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WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles vs. Lobsters Tonight

July 29, 2015 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


The Mylan World TeamTennis Playoffs don't officially get started until Thursday, but for all intents and purposes, tonight's Kastles match is a win-or-go-home scenario for the 5-8 Boston Lobsters.

If Boston beats Washington, the 9-4 Kastles will host the Lobsters again tomorrow at 7 pm in the Eastern Conference Championship match. If Washington beats Boston, the 5-9 Philadelphia Freedoms will challenge the champs at Kastles Stadium in a rematch of the 2014 Eastern Conference Championship match.

The Lobsters have lost 17 straight matches to the Kastles since the 2010 season, including five-set sweeps on July 21 in D.C. and July 23 in Boston.

For Boston to end the streak this evening, it will take a heroic effort from a depleted roster. Christian Harrison, returning from two years of injuries, is substituting for Chase Buchanan, while 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard is out with an abdominal tear.

That spells trouble against a Kastles team stacked with talent: World No. 2 Martina Hingis, 23rd-ranked Anastasia Rodionova, 30th-ranked Sam Querrey and 32nd-ranked Leander Paes.

If you like what you see this evening, be sure to come back and support the same four Kastles as they compete for Washington's sixth Mylan WTT Championship in seven years. Tickets to playoff matches on Thursday and Sunday start at $10 per match and $15 for both matches. Get yours now by visiting Ticketmaster.com, calling 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647), or stopping by the box office.

TTR Sotheby's International Realty sponsors tonight's T-shirt giveaway.

SET-BY-SET PROJECTIONS

MS - S. Querrey (WAS) vs. C. Harrison (BOS)

Christian Harrison doesn't have the accolades of his older brother Ryan Harrison, but for much of his youth he was heralded as the more talented of the two siblings. A serious leg injury sidelined Harrison for 20 months at the height of his junior career. Now 21, Harrison is playing just his second pro match in two years after surgeries to a wrist, a shoulder, both of his hips, and both of his legs. He's worth your respect tonight.

WS - M. Hingis (WAS) vs. I. Falconi (BOS)

Hingis is 7-1 in women's and mixed doubles sets this season, but only 1-2 in singles. Her sole singles win came July 23 in Boston when she saved all seven break points that she faced to defeat 75th-ranked Irina Falconi 5-3. At 5-foot-4, Falconi does not have the power to match-up with Hingis in the same way that Springfield's Alison Riske and California's Jarmila Gajdosova did earlier this week at Kastles Stadium.

MD - L. Paes/S. Querrey (WAS) vs. C. Harrison/S. Lipsky (BOS)

With strong serving and volleying, Paes and Querrey have quickly clicked in only seven matches as partners. Harrison, on the other hand, is the fifth different men's doubles partner for Scott Lipsky this season, including Boston head coach Jan-Michael Gambill. Despite his injury-plagued career, Harrison does have a major doubles accomplishment, reaching the 2012 US Open quarterfinals with his brother.

WD - M. Hingis/A. Rodionova (WAS) vs. I. Falconi/A. Parra Santonja (BOS)

Hingis and Rodionova are 8-0 all-time against the Lobsters and have won 16 of their last 17 women's doubles sets together dating back to the 2013 season. When they defeated Falconi and Arantxa Parra Santonja 5-2 on July 23, the Kastles won 16 of 20 points on serve and did not allow their opponents a single break point. With Hingis at her side, Rodionova is playing the best tennis of her Kastles career at the moment.

MXD - L. Paes/M. Hingis (WAS) vs. S. Lipsky/A. Parra Santonja (BOS)

As was the case in women's doubles on July 23, the Kastles won mixed doubles 5-2 without facing a break point. Hingis and Paes are 20-3 for the Kastles in three seasons as partners, but are coming off a 5-3 loss Monday to the top-rated team of Neal Skupski and Anabel Medina Garrigues. In that set, and against the Springfield Lasers one day earlier, Paes was broken at the start. He'll want to change that trend tonight.

Singles Woes Cost Kastles in 19-16 Loss to Austin

11-2 Aces Secure Best Regular-Season Record in Mylan WTT

The Kastles have home-court advantage throughout the Mylan World TeamTennis Playoffs, but the Austin Aces prevented Washington from complete control this postseason, defeating the Kastles 19-16 in Texas on Tuesday.

With the win, the 11-2 Aces clinched the best regular-season record in the league. If Austin advances to the Mylan WTT Finals on Sunday, Aces head coach Rick Leach will determine the all-important order of play.

Leach chose to end Tuesday's match with World No. 20 Elina Svitolina against World No. 44 Madison Brengle, who was returning to the Kastles lineup for the first time in a week.

Playing just the second team tennis match of her career, the 20-year-old Svitolina won 12 of the first 13 points against Brengle and 20 of 27 points overall to take the set 5-1 and rally her team from a 15-14 deficit.

Svitolina's teammate Teymuraz Gabashvili also won 20 of 27 points en route to a 15-minute, 5-0 victory over Sam Querrey that turned the match around in the third set.

The Kastles opened with a 5-4 win in men's doubles and a 5-3 win in women's doubles to open up a 10-7 lead into men's singles. But Gabashvili's performance against Querrey allowed Austin to take a two-game lead into halftime.

Filling in for Martina Hingis in mixed doubles, Anastasia Rodionova won all eight of her service points in the fourth set as she and Leander Paes defeated Gabashvili and Alla Kudryavtseva 5-2.

However, Svitolina regained the lead rapidly for the Aces and never relinquished it.

Hingis returns for the Kastles tonight against the Boston Lobsters and will remain in Washington's lineup throughout the playoffs. Tickets starting at $10 are available via Ticketmaster.com.

Austin Aces def. Washington Kastles 19-16

Men's Doubles - Leander PaesSam Querrey (Kastles) def. Teymuraz GabashviliJarmere Jenkins (Aces) 5-4

Women's Doubles - Anastasia RodionovaMadison Brengle (Kastles) def. Elina SvitolinaAlla Kudryavtseva (Aces) 5-3

Men's Singles - Teymuraz Gabashvili (Aces) def. Sam Querrey (Kastles) 5-0

Mixed Doubles - Anastasia RodionovaLeander Paes (Kastles) def. Alla KudryavtsevaTeymuraz Gabashvili (Aces) 5-2

Women's Singles - Elina Svitolina (Aces) def. Madison Brengle (Kastles) 5-1

Anastasia Rodionova and Leander Paes gave the Kastles the lead with one set remaining.

(Photo by Susan Mullane of Camerawork USA)

Kastles Bring 10-0 Postseason Record to 2015 Playoffs

Washington Hosts Eastern Conference Championship Tomorrow at 7 pm, and with a win, Mylan WTT Finals Sun. at 11:30 am

Fan-Appreciation Pricing on VIP Seats; Tickets Start at Only $10

Kastles playoff tickets are selling fast and we want you to be there when Washington plays for a record-setting fifth consecutive Mylan World TeamTennis Championship and sixth title overall!

The Kastles will host the Eastern Conference Championship match against the Boston Lobsters or Philadelphia Freedoms on Thursday at 7 pm. With a win, Washington will once again be at home in the Mylan WTT Finals Sunday at 11:30 am.

As thanks for our fans' overwhelming support again this season, we are proud to offer fan-appreciation pricing. Tickets start at only $10 for one playoff match and $15 for both! Courtside seats, boxes and dinner tables are also very attractively priced for those who want to be on top of the action. Get yours now because they're going fast.

Our goal is to pack Kastles Stadium at the Smith Center for the biggest home-court advantage that World TeamTennis has ever seen. Whether you treat yourself to courtside seats or bring a group at family-friendly prices, you will be part of making history and create lifelong memories of cheering for your hometown team to a championship.

Kastles Playoff Tickets 1 Match 2 Matches

VIP Dinner Table (4 Seats)* $500 $750

Premier Courtside Box (4 Seats) $250 $400

Baseline Experience $50 $75

Baseline Club $25 $40

Kastles Box Seat $25 $40

Courtside Chairback $25 $40

Premium Grandstand $10 $15

Grandstand $10 $15

* Includes catered dinner Thursday and brunch Sunday

To enjoy great savings with our special two-match playoff plan, please call 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647) or visit the Smith Center box office.

If you are only planning on attending only one playoff match, please purchase your tickets at Ticketmaster.com for Baseline Experience, Baseline Club, Courtside Chairback, Premium Grandstand and Grandstand seats.

If you are interested in a VIP Dinner Table, Premier Courtside Box or Kastles Box seats, please call 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647) for availability.

The Kastles lineup for the playoffs is incredible, featuring some of the most entertaining players in the world. Coming off a pair of Wimbledon titles, World No. 2 doubles player Martina Hingis leads the Kastles alongside her championship partner Leander Paes. Also representing Washington are World No. 30 singles player Sam Querrey and World No. 23 doubles player Anastasia Rodionova.

The 2015 season has already seen the Kastles welcome their largest crowd ever (4,255 fans on July 21) and allow the fewest games in franchise history (Kastles def. Freedoms 23-6 on July 18). With Washington's four core players intact, the playoffs are sure to bring more extraordinary tennis and Kastles franchise milestones.

So don't miss history in the making as Washington tries to defend the King Trophy and extend its 10-0 playoff record.

You've got nothing to lose: Should the Kastles not host the Mylan WTT Finals, the cost of tickets to that match will be refunded.

Visit Ticketmaster.com or call 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647) to purchase your tickets now.

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