WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Blast Boston 25-8 in Smith Center Debut

Published on July 10, 2014 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Wednesday marked the dawning of a new era for Washington Kastles tennis as the four-time World TeamTennis champions unveiled Kastles Stadium at the Smith Center.

With banners hanging from rafters, spotlights during introductions and an HD scoreboard overhead, there were striking differences. But indoors or out, southwest or north, it was still the same ol' Kastles.

In their first match at the state-of-the-art Smith Center, Washington swept all five sets from the Boston Lobsters 25-8, tying the largest margin of victory in franchise history. The Kastles also defeated the Kansas City Explorers 25-8 on July 22, 2012.

With 15 straight wins overall and 49 in their last 51 matches, the Kastles (3-0) continue to power past opponents, especially the Lobsters (0-3). Washington has beaten Boston 12 straight times dating back to the 2010 season.

Earlier Wednesday, Kastles players and coach Murphy Jensen joined Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for a Let's Move! Let's Read! event in which they read books and played tennis with hundreds of local children.

After inspiring kids, the Kastles inspired 2,254 fans with a near-flawless performance from the very first point.

Kastles captain Leander Paes christened Kastles Stadium at the Smith Center with a love hold in mixed doubles, highlighted by a picturesque lob over the head of Washington native Megan Moulton-Levy.

After Eric Butorac held serve to make it 1-1, Paes and Martina Hingis raised their game and raced to a 5-1 win. The Kastles' duet is now 9-0 in WTT mixed doubles play dating back to the 2013 season.

Hingis remained on court for the second set of women's singles, taking on former University of Tennessee All-American Caitlin Whoriskey.

Playing her first match of the season, the Swiss star did not miss a beat. On the return, she broke early by running Whoriskey ragged behind the baseline before finishing her off with a forehand volley winner. On the serve, she found her rhythm and never let it go, hitting aces and service winners with ease.

Following a Lobsters timeout, Whoriskey tried changing her tactics by serving and volleying. But Hingis was up to that task too, passing the Lobster with a crosscourt backhand winner before rolling to a 5-0 win.

In men's singles, Kevin Anderson made his Kastles return against his countryman from South Africa Rik de Voest.

The 6-foot-8 Anderson uncharacteristically double-faulted twice to surrender the opening game.

But on an indoor court against a smaller opponent, Anderson quickly found his range with deep, flat forehands, and immediately broke back.

After holding for a 2-1 lead with an ace, Anderson broke for 3-1 with a backhand passing shot winner after a great get on the dead run.

Another Anderson ace in the following game traveled with blistering speed towards fans seated in the Kastles Baseline Experience, a brand-new section on the same level as the court and only a handful of feet behind it.

For more information on how you can enjoy these one-of-a-kind seats, call the Kastles at 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647).

By beating de Voest 5-1, Anderson gave the Kastles a staggering 15-2 lead going into halftime.

The Lobsters lifted their games in the second half, and when Whoriskey held to even the women's doubles set at 1-1, she and all of her teammates raised their index fingers in unison as if to say, "We got one."

Whoriskey and Moulton-Levy would get another, holding for 2-2 before the players changed sides. The Lobsters earned two break points in the following game, but Hingis saved both of them with overhead winners to give Washington a 3-2 lead.

It was Anastasia Rodionova 's time to shine from there as she blasted a backhand return to break Whoriskey, then served out the set 5-2, making the overall match score 20-4 with men's doubles remaining.

Only the greatest comeback in WTT history could prevent the Kastles from winning their Smith Center debut. The three-man team of Anderson, Paes and Bobby Reynolds made sure that didn't happen.

First, Anderson held serve to start the final set, claiming a 3-all deciding point with a service winner off the net cord.

He tagged out after that game to Reynolds, who within seconds of the substitution delivered a down-the-line backhand return winner on the full stretch.

But the set belonged to Paes, who seemingly hit a switch inside of him when he hit a lob that crashed into the scoreboard above the court.

After that, all the Indian did was flick a one-handed backhand crosscourt that froze de Voest and Butorac in their tracks.

Then, there was a reflex volley winner off of a Butorac overhead smash that happened so fast, Butorac wasn't even able to react to his own shot by the time Paes' reply got by him.

When the Kastles earned their first match point leading 4-2 in a tiebreaker, Paes waved his magic wand again and hit a return that nicked the net and ricocheted off Butorac's racquet, leaving the Lobsters shaking their heads as Kastles fans celebrated a sensational start for their team inside Kastles Stadium at the Center.

The Kastles return to Foggy Bottom on tonight against the much-improved Philadelphia Freedoms, who feature 18-year-old American sensation Taylor Townsend. Great seats are still available starting at $8 on Ticketmaster.com.

Washington Kastles 25, Boston Lobsters 8

Mixed Doubles: Leander Paes/Martina Hingis (Kastles) def. Eric Butorac/Megan Moulton-Levy (Lobsters) 5-1

Women's Singles: Martina Hingis (Kastles) def. Caitlin Whoriskey (Lobsters) 5-0

Men's Singles: Kevin Anderson (Kastles) def. Rik de Voest (Lobsters) 5-1

Women's Doubles: Martina Hingis/Anastasia Rodionova (Kastles) def. Megan Moulton-Levy/Caitlin Whoriskey (Lobsters) 5-2

Men's Doubles: Leander Paes/Bobby Reynolds (Kastles) def. Eric Butorac/Rik de Voest (Lobsters) 5-4

Washington Kastles vs. Philadelphia Freedoms Preview

Early-Season Showdown to Set Tone for Eastern Conference

Washington Kastles (3-0) vs. Philadelphia Freedoms (1-1)

Thursday, July 10 at 7 pm

Tickets: Ticketmaster.com, Box Office

Smith Center: Directions, History

Live Scoring: WashingtonKastles.com

All-Time: Kastles lead Freedoms 10-3

Kastles Streaks: 15 straight wins overall, 6 straight wins against Freedoms

Last Meeting: Kastles def. Freedoms 23-13 on July 22, 2013 in D.C.

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (#RefuseToLose)

It's only Week 1, but tonight's Smith Center showdown between the Kastles and Philadelphia Freedoms has the feel of a playoff match.

The Freedoms haven't played in the postseason since 2007, but coach Josh Cohen boasts his best roster ever this season, including World No. 7 men's doubles player Marcelo Melo, former World No. 1 women's doubles player Liezel Huber and Top 100 singles player Frank Dancevic.

Philadelphia was also slated to feature 18-year-old rising star Victoria Duval, but she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma before the season and forced to withdrawal.

The Freedoms turned to one of Duval's best friends, Taylor Townsend, as her replacement. Also 18, Townsend took the tennis world by storm when she upset No. 20 seed Alize Cornet on Court Suzanne Lenglen to reach the third round of the French Open.

While Philadelphia has clearly improved, Washington remains the most dominant franchise in Mylan World TeamTennis history. The Kastles are off to a 3-0 start this season with 15 straight wins overall and 49 in the team's last 51 matches.

Two-time reigning WTT Finals MVP Martina Hingis and World No. 17 star Kevin Anderson lead Washington's star-studded lineup tonight.

Premium seats are nearly sold out, so act now on tables, boxes and the best baseline views in tennis by calling 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647). Great tickets are also available on Ticketmaster.com starting at only $8.

Please visit WashingtonKastles.com for driving and Metro directions to the Smith Center (600 22nd Street NW). If you can't be in attendance tonight, the Kastles website will feature live scoring beginning at 7 pm .

Though our outdoor fan fest will not occur prior to tonight's match, we continue to work on obtaining the necessary approvals to put on the fan fest for all matches July 13-22. Please stay tuned to the Kastles' Facebook and Twitter accounts for further updates.

SET-BY-SET PROJECTIONS

MS - K. Anderson (WAS) vs. F. Dancevic (PHL)

Anderson and Dancevic both won three matches at Wimbledon, though they took very different paths. Dancevic reached the final round of qualifying, lost, got into the main draw as a lucky loser, then upset Ivo Karlovic in the first round. Those results helped him break back into the Top 100 for the first time since 2009. Anderson, on the other hand, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon to earn a career-high ranking of No. 17.

WS - M. Hingis (WAS) vs. T. Townsend (PHL)

With a unique ability to construct points and dissect opponents, Hingis and Townsend share the same talents on a tennis court. That makes women's singles the most anticipated set in tonight's match and well worth every penny that an $8 ticket costs. The 33-year-old Hingis and 18-year-old Townsend provide an alternative to the flat hitting and fierce grunting so common on the WTA Tour. Sit back and enjoy!

MD - L. Paes/B. Reynolds (WAS) vs. F. Dancevic/M. Melo (PHL)

Leander Paes and Bobby Reynolds celebrated their 40th WTT doubles win on Tuesday. In their fifth season together, they show no signs of slowing down against the first-year team of Dancevic and Melo. Expect Paes to be especially motivated as he goes head-to-head against Melo. The Brazilian is ranked six spots higher than the Kastles captain currently, having knocked him out of Wimbledon in 2012 and 2013.

WD - M. Hingis/A. Rodionova (WAS) vs. L. Huber/T. Townsend (PHL)

Hingis and Anastasia Rodionova have won eight of their last nine women's doubles sets as a team. With 2014 titles at Brisbane (Rodionova), Dubai (Rodionova) and Miami (Hingis), they appear to be the WTT team to beat. Their opponents, however, are still trying to find their feet together. Townsend and the seven-time Grand Slam champion Huber are 0-2 this season after losses to Springfield and San Diego.

MXD - L. Paes/M. Hingis (WAS) vs. M. Melo/L. Huber (PHL)

Still undefeated after nine WTT mixed doubles sets the last two seasons, Hingis and Paes will face one of their toughest challenges to date in Huber and Melo. It isn't very often that WTT teammates are also partners on tour, but Huber and Melo have played four Grand Slams together, reaching the semifinals of the 2013 French Open and quarterfinals of the 2013 US Open. Expect mixed doubles at its finest tonight.

KEY FOR THE KASTLES - BE PREPARED FOR A BATTLE

Through three wins this season, the Kastles have eased past the injury-plagued Boston Lobsters twice and knocked off a Texas Wild team without its best player from 2013, Eugenie Bouchard.

Philadelphia provides Washington with its first true test of 2014, and three more meetings between the two teams are in store later this season.

Every match between the Kastles and Freedoms will be important in the race to clinch the No. 1 seed and home court advantage in the Eastern Conference Championship match on July 24.

After six straight seasons watching the playoffs on TV, the Freedoms will be eager to send a message to the Kastles. But Kastles coach Murphy Jensen 's team is full of veterans prepared to treat tonight's match like more than just another inevitable win.

Expect one of the most competitive matches of the season. See who emerges victorious with tickets available for as little as $8 on Ticketmaster.com.

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