WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Streak Grows to 19 with 20-18 Win over NY

July 13, 2012 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


It's safe to say that there are few places Bobby Reynolds would rather be than playing the final set at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf.

With the Kastles clinging to a one-game lead over the New York Sportimes, Reynolds took complete control of a fifth-set tiebreak against Jesse Witten to close out the Kastles' 19th consecutive victory, 20-18. The big-serving Reynolds brought Kastles' fans to their feet when he clinched match point for the 13th-time during Washington's record winning streak.

Though the Kastles fell in women's singles and women's doubles against the formidable talents of former World No. 1 Martina Hingis, Washington dominated when Reynolds or Leander Paes was on the court.

Paes and Anastasia Rodionova began the evening by picking up their third straight victory this season in mixed doubles, rallying from a break down to defeat Hingis and Robert Kendrick 5-4(1). Later, in men's doubles, Paes and Reynolds provided Washington with a much-needed perfect performance, shutting out Kendrick and Witten with a rare 5-0 men's doubles set.

Before the match began, Paes, Reynolds, Arina Rodionova and Coach Murphy Jensen were presented championship rings in honor of the Kastles' 2011 perfect season. Rennae Stubbs was also recognized during a halftime ceremony with a ring and a special gift for her major role in leading Washington to two World TeamTennis titles and a perfect season.

MXD - Paes/Anastasia Rodionova (WAS) def. Kendrick/Hingis (NYS) 5-4(1)

Coach Jensen elected to begin the Kastles' home opener with the set that Washington dominated in its first two matches on the road: Paes and Anastasia Rodionova playing mixed doubles.

After three service holds to start the set, the Kastles reached a 3-all deciding point on Hingis' serve. But the Swiss star served up a winner to even the set at 2-2.

The Sportimes maintained their momentum in the following game, with Kendrick blasting a passing shot winner to get to 3-all on Paes' serve.

Kendrick's intentions were clear on break point as he nailed a return right at Rodionova. The Kastle did well to block back a volley, but when Kendrick lasered another shot at her, her reply landed long.

Strong serving from Rodionova and net play from Paes kept the Kastles alive, with the newest member of the Washington roster winning all 10 of her service points.

The hard work of Rodionova and Paes paid off with Hingis serving for the set at 4-3. On break point for the Kastles, Kendrick stretched for a volley off of a Paes passing shot and was ruled to have touched the net with his foot, giving the point to Washington and setting the stage for a tiebreaker.

The Sportimes argued vehemently that no contact with the net was made, and they never regained their momentum. Paes struck three winners in the tiebreaker, including a picture-perfect lob that landed on the baseline, and a backhand volley past both Sportimes to take the set 5-4(1).

Washington leads 5-4.

WD - Hingis/Harkleroad (NYS) def. Anastasia Rodionova/Arina Rodionova (WAS) 5-3

As she did in mixed doubles, Anastasia Rodionova protected her serve well in women's doubles. After Hingis held to open the set, Anastasia saved three break points on her serve, winning the 3-all point by out-rallying the 15-time Grand Slam champion from the baseline.

But little sister Arina Rodionova struggled to regain the form that earned her accolades as the 2011 WTT Female Rookie of the Year and Finals MVP. She won only one of nine points on her serve.

Arina was broken twice, the second time coming with the Kastles trailing 3-4, allowing New York to capture the set.

New York leads 9-8.

Leander Paes has picked up with Anastasia Rodionova right where he left off with Rennae Stubbs.

MD - Paes/Reynolds (WAS) def. Kendrick/Witten (NYS) 5-0

While Reynolds may have clinched victory for the Kastles in men's singles, it was his and Paes' play in men's doubles that truly made it possible for the Kastles to continue their winning streak.

The Kastles' dynamic duo did not face a break point in the set, with Reynolds slamming strong serves and Paes dissecting the Sportimes with accurate volleys.

On the Sportimes' serves, Washington provided a returning clinic to the nearly 2,500 rowdy fans in attendance at a full Kastles Stadium. Repeatedly, Reynolds dipped returns at the feet of the server, drawing a volley that hung in the air high enough for Paes to attack at the net for a winner.

After Reynolds held, the Kastles' return strategy paid off when Washington broke Kendrick for a 2-0 lead. Then, following a Paes hold, Reynolds once again placed his return at the feet of the server to set Paes up for a put-away volley, giving Washington a 4-0 advantage.

The set was over almost as fast as it started in the next game when Kendrick netted a forehand. After a shocking men's doubles loss in Springfield on Wednesday night, Paes and Reynolds rebounded in the best imaginable way.

Washington leads 13-9.

WS - Hingis (NYS) def. Anastasia Rodionova (WAS) 5-2

Playing her idol while she was a junior player, Anastasia Rodionova opened the women's doubles set in great form, blasting a pair of backhand winners to hold in her first service game.

The Kastle held again for 2-2 with heavy hitting that forced Hingis into mistiming her shots and hitting long.

But when Rodionova failed to convert three break point opportunities at 2-2, the set started slipping through her fingers.

As Rodionova struggled to control her strokes, Hingis reigned hers in. The Swiss won the last 11 points of the set to silence the crowd and bring the Sportimes within one game of stealing the match.

Washington leads 15-14.

MS - Reynolds (WAS) def. Witten (NYS) 5-4(1)

Former All-Americans Reynolds and Witten would decide the latest chapter in the Washington-New York rivalry, playing for the 14th time since they were competitors in the SEC.

After the ex-Vanderbilt star Reynolds held to open the set, the Kentucky alum Witten conceded a break on his serve with an unforced error off his forehand. He reacted by launching a ball out of Kastles Stadium, drawing the Sportimes' second code violation and a point penalty along with it.

That moment of weakness actually appeared to empower Witten, who hit a pair of groundstroke winners in the third game to break back against the Kastles' closer.

Witten went on to hold for 2-2 in the set, and pushed Reynolds to a 3-all deciding point in the Kastles' next service game. After the fans chanted, "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby," Reynolds ran around his backhand for an inside-out forehand that landed deep in Witten's side of the court, drawing an error from the former Wildcat.

Having held his serve at a crucial moment, Reynolds let out a burst of emotion, bringing the capacity crowd to its feet.

To Witten's credit, he kept his composure and evened the set at 3-3 by holding at love. The Sportime jumped out to an 0-2 advantage in the 3-3 game, prompting Coach Jensen to call a timeout and offer encouragement to Reynolds.

Whatever Coach Jensen said worked, because Reynolds followed the timeout with a volley winner, service winner and two aces to take a 4-3 lead.

Witten held again to force a tiebreaker at 4-4. With the match score now Kastles 19, Sportimes 18, a Witten victory in the tiebreaker would force a winner-take-all Supertiebreaker, while a Reynolds victory would end the match in favor of Washington.

Reynolds opened the tiebreaker with a 3-0 lead thanks to an unreturnable serve, an overhead winner and a crisp down-the-line backhand beyond Witten's reach.

Though Witten won the fourth point on his serve, Reynolds ran him ragged at 3-1, forcing the Sportime into a forehand error as he nearly collided into a lineswoman 10 feet behind the baseline.

With the crowd back on its feet, match point was on Reynolds' racquet, as it's been so many times during the Kastles' winning streak. The Kastles' closer finished Witten off with a body serve that the Sportime failed to return. As Witten smashed his racquet to the court, the Kastles celebrated their fifth consecutive win over New York.

Reynolds and company return to the Southwest Waterfront Sunday at 7 pm for USTA/Family Night against the Philadelphia Freedoms. Tickets start at only $15 and are available at Ticketmaster.com. Seats for this and all Kastles matches are going very fast, and most matches sell out, so don't wait!

Washington wins 20-18.



World TeamTennis Stories from July 13, 2012


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