WTT Washington Kastles

Freedoms Outlast Kastles, 25-17, in Extended Play

Published on July 18, 2020 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Venus Williams in action for the Washington Kastles
Venus Williams in action for the Washington Kastles
(Washington Kastles, Credit: World TeamTennis)

Venus Williams put up a valiant effort in her season debut on Friday, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide against a forceful Philly wave.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner and five-time WTT champion returned to the Kastles lineup and helped prevent a sweep in the fifth-set tiebreak, but a seven-game lead in extended play was too large to overcome, as Billie Jean King's Philadelphia Freedoms outlasted the six-time WTT champion Washington Kastles, 25-17, to secure the top spot in the WTT standings.

"We gave our best effort today and we will give our best effort again tomorrow," said Washington Kastles coach Robby Ginepri.

The Freedoms netted their biggest gain of the match in the second set, which pitted reigning Australian Open singles champion Sofia Kenin against new Kastle and world #60 Brenarda Pera in women's singles. Kenin, who is making her WTT debut this summer for the Freedoms, unleashed a furious barrage of groundstrokes to take the set without dropping a game, 5-0.

Before that, New Kastle Tommy Paul fell to compatriot and current world #24 Taylor Fritz in the opening set of men's singles. In a near replay of the final set against Springfield on Wednesday, Paul fought hard to reverse the outcome against Philly. Both men traded serves to force a 9-point tiebreak, and again, Paul scored three set points at 4-2, but Fritz erased all of them, sealing the first set with an ace, 5-4(4).

It was the first of three tiebreaks that slipped away from Washington, compounding Philadelphia's lead in extended play.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the deciding points did not go our way," said Ginepri, "but you can't lose steam because every day is different."

Freedoms MVP Taylor Townsend and WTT rookie Caroline Dolehide edged Williams and Kastles Hall of Famer Arina Rodionova in the third set of women's doubles. In her first match of the season, Williams gave the Kastles an initial boost with a confident hold and break to start the set, but Philly bounced back with a break of their own and evened the score at 2-2.

Williams was also pivotal in saving two breakpoints on Rodionova's serve in the seventh game to pressure Townsend to hold at 3-4 and force a tiebreak, but the Freedoms were up to the challenge. They claimed the second tiebreak of the match, 5-4(2), to extend their lead to 15-8 at half-time.

The Freedoms also stopped a potential momentum shift in the fourth set. Kastles duo Marcelo Arevalo and Nick Monroe held strong to push Fritz and Freedoms doubles star Fabrice Martin to a deciding tiebreak, and Arevalo possessed the final, three, service points to steal the set. But again the Freedoms seized the moment and notched the third tiebreak of the match, 5-4(3), to surge to a 20-12 lead heading into the final set.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Williams rallied late in the fifth with Arevalo in mixed doubles. The Kastles pair forced Townsend and Martin to the fourth tiebreak of the day, where a fiery return winner from Arevalo and a double-fault from Townsend gave Washington their first set of the match, 5-4(3).

But down seven games and with Martin serving, the Kastles had a steep mountain to climb to get back in the match. In the 45-year history of World TeamTennis, only the New Jersey Stars were able to rebound from a deficit as large as the Kastles faced. The Stars trailed by six games and won seven-consecutive games to win the match.

Unfortunately for the Kastles, history would not repeat itself. Up 40-15, Townsend hit a touch volley winner to secure the win for Philadelphia in the first game of extended play, 25-17.

Next up, Venus is expected to step into the singles spot in a blockbuster of Grand Slam champions against Kenin, as the Kastles will get a rematch against the Freedoms today! Watch LIVE on CBS Sports Network at 4 p.m. EST.

And on Sunday, the Kastles Play the Vegas Rollers on National TV! Don't Miss the Action on CBS, beginning at 1:30 p.m. EST and live-stream on CBS Sports & Facebook WATCH at 12:30 p.m.

Be there for the action!

In accordance with state health guidelines, WTT will allow up to 500 fans (20% capacity) to attend its matches at Center Court at Creekside. An indoor court, with a fan capacity of 250, will be used in case of rain with priority given to fans with Lower Bowl tickets. An Upper Bowl ticket does not guarantee access to the indoor facility should matches be moved indoors. In the event of an outdoor stadium rainout, an Upper Bowl ticket will be refunded or fans will have the option to attend on a different day.

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Images from this story

Washington Kastles line up for the national anthem
Washington Kastles line up for the national anthem
(World TeamTennis)		 Venus Williams and Marcelo Arevalo of the Washington Kastles
Venus Williams and Marcelo Arevalo of the Washington Kastles
(World TeamTennis)		 Venus Williams in action for the Washington Kastles
Venus Williams in action for the Washington Kastles
(World TeamTennis)



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