WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Players at Citi Open

Published on July 17, 2016 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Sam Querrey, Madison Brengle, and Sam Groth are all returning to DC this week to compete in the Citi Open. All three players are hoping to use the success of their respective grass court seasons and their supportive DC Kastles fans to create some momentum going into the WTT season.

Sam Querrey, who is seeded eighth in the singles draw, receives a bye into the second round where he faces the winner of Bjorn Fratangelo and a qualifier. Querrey faced Fratangelo in the first round of this years French Open, where the up and coming 22 year old American scored the upset, defeating Querrey 6-4, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3. Though the players have never met on hard courts, which is a much stronger surface for Querrey than the red clay of Roland Garros. If he advances he will most likely face Alexandr Dolgopolov, who won the Citi Open in 2012. Querrey has won two of the three matches he and Dolgopolov have played. His lone defeat came in DC in 2012 when Dolgopolov went on to win the tournament. Also lurking in Querrey's half of the draw is the no. 2 seed, athletic frenchman Gael Monfils.

Sam Groth will be joining his new Kastles teammates in DC, coming off winning the doubles title in Newport yesterday. In the first round, Groth faces American Brian Baker. Though the two players have never met, Groth will look to use his big serve to power his way into the second round. There, he would face Ivo Karlovic who might be the only other player on tour whose serve is as formidable as Groths. If Groth beats Karlovic, fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic will most likely be waiting for him. Also in Groth's half of the draw are Americans Jack Sock and John Isner, who are currently coming off big wins in the Davis Cup Quarterfinals.

Querrey will also team up with Chris Guccione in the Doubles draw. Guccione teamed up with the newest Kastle Sam Groth to win the doubles title in Newport yesterday. The duo will face Eric Butorac and Scott Lipsky (Orange County Breakers) in the first round.

Madison Brengle is unseeded in the women's singles draw, but is coming off the most successful grass court season of her career. In the first round, Brengle faces Yanina Wickmayer. Brengle has a 1-1 record against Wickmayer, but the players haven't faced each other since 2014 (a 6-4, 6-2 win for Wickmayer) and both times were on the slow clay courts. Brengle would then face the winner of Shuai Zhang and a qualifier. Brengle and Zhang have never faced each other during their careers. If Brengle advances to the third round, she will most likely face the hard-serving Sabine Lisicki. Also in Brengle's half of the draw is former Kastle Sloane Stephens, who is seeded second.

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World TeamTennis Stories from July 17, 2016


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