on the line when the New York Sportimes and St. Louis Aces come to town for two big matches with the Kastles.

Fiery tennis legend John McEnroe will be on court for the Sportimes on July 20 as the two teams face each other for a third time this season. The Sportimes took the first meeting 21-20 in the season's opening match in New York, and they play a second match tonight, also in New York. The third meeting in Washington could be a rubber match that decides seeding for the World TeamTennis playoffs.

The match against the Sportimes in Washington is also a reprisal of last year's "Rumble in the Capital" in which tempers flared, players and coaches came off the bench and onto the court and each team was fined by the league. The episode was highlighted around the globe as the ESPN #1 Play of the Week. Expect the tension to be high again as the Kastles and Sportimes currently sit atop the Eastern Conference with 6-3 records.

On July 21, the popular Anna Kournikova will join the Aces in the last match of the season in Washington. It will also be Military Night at Kastles Stadium. The Aces will be a tough opponent in this regular season finale, as they currently own a 4-3 record, and are just a half game out of first place in the very competitive Western Conference. Last Saturday, the Kastles defeated the Aces in St Louis 23-16 so they will come to town looking for revenge.

Victoria Azarenka, the newest acquisition by the Kastles, will play on both the 20th and 21st.

Don't miss out on the only chance to see these important matches, as well as tennis legends McEnroe and Kournikova! Tickets are still available but going fast. Contact Ticketmaster at 202-397-7328.

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World TeamTennis Stories from July 15, 2010


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