WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Edge Sportimes 21-20 with Thrilling Final-Set Comeback

Published on July 21, 2013 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Oops, we did it again!

The Washington Kastles extended their dominance against the New York Sportimes on Saturday, picking up a 10th straight win against their Eastern Conference rivals 21-20 in predictably unpredictable fashion.

With the support of more than 2,600 raucous fans at a sold-out Kastles Stadium, the Kastles were inspired to their 10th one-game victory in as many matches since 2010. Four of those wins have come against the Sportimes, who have grown accustomed to falling short in frantic finishes against the Kastles.

Down 14-11 at halftime, Washington (8-2) rallied behind wins in women's doubles and men's doubles in the final two sets to extend its lead in the Eastern Conference standings.

With one more victory in any of their four remaining matches, the Kastles will secure not just a Mylan WTT Playoff spot, but home court advantage throughout the postseason. They get their first shot at clinching tonight at 6 pm in a road match against the Boston Lobsters.

One win would put the Eastern Conference Championship match on the Southwest Waterfront this Thursday at 7 pm. If the Kastles were to win that match, Washington would then host the Mylan WTT Finals on Sunday, July 28 at 5 pm.

More information on the playoff matches is available below, with tickets on sale for as little as $15 at Ticketmaster.com.

Over the course of their 10 straight victories over New York (4-6), the Kastles have saved 10 match points. None were needed on Saturday, but the fifth straight capacity crowd at Kastles Stadium was treated to high-drama nevertheless.

Bobby Reynolds improved to 6-0 in singles with a 5-4 win over longtime rival Jesse Witten, but the Sportimes rebounded in a big way when Anna-Lena Groenefeld handed Martina Hingis her first singles loss 5-2.

Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke extended New York's lead to 14-11 with a 5-4 win in mixed doubles before the Kastles began their comeback.

In a set the Kastles had to have, Hingis and Anastasia Rodionova won women's doubles 5-4 over Wimbledon semifinalists Peschke and Groenefeld to cut the Sportimes' advantage to 18-16. Rodionova's play was pivotal on a night in which Hingis was not at her best.

Then, with the overflow crowd on its feet for much of the final set, Reynolds and Kastles substitute Rajeev Ram earned a key service break early, then served out the set 5-2 to clinch Washington's 21-20 victory.

MS - B. Reynolds (WAS) def. J. Witten (NYS) 5-4

Reynolds continued his perfect start in singles with a 5-4 win over Witten -- his fourth victory in a tiebreaker in six sets this season.

The Americans, who go back over a decade to when they were SEC rivals, exchanged breaks in the first two games. The Kentucky alum Witten took a 1-0 lead on a down-the-line backhand winner, but Reynolds of Vanderbilt got it right back on a double fault.

The set stayed on serve from that point as Reynolds racked up six aces en route to a tiebreaker. He kept that big serving up to take a 4-2 lead and earn three set points.

After Witten saved the first with a service winner, he and Reynolds engaged in the longest rally of the set.

The Kastles closer dictated from the start, pounding away at Witten's backhand before testing him on the forehand side. That opened up the backhand for a down-the-line approach, which Witten couldn't handle.

Reynolds improves to 7-3 all-time in WTT singles sets against Witten.

SCORE: Washington 5, New York 4

WS - A. Groenefeld (NYS) def. M. Hingis (WAS) 5-2

It was a story of two sets for Groenefeld on Saturday. Her evening started exceptionally well as she bashed backhands and brushed baselines to upset the previously undefeated Hingis 5-2.

Groenefeld won back-to-back 3-all points to begin the set, breaking off of a powerful forehand, then hitting a crosscourt backhand with so much angle that Hingis lost the handle on her racquet when she attempted to retrieve it.

Even when Groenefeld broke her string during one rally, she approached the net and finished the point with a put-away volley. The former Top 20 singles player from Germany could simply do no wrong.

After a Hingis hold, Groenefeld made it 3-1 with a drop shot/lob combination that Kastles fans have grown accustomed to seeing from their Hall of Famer.

In her next service game, Groenefeld took a 4-2 lead with a down-the-line backhand winner, pumping her fist towards the Sportimes bench thereafter.

With Hingis serving next, the Swiss started to show her frustration, whacking a ball up into the air after Groenefeld passed her with a down-the-line forehand.

Groenefeld completed her virtuoso performance by moving Hingis side to side with hard-hit groundstrokes before drawing an error. Unfortunately for the Sportimes, she would not maintain the same level two sets later.

SCORE: New York 9, Washington 7

MXD - R. Kendrick/K. Peschke (NYS) def. R. Ram/M. Hingis (WAS) 5-4

Within one game, Ram instantly became a fan favorite in his Kastles Stadium debut, rallying from 0-2 with four big first serves to hold for a 1-0 lead in mixed doubles.

But the Kastles were broken in their next service game after a unique play that can only be found in Mylan WTT. A Hingis serve to Peschke clipped off the net cord and into the box, but it was Robert Kendrick who cut across the court to take the return and hit the short ball for a winner.

Hingis recovered the break for the Kastles only one game later with a picturesque lob.

The pattern with both men holding and both women being broken would repeat itself in the set. After holds by Ram and Kendrick, Hingis was broken after two uncharacteristic double faults.

Serving at 4-3, Peschke earned two set points for the Sportimes. She missed a backhand on the first, then landed what looked to be a strong first serve on the deciding 3-all point.

But Hingis read it perfectly and directed her return around the poaching Kendrick to draw a Peschke error.

It was a crucial game for the Kastles in the overall score, and when the tiebreak arrived at a winner-take-all 4-4 point, Washington had a chance to cut New York's lead to one going into halftime.

Instead, Hingis and Ram were unlucky when Peschke hit a half-volley that dribbled off the net cord for a winner.

SCORE: New York 14, Washington 11

WD - M. Hingis/A. Rodionova (WAS) def. A. Groenefeld/K. Peschke (NYS) 5-4

Through four games of the women's doubles set, little separated Hingis and Rodionova from Wimbledon doubles semifinalists Peschke and Groenefeld.

Rodionova held on a 3-all point to start the set, only for Groenefeld to win a 3-all point on her serve in the very next game.

The set stayed on serve until 2-3, when Groenefeld dug herself into an 0-3 hole following winners by both Hingis and Rodionova. The German staged a rally with two service winners and a phenomenal point to reach 3-all in which she scrambled to shot after shot as the Kastles kept the ball away from the former World No. 1 Peschke.

But on the deciding 3-all point, Groenefeld hit her fourth double fault of the set, slamming her Head racquet to the court in frustration as Washington took a 4-2 lead.

With Hingis serving for the set, Peschke appeared to hit a return long. When the ball was called good, the Kastles bench and their capacity crowd jeered the officials.

The point proved pivotal as the game ended up at 3-all, with the Sportimes breaking after Groenefeld retrieved a well-angled Rodionova volley with an out-of-the-ordinary one-handed backhand. Hingis got that ball back, but Peschke was waiting for it and put a volley away. Peschke then enjoyed an easy hold to force a tiebreaker.

The difference between being down two games and three going into the final set was huge for the Kastles, who would be serving first in the men's doubles finale.

Hingis and Rodionova played like it in their tiebreaker, jumping out to a 3-1 lead on two nice serves from Rodionova and a fifth double fault by Groenefeld.

Serving at 3-1, Hingis hit an improvised backhand volley lob off a Peschke shot that clipped the net cord, then followed that with two strong overheads to give Washington four set points.

The Kastles would only need one as Rodionova hit a volley winner to set up yet another dramatic finish between the Kastles and Sportimes.

SCORE: New York 18, Washington 16

MD - R. Ram/B. Reynolds (WAS) def. R. Kendrick/J. Witten (NYS) 5-2

With the luxury of serving first in the fifth set, the Kastles could defeat the Sportimes outright if they held in each of their service games and broke the Sportimes in one of their first three.

But the script started shaky when Reynolds lost the first two points of the set on his serve. The Kastles closer was not rattled, however, winning the next four points and claiming the game when Ram slammed an overhead winner.

Kendrick and Ram followed with love holds before Witten found himself in trouble on his serve. Ram dipped a crosscourt forehand return at his feet to set Reynolds up with a break point.

As if he watched what Ram did and wanted to try it for himself, Reynolds dipped a crosscourt forehand return of his own that Witten couldn't scoop off the court.

The sold-out crowd rose as one as Washington took a 3-1 lead in the set and tied the match at 19-19. The fans never sat back down as Reynolds hit not one, not two, not three, but four straight service winners to give Washington a 20-19 lead.

Though Kendrick would tie the score back up at 20-20, the Kastles were in prime position to clinch a victory with the 6-foot-4 Ram due to serve.

Three perfect volleys by Reynolds off three great serves by Ram gave the Kastles quadruple-break point.

Ram soaked in the roars of the capacity crowd, waving his arms for them to get even higher off of their feet. His service winner past Kendrick gave Washington its sixth straight win overall and inched the Kastles closer to qualifying for the postseason with home court advantage.

Kastles Playoff Update - 1 Win to Clinch Home Court!

Tickets On Sale Now for Potential Playoff Matches July 25-28

Following the Kastles' victory over the New York Sportimes on Saturday, they now boast a 4-match lead in the Eastern Conference standings with 4 matches remaining during the regular season.

That means that the 8-2 Kastles could secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and home court advantage throughout the Mylan WTT Playoffs with one more win. They get their first chance to clinch on the road tonight against the Boston Lobsters.

When and if the Kastles clinch, Kastles Stadium at The Wharf will host the Eastern Conference Championship match this Thursday at 7 pm. If the Kastles win that match, the Mylan WTT Finals will be played on the Southwest Waterfront at 5 pm on Sunday, July 28.

Seats to those matches are now on sale through Ticketmaster.com, with Grandstands priced at $15 each and Chairbacks at $35.

There are also a limited number of four-seat Dinner Tables ($500), Premier Courtside Boxes ($250) and Kastles Boxes ($100) available on both nights. The only way to purchase tables and boxes is by contacting Kastles ticket representative John Coleman at 202-654-7047 or john@washingtonkastles.com.

In the event that the Kastles do not host either or both of the playoff matches, customers will receive a full refund. There's no reason to wait; secure your seats for the postseason right now!

The first five Kastles home matches this season have sold ou t, and there are only a couple hundred seats remaining to the final two home matches of the regular season on July 22 and 24.

We encourage you to get your tickets early on Ticketmaster.com for the potential playoff matches on July 25 and 28 . You won't want to miss history in the making and the thrill of cheering on your Kastles as they play for their third straight King Trophy in front of their hometown crowd!

Washington Kastles at Boston Lobsters Preview

Kastles Clinch Home Court Advantage with Win Over Lobsters

Washington Kastles (8-2) at Boston Lobsters (4-6)

Sunday, July 21 at 6 pm

All-Time: Kastles lead Lobsters 8-4

Last Meeting: Kastles def. Lobsters 23-18 on July 15, 2013 (Boston, MA)

Live Scoring: WashingtonKastles.com

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

Washington can clinch home court advantage throughout the Mylan WTT Playoffs with a win tonight in Boston.

The Kastles have defeated the Lobsters on seven straight occasions dating back to July 22, 2010, including a 23-18 victory in Boston just six days ago.

The Lobsters have plenty to play for as well. At 4-6, they are in a three-way tie with the New York Sportimes and Philadelphia Freedoms for second place in the Eastern Conference.

All three teams are battling for the right to potentially meet the Kastles in the Eastern Conference Championship match on Thursday evening.

Washington is without team captain Leander Paes for a third consecutive match as he recovers from a hamstring injury. He will be replaced by 2012 Wimbledon men's doubles champion Frederik Nielsen, who is ranked No. 39 in the world in doubles.

Rajeev Ram, who substituted for Paes in the previous two Kastles matches, is traveling to Georgia to begin preparing for next week's BB&T Atlanta Open.

Be the first to know if Washington qualifies for the playoffs by following all of tonight's action via live scoring at WashingtonKastles.com. And be sure to join the conversation throughout the evening on Facebook and Twitter.

SET-BY-SET PROJECTIONS

MS - B. Reynolds (WAS) vs. A. Weintraub (BOS)

Bobby Reynolds and Amir Weintraub have yet to meet in two Kastles vs. Lobsters matches this season, with Kevin Anderson competing for the Kastles on July 9 and Mark Philippoussis representing the Lobsters on July 15. They have played once before on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2011, and when Weintraub was a member of the Springfield Lasers in 2012. Reynolds won both of those meetings.

WS - M. Hingis (WAS) vs. J. Craybas (BOS)

Already in 2013, Martina Hingis has defeated Jill Craybas 5-2 in DC and 5-3 in Boston. Their last meeting on July 15 was a thriller, including an unforgettable 37-shot rally on a 3-all point won by Craybas. But it was Hingis who won the war. Craybas was much more aggressive the last time out, so the Kastles' MVP candidate will be on her toes from the get-go as she seeks win No. 3 against the 5-foot-3 Lobster.

MD - F. Nielsen/B. Reynolds (WAS) vs. E. Butorac/A. Weintraub (BOS)

The newest Kastle Nielsen rose to fame last summer in London, where he and Jonathan Marray became the first wild cards to capture the Wimbledon men's doubles championship. They won four five-set matches and beat Bob and Mike Bryan en route to an unlikely title. Nielsen has never partnered with Reynolds before, and with Mylan WTT's first-to-five format, they will need to mesh quickly.

WD - M. Hingis/A. Rodionova (WAS) vs. J. Craybas/K. Marosi (BOS)

Earlier this season, the Kastles' duo of Hingis and Anastasia Rodionova defeated Craybas and Katalin Marosi 5-2 in Washington and 5-3 in Boston. Same players, different day, so the Washington women should be weary, yet confident at the same time. After a slow start to the season, Coach Jensen will hope that Rodionova and Hingis continue their recent roll leading into the playoffs.

MXD - F. Nielsen/M. Hingis (WAS) vs. E. Butorac/K. Marosi (BOS)

So far in 2013, Hingis has shared the court with Paes, Ram and Kevin Anderson in mixed doubles. Tonight, she adds a fourth partner to the list in Nielsen, but it shouldn't matter much. Hingis is 6-1 in mixed doubles this season, including victories of 5-3 and 5-4 with Paes over Marosi and Eric Butorac. Nielsen has played mixed doubles at all three Grand Slams in 2013, most recently reaching the third round at Wimbledon.

KEY FOR THE KASTLES - NO PAES, NO PROBLEM

Despite his obvious importance to the team, the Kastles are 6-0 in matches without Paes in the lineup going back to last season.

Treat Huey stepped in admirably for four matches in 2012, and Ram proved more than capable of filling the void on Friday and Saturday.

In winning 40 of their last 42 matches, Washington has done a wonderful job persevering regardless of circumstance.

Tonight, the Kastles add another suitable substitute to their all-time roster in Nielsen. With a culture that breeds winning and togetherness, the Kastles are in great shape to clinch home court advantage.

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