WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles vs. Freedoms Tonight for Eastern Conference Title

July 24, 2014 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


The road to the King Trophy runs through the Smith Center tonight as the Washington Kastles seek a fourth consecutive Eastern Conference Championship against the Philadelphia Freedoms.

The Kastles are coming off their second sell-out of the season on Tuesday, defeating the Springfield Lasers 23-15 in front of First Lady Michelle Obama and 3,274 other fans.

You won't want to miss another electric atmosphere as Washington plays for a place in the Mylan WTT Finals.

Tickets to tonight's playoff match start at $15 and are going fast at the Smith Center box office and Ticketmaster.com. Don't wait any longer to secure your seats to see history in the making.

Kastles and Freedoms players couldn't be more familiar with one another after four head-to-head matches this season.

Washington defeated Philadelphia 25-10 on July 10 and 23-14 on July 13 in matches played at Smith Center. When Philadelphia hosted Washington, the Freedoms beat the Kastles 22-15 on July 17 and 21-20 in a Supertiebreaker thriller last night.

Very little separates the Kastles and Freedoms on tour too.

Leander Paes (No. 13), Anastasia Rodionova (No. 20), Marcelo Melo (No. 7) and Liezel Huber (No. 28) are among the highest-ranked doubles players in the world

Bobby Reynolds and Frank Dancevic, meanwhile, have met 13 times on tour and three times in WTT play with Reynolds leading their rivalry 9-7.

The biggest gap between the two teams comes in women's singles, where Washington boasts five-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Hingis and Philadelphia features 18-year-old Taylor Townsend. In their three head-to-head sets this season, Hingis won 5-0, 5-1 and 5-2.

Will D.C.'s dynasty capture another championship or will the upstart Freedoms upset the Kastles? Find out for yourself by buying your ticket now.

If you can't make it to the match, enjoy live streaming beginning at 7 pm on ESPN3.com and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

SET-BY-SET PROJECTIONS

MS - B. Reynolds (WAS) vs. F. Dancevic (PHL)

Through 16 head-to-head meetings over the last 10 years, Reynolds and Dancevic know one another like the back of their hand. When they met on July 13 at the Smith Center, Reynolds approached off Dancevic's one-handed backhand time and again for a 5-1 win. Four days later in Philadelphia, however, Dancevic won 5-2 by attacking the net often. In the rubber set last night, Reynolds served spectacularly for a 5-3 victory.

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

Townsend swept three games from Venus Williams, then two from a substituting Rodionova, when the Kastles met the Freedoms in Philadelphia on July 17. But when the talented teen has gone up against the crafty Hingis, it's been a different story all together. Hitting balls on the rise and varying her spins, Hingis has rattled Townsend by taking time away from her. The game plan doesn't change with the East title on the line.

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

The Kastles' and Freedoms' men's doubles teams split their four sets this season, which should come as no surprise. Doubles stars Paes and Melo are also 4-4 against one another in ATP matches and 1-1 in Grand Slam mixed doubles matches. Melo eliminated Paes from the Wimbledon men's doubles draw in 2012 and 2013 after Paes triumphed over Melo in the 2010 Wimbledon mixed doubles final. Don't miss what happens next.

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

When Hingis and Rodionova joined forces in 2013, it took some time for the Kastles to click. They started 2-3, but have been on a remarkable roll ever since. Hingis and Rodionova are 14-2 in their last 16 sets, including three victories over Townsend and Huber this season. With Hingis angling opponents off the court and Rodionova cutting off volleys at the net, the Kastles now boast the women's doubles team to beat in WTT.

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

As sensational as Hingis has been with Rodionova, she and the Kastles captain Paes are even harder to beat. Hingis and Paes are 15-2 since the Swiss made her Kastles debut in the 2013 season opener. But they are coming off their worst performance as a team, failing to convert six match points against Melo and Huber in Philadelphia last night. Coach Murphy Jensen will need Paes and Hingis to have short-term memories.

KEY FOR THE KASTLES - PLAY WITH PASSION AND PRIDE

In just its first season as a WTT venue, the Smith Center has provided the Kastles with the greatest home court advantage in the league. Record-setting crowds have turned up by the thousands, inspiring Paes, Hingis and their teammates to play with unparalleled passion and pride.

Another amazing atmosphere is expected tonight as the Kastles and Philadelphia Freedoms battle with the Eastern Conference Championship on the line.

The two teams have already created unforgettable memories in D.C. this season. Who could forget Rodionova and Huber exchanging body blows with violent volleys, or Paes and Melo staring each other down across the net?

What happened in the regular season doesn't matter much anymore; everything is on the line for the Kastles and Freedoms this evening.

If the Kastles can create the same energy that lifted them to routine wins over the Freedoms on July 10 and July 13, the games, sets and match will take care of themselves.

Anastasia Rodionova and Martina Hingis are on the same page.

(Photo by Willis Bretz)

Great Seats Still Available for Tonight's Playoff Match!

Kastles Hosting Freedoms for Eastern Conference Championship

Don't miss history in the making as the Washington Kastles play one final match this season at Kastles Stadium at the Smith Center.

And it's a big one.

Washington hosts the Philadelphia Freedoms for the 2014 Eastern Conference Championship tonight at 7 pm. Martina Hingis, Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds and Anastasia Rodionova will play for the Kastles' fourth consecutive conference title and fifth in the last six years.

You won't want to miss it!

Great plans are in place to make tonight's playoff match at the Smith Center unforgettable, including food and drink specials all night long ($5 margaritas, $2 Coronas and $2 hot dogs). Seats to the Eastern Conference Championship match are going fast on Ticketmaster.com and at the box office thanks to the following affordable prices:

Grandstand: $15

Premium Grandstand: $15

Kastles Loge: $15

Courtside Chairback: $30

Kastles Baseline Club: $50 (Overlooking the Court)

Kastles Baseline Experience: $75 (Directly Behind the Court)

There are also a limited number of Celebrity Cruises VIP Dinner Tables ($500 for 4 seats), Premier Courtside Boxes ($300 for 4 seats) and Kastles Boxes ($50 for 1 seat) available. The only way to purchase tables and boxes is by contacting Kastles ticket representative John Coleman at 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647) or via E-mail .

Please note that the 2014 Mylan WTT Finals will be hosted by the Western Conference Champions this Sunday. Live coverage will begin at 5 pm on ESPN3.com, with ESPN2 beginning its coverage in progress at 6 pm.

Freedoms Save 6 Match Points to Stun Visiting Kastles

Kastles Seek Redemption in Rematch for Eastern Conference Title

One night before they face off for the Eastern Conference Championship, the Washington Kastles and Philadelphia Freedoms provided a scintillating preview in the regular season finale for both teams.

The Freedoms saved six match points to stun the visiting Kastles 21-20, clinching the victory in a Supertiebreaker to even their head-to-head rivalry at two wins each in 2014.

With Washington leading 18-13 entering the final set, the Kastles' near-flawless mixed doubles team of Leander Paes and Martina Hingis took on Marcelo Melo and Liezel Huber.

Paes and Hingis were 2-0 against Melo and Huber and 15-1 overall dating back to the Swiss' Kastles debut on July 8, 2013.

But the Freedoms won the set 5-2 to send the match into overtime, saved six match points to force a Supertiebreaker, then rallied from 3-1 down to complete their comeback and win the Supertiebreaker 7-4.

All four matches between the Kastles and Freedoms during the regular season were won by the home team. The Kastles defeated the Freedoms 25-10 on July 10 and 23-14 on July 13 at the Smith Center, while Washington lost its other away match against Philadelphia 22-15 without Hingis on July 17.

Despite falling in mixed doubles, Hingis made a strong case to three-peat as Mylan World TeamTennis Female MVP.

She beat 18-year-old rising star Taylor Townsend 5-2 in singles, improving to 15-3 against the American in games this season. The Hall-of-Famer also teamed with Anastasia Rodionova to win women's doubles 5-3.

In men's action, Bobby Reynolds opened the match with a 5-3 singles win over longtime rival Frank Dancevic. Reynolds was unable to sweep the Canadian however, partnering with Paes in a 5-3 men's doubles loss to Dancevic and Melo.

With his singles win, Reynolds improved to 9-7 overall against Dancevic (7-6 ATP, 2-1 WTT). He broke the Canadian in the first game on a 3-all point and never looked back, winning 16 of 19 service points to seal the set.

Hingis followed suit against Townsend, who hung with the Hall-of-Famer for the first four games. But after Hingis held for 3-2, she broke on a 3-all point and served out the set in the following game.

Washington did not face a single break point in the first two sets and for much of the third. But with Melo and Dancevic leading 4-3 in men's doubles, they broke Paes' serve to steal the set 5-3 and make the score 13-10 in favor of Washington at halftime.

Hingis and Rodionova regained momentum for the Kastles by winning three of four 3-all points in their 5-3 victory over Townsend and Huber.

But even with an 18-13 cushion, the Kastles' lead was not safe.

The Freedoms broke open the mixed doubles set by winning a 3-all point in Hingis' first service game of the final set, putting Melo and Huber ahead 3-1.

After holds by Melo, Paes and Huber, the Freedoms forced overtime with a 5-2 victory.

Washington still led 20-18 overall with Hingis due to serve first in OT. She and Paes held four match points with a 3-0 lead, but Philadelphia rallied to break.

Now down by one, Melo served to send the match into a Supertiebreaker. He fell behind 2-3, giving the Kastles two more match points. Again, the Freedoms found their way out of trouble.

With the score tied at 20-20, a Supertiebreaker up to 7 points would decide which team would enter tonight's Eastern Conference Championship confidently.

The Kastles jumped out to a 3-1 lead behind strong serving from Paes. But as they did throughout mixed doubles, Melo and Huber persevered, winning six of the last seven points to claim the Supertiebreaker 7-4.

The Kastles and Freedoms meet with much more at stake tonight when Washington hosts the Eastern Conference Championship match at the Smith Center. The winning team advances to the Mylan WTT Finals, which will be hosted by the Western Conference Champions on Sunday at 5 pm.

Great seats starting at $15 are available at the box office and on Ticketmaster.com for the Eastern Conference Championship match.

Philadelphia Freedoms 21, Washington Kastles 20

Men's Singles - Bobby Reynolds (Kastles) def. Frank Dancevic (Freedoms) 5-3

Women's Singles - Martina Hingis (Kastles) def. Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) 5-2

Men's Doubles - Frank Dancevic/Marcelo Melo (Freedoms) def. Leander Paes/Bobby Reynolds (Kastles) 5-3

Women's Doubles - Anastasia Rodionova/Martina Hingis (Kastles) def. Liezel Huber/Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) 5-3

Mixed Doubles - Marcelo Melo/Liezel Huber (Freedoms) def. Leander Paes/Martina Hingis (Kastles) 5-2

Overtime - Marcelo Melo/Liezel Huber (Freedoms) 2, Leander Paes/Martina Hingis (Kastles) 0

Supertiebreaker - Marcelo Melo/Liezel Huber (Freedoms) def. Leander Paes/Martina Hingis (Kastles) 1-0 (7-4)



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