WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Crush Breakers for 24th Straight Win

Published on July 21, 2012 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


The history-making Washington Kastles did something Friday that hadn't been done during their record-setting winning streak.

The Kastles brought their best tennis, energetic fans and an electric atmosphere across the Potomac River to the East Potomac Tennis Center, where they capped a memorable evening with a 24-13 rout of Orange County (3-5).

For the first time since 2010, rain forced the Kastles (8-0) to move indoors for the completion of a match.

The weather turned on the Kastles when the team had all the momentum, serving in the men's doubles third set with a 13-7 match lead and a 4-0 set lead.

Playing against a Breakers' team that plays all of its home matches indoors, the Kastles could have suffered a letdown when the surface changed after an hour-long delay.

But with several hundred Kastles' Krazies packed just feet from the court, the doubles teams of Leander Paes and Bobby Reynolds, Anastasia Rodionova and Edina Gallovits-Hall, and Paes and Rodionova swept the indoor action for Washington's 24th consecutive victory.

Gallovits-Hall was making her Kastles' debut, coming on board through the rest of the season to fill in for Arina Rodionova as she recovers from a left wrist injury, and then Anastasia Rodionova once she leaves for the Olympics.

The Romanian couldn't have asked for a better welcoming party, saving two set points on her serve to clinch the women's doubles set in dramatic fashion 5-4(4).

MS - Smith (OCB) def. Reynolds (WAS) 5-4(3)

Before the match was moved indoors, Reynolds used the warm-up time before the first set to practice returns off of Coach Murphy Jensen 's serve, trying to get accustomed to the delivery of a left-hander.

It was with good reason, because Orange County's John Patrick Smith is a southpaw on the rise, having won his first ATP Challenger Tour championship earlier this month.

Smith beat Reynolds en route to that title before the Kastle avenged himself against the Breaker in Orange County on July 9th.

On an unseasonably cool and windy night, Reynolds won a 3-all point to hold before Smith hit four unreturnable serves for 1-1.

In the next game, Reynolds rallied from 0-3 to 3-all by directing his serves to Smith's two-handed backhand. But when he went that direction again on the deciding point, Smith made him pay with a well-angled inside-out return, drawing an error and gaining the break.

Smith changed ends with a 3-1 lead after he hit three big first serves to save three break points. But after acing Smith to hold for 2-3, Reynolds broke back with the shot of the season at Kastles Stadium: an on-the-run, down-the-line backhand passing shot winner winner that whizzed by Smith after the Breaker had hit a textbook volley into what he thought was the open court.

Following holds by both players, the tiebreak followed the pattern of the set: Smith breaking first with a running lob winner and Reynolds breaking back when Smith sprayed a forehand wide.

From 3-3, Smith aggressively approached the net on back-to-back points and was rewarded with the first set on two forced errors from Reynolds.

Orange County leads 5-4.

WS - An. Rodionova (WAS) def. Groenefeld (OCB) 5-2

Anastasia Rodionova fell to Anna-Lena Groenefeld 5-3 in the first match of the season, but much has changed since then.

On a hot streak that saw her lead the Kastles to an overtime win on Wednesday, Rodionova broke serve at 3-all in the first game when Groenefeld double-faulted.

It was a sign of nerves that Groenefeld never shook over the course of the night.

At 2-1 in the set, Rodionova saved the only two break points she faced on her serve with an ace out wide followed by a crosscourt backhand that forced a Groenefeld error.

After hitting two straight winners to hold for 4-2, Rodionova benefited again from Groenefeld's service woes. The German double-faulted three times to gift a second break to Rodionova, allowing the Aussie to win the set 5-2 and reclaim the lead for Washington.

Washington leads 9-7.

MD - Paes/Reynolds (WAS) def. Parrott/Smith (OCB) 5-0

The Kastles' strongest set of the season has been men's doubles, with veterans Reynolds and Leander Paes holding an edge over the opposition in chemistry, experience and sheer talent. That was the case again on Friday night as the Kastles' duo dominated a rising Orange County team.

Paes proved as much on the first two points of Friday's set, flying around the front-court for a pair of lightning-fast backhand volley winners. After holding serve to start the set, Reynolds converted a break point for the Kastles with a backhand passing shot that Smith let go -- the ball landing smack on the baseline to give the Kastles an early break.

Paes followed by holding for 3-0 and the Kastles increased their lead to 4-0 moments later with the formula that has worked magic for them all season: Reynolds dipping a return at Parrott's feet, allowing Paes to dash to the middle of the court and put away a high volley.

With Reynolds serving for the set, Smith almost single-handedly won a scintillating point by retrieving back-to-back overhead smashes by the Kastles. That didn't stop Reynolds from opening up a 3-1 lead in the game.

Now holding three set points, Reynolds and Paes were denied the chance to finish the set by rain, forcing the teams to flee the court.

After about 30 minutes, a decision was made to move the match indoors to East Potomac Tennis Center.

Once players and fans made the short trip to Hains Point, Paes punched a volley winner on the first point of the resumption to win the set 5-0. Hundreds of rowdy Kastles fans erupted at the end of the set, creating an intimate and intense atmosphere unlike any other in World TeamTennis.

Washington leads 14-7.

WD - Gallovits-Hall/An. Rodionova (WAS) def. Groenefeld/Juricova (OCB) 5-4(4)

The energy inside the East Potomac Tennis Center only got more electric during women's doubles, which made for an ideal Kastles' debut for Gallovits-Hall

With music playing, placards waving and mascots dancing all around her, Gallovits-Hall brought fans to their feet with a reflex volley winner in the first game.

Though the Breakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the set, the Kastles broke back immediately on Juricova's serve.

In Gallovits-Hall's first service game, the Romanian saved a pair of break points: the first by blasting a backhand approach at Juricova and the second when Groenefeld missed a backhand of her own.

The Kastles kept rolling through the next two games, Rodionova punished ball after ball deep into the Breakers' side of the court, forcing errors to open up a 4-2 lead after breaking Groenefeld and holding her serve.

But in each of the following two games, the Breakers won 3-all deciding points, forcing a tiebreak and making the match score 18-11.

In a scene that couldn't have been scripted any better, the set ended up on Gallovits-Hall's racquet with the tiebreak even at 3-3 and the newest Kastle due to serve the final three points.

Groenefeld stole the first point for the Breakers by bashing a down-the-line forehand winner past Rodionova. Gallovits-Hall responded with a low forehand that forced a Juricova volley long.

With the set and tiebreak both even at 4-4, the women who won the following point would clinch the event. In the end, it was Groenefeld who broke down, netting a backhand that gave Gallovits-Hall a win in her first set as a Kastle.

Washington leads 19-11.

MXD - Paes/An. Rodionova (WAS) def. Parrott/Juricova (OCB) 5-2

As the rain fell outdoors, the fans rose indoors to cheer on the top-ranked mixed doubles team in the league: Paes and Rodionova.

Groenefeld got the nod to start the set alongside Parrott, but after Paes hit sharp forehand angles to win each of the first two games, Juricova entered as a substitute.

Who played on the Breakers' side of the court made little difference as Rodionova and Paes continued holding serve with ease until Rodionova served the set out at love for a 5-2 victory.

Following the win, Coach Jensen grabbed hold of a microphone and saluted the loyal Kastles' fans who followed the team from the Southwest Waterfront to Hains Point, roaring with everything they had as the Kastles captured their 24th consecutive victory.

In the Eastern Conference standings, Washington now leads third-place Philadelphia by 4.5 games. That means that all the Kastles have to do to clinch a spot in WTT Championship Weekend September 14-16 is win two of their six remaining matches.

After winning 24 in a row, the Kastles could book their trip to Charleston, S.C., as soon as Sunday evening at home against Kansas City.

Venus Williams will lead the team in that match and a few box seats were just released. Call 202-4-TENNIS (202-483-6647) or E-mail us at info@washingtonkastles.com to get your hands on the last remaining tickets to the nationally-televised meeting between the Kastles and Explorers.

Washington wins 24-13.

Washington Kastles at New York Sportimes Preview

Live Streaming Tonight at 7:30 pm!

Washington Kastles (8-0) at New York Sportimes (6-2)

Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Live Streaming: WashingtonKastles.com

Real-Time Analysis: Facebook, Twitter

All-Time: Kastles lead Sportimes 8-4.

Last Meeting: Kastles def. Sportimes 20-18 on July 12, 2012 (Home)

Tune in tonight at 7:30 pm on WashingtonKastles.com for live streaming of the greatest grudge match in World TeamTennis: the Washington Kastles vs. New York Sportimes.

It's Round 2 of 3 meetings between the Eastern Conference rivals this season, with Washington narrowly edging New York 20-18 in DC on July 12th.

The teams will meet again on Wednesday night in New York City, when John McEnore joins the Sportimes' effort to end the Kastles' historic winning streak.

As for tonight, Venus Williams is excited about returning for her second of three Kastles' matches this season. She led the Kastles to a 20-11 rout over the Boston Lobsters on Monday.

Venus tweeted on Wednesday: "So glad to get the win on Monday night for my team the @washkastles! Keep up the winning streak team and see you in New York on Saturday!"

With Venus in the Kastles' lineup, odds are on Washington's side for wins No. 25 and 26 in a row the next two nights. The Kastles are 6-0 all-time when Venus plays for the team.

Venus will travel back to DC with the team for Sunday's nationally-televised match against the Kansas City Explorers. A very small number of box seats have been released and are available to that match, but only by calling 202-4-TENNIS (202-483-6647) or E-mailing info@washingtonkastles.com.

Call early as these tickets will surely sell out quickly.

PROJECTED MATCH-UPS

MS: Bobby Reynolds (WAS) vs. Jesse Witten (NYS)

WS: Anastasia Rodionova (WAS) vs. Martina Hingis (NYS)

MD: Reynolds/Leander Paes (WAS) vs. Witten/Robert Kendrick (NYS)

WD: An. Rodionova/Venus Williams(WAS) vs. Hingis/Ashley Harkleroad (NYS)

MXD: Paes/Williams (WAS) vs. Kendrick/Hingis (NYS)

Venus Williams returns for back-to-back matches with the Kastles starting tonight.

(Photo by Willis Bretz)

SET BY SET

Men's Singles

Bobby Reynolds ' 5-4(1) win over Jesse Witten on July 12th gave the Kastle a 4-2 advantage in WTT head-to-head match-ups against his fellow American. Witten is a go-for-broke player who, when on his game, can defeat anybody in the league. But Reynolds has the ability to play the percentages or with all-out aggression. His versatility and improved serve should prove to be advantages tonight.

Women's Singles

Kastles' coach Murphy Jensen may shy away from playing Venus Williams in three sets tonight, with the five-time Wimbledon champion also due to compete in DC tomorrow night. If Venus sits out a set, expect it to be women's singles. As a junior player, Anastasia Rodionova admired Martina Hingis, and tonight she may get a chance for revenge. Hingis defeated Rodionova 5-2 on July 12th.

Men's Doubles

Reynolds and Leander Paes have never lost to the veteran Sportimes' duo of Witten and Robert Kendrick, sweeping three tiebreakers in 2010 before blanking them 5-0 on July 12th. With Venus providing a boost to the Kastles in other sets, the Sportimes are in for a long night if they lose men's doubles convincingly again. For the second straight season, Reynolds and Paes are the top-ranked team in the league.

Women's Doubles

New York defeated Washington 5-3 in women's doubles on July 12th, but that was without Venus, a 13-time Grand Slam women's doubles champion, in the Kastles' lineup. Venus and Anastasia Rodionova dominated in their debut on Monday, overpowering Irina Falconi and Carly Gullickson-Eagle of Boston 5-1. Venus and Rodionova have an edge in power again tonight over Hingis and Ashley Harkleroad.

Mixed Doubles

Hingis and Kendrick served for the mixed doubles set against the Kastles in the teams' first meeting this season. The Kastles broke Hingis, and then won a tiebreaker. As in women's doubles, mixed doubles tonight will be a whole 'nother story if Venus Williams is on the court with Paes. Her intimidating presence at the net sparked the Kastles to a 5-1 mixed doubles win against Boston on Monday.

KEY FOR THE KASTLES - EXPECT THEIR BEST

The greatest rivalry in World TeamTennis hasn't been much of a rivalry of late, with Washington winning five straight matches against New York.

That must be wearing on the Sportimes' players who have all been a part of the team's losing streak to Washington.

The Sportimes get two more chances to end that trend this season: one tonight in Albany, and then again on Wednesday in New York City.

If the Kastles win tonight, they will inch even close to clinching the No. 1 seed in the WTT playoffs. But the Sportimes are still in the hunt for the Eastern Conference regular season title, so the Kastles should expect a spirited effort from their familiar opponents.

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