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WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Win Battle of Top 2 WTT Teams, Playoff Tickets On Sale, Charity Classic Tonight

July 18, 2013 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


It's not quite a major U.S. pro sports record, but the Washington Kastles have quickly rebuilt the longest winning streak in Mylan World TeamTennis. On Wednesday, they claimed their fourth straight victory, 21-15 against the Springfield Lasers, in a battle between the teams with the two best records in the league.

Washington (6-2) hasn't lost since falling at home to the Lasers (5-3) on July 11, so Wednesday's win was especially gratifying for the Kastles.

Celebrating his 31st birthday, Bobby Reynolds blasted his way past Rik de Voest 5-1 in the first set of men's singles to improve to 4-0 on the season. Martina Hingis is also undefeated, now 5-0 in women's singles after her 5-2 win over Vania King.

The Lasers rallied with 5-3 wins in men's doubles and women's doubles, cutting the Kastles' lead to 16-13 before the mixed doubles finale.

But that's another set that Washington has owned in 2013. Hingis and Leander Paes are 5-0 after clinching victory with a 5-2 win over Jean-Julien Rojer and Alisa Kleybanova.

Besides making major contributions for the Kastles, Reynolds and Hingis were honored in a pair of memorable moments on court.

Before Reynolds could even reach the bench following his singles win, he was presented with a surprise birthday cake by the Kastles cheerleaders and lifted onto the shoulders of Paes and Coach Murphy Jensen.

Then, at halftime, Kastles owner Mark Ein and International Tennis Hall of Fame Chairman Christopher Clouser paid tribute to Hingis, who on July 13 became the fourth-youngest player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In addition, the Kastles donated several items from their 34-match unbeaten run to Clouser for inclusion in the Hall of Fame's museum, including a commemorative No. 34 jersey autographed by the entire team.

Playoff Update - Tickets On Sale Now!

The Kastles are off on Thursday before traveling to Dallas on Friday for their second meeting of the season against the Texas Wild. On July 10, the Wild defeated the Kastles 23-18 to end Washington's record winning streak.

At 6-2, Washington now has a two-match lead over the New York Sportimes in the Eastern Conference standings with six matches remaining during the regular season.

That gives the Kastles the inside track to clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and home court advantage throughout the Mylan WTT Playoffs.

Kastles Stadium could potentially host the Eastern Conference Championship match at 7 pm on Thursday, July 25, and the Mylan WTT Finals 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 calling Kastles ticket representative John Coleman at 202-654-7047.

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 to secure your seats for the postseason!

Through four home matches this season, the Kastles have played to a sold-out crowd all four times. Washington's next home match on Saturday against New York is also a sell out. So we encourage you to get your tickets early for the final two home matches of the regular season on July 22 and 24, as well as potential playoff matches on July 25 and 28.

MS - B. Reynolds (WAS) def. R. de Voest (SPR) 5-1

It could have been a brutal birthday for Reynolds, matched up against a man whom he'd never beaten before in six previous matches (5 ATP, 1 WTT).

But Reynolds was in the mood to celebrate, and he let it show from the start with his play.

The Kastles closer hit three service winners and a forehand winner to hold in the opening game. After de Voest held for 1-1, Reynolds responded with four straight unreturnable serves to regain the lead 2-1.

Wearing his emotion for a capacity Kastles crowd to see, Reynolds blasted a backhand passing shot winner in the following game, then screamed in excitement. He went on to break de Voest when the Laser misfired on a backhand of his own.

Two aces, a service winner and a monstrous overhead smash put Reynolds up 4-1, but he wasn't content with just a one-break lead.

The birthday boy worked his way to a deciding 3-all point on de Voest's serve, then partied with 2,612 of his closest friends from the crowd after his lob was too tall for de Voest to reach.

SCORE: Washington 5, Springfield 1

WS - M. Hingis (WAS) def. V. King (SPR) 5-2

In women's singles, Springfield coach Jean-Laffnie de Jager threw a little bit of everything at Hingis: five games of King's finesse followed by two games of Kleybanova's power.

It mattered little to the No. 1-rated women's singles player in the league, who showed off her shot variety in sweeping her fifth straight set of the season 5-2.

In the first game, Hingis broke King after carving a wicked backhand angle that sent the Laser past the Kastles' bench. Hingis held for 2-0 by saving two break points with her underrated serve, hitting one for a winner and another for an ace.

Following a King hold, Hingis needed only four swings of her racquet (2 aces, 2 service winners) to take a 3-1 lead. Seemingly moving King on a string, she broke for 4-1 by approaching the net off of a deep return, then putting away a swinging volley winner.

That's when de Jager made his move, substituting the 5-foot-11 Kleybanova in for the 5-foot-5 King. It became clear why in a hurry as the Russian ended an extended rally on her very first point with a bruising backhand winner.

Kleybanova would go on to break Hingis for 2-4, but on her first service point, Hingis drop-shotted her to halt the Lasers' momentum.

With the Springfield bench urging her on, Kleybanova clawed her way to a pivotal 3-all point, hoping to keep the set alive for as many games as she could add on the scoreboard.

Hingis had none of it, taking a second-serve return early with a sharply-angled crosscourt backhand that Kleybanova could not get back.

SCORE: Washington 10, Springfield 3

MD - R. de Voest/J. Rojer (SPR) def. L. Paes/B. Reynolds (WAS) 5-3

More than 2,600 fans at Kastles Stadium sure enjoyed the men's doubles set. You could tell by the OOHs and AWWs echoing from the stands as Paes, Reynolds, de Voest and Rojer put on a superb display of shot-making.

It all started with the set even at 1-1 and Paes facing three break points. The Kastles captain fought his way through trouble with a service winner and back-to-back backhand volley winners off scorching Rojer returns and past a poaching de Voest.

In the following game, de Voest held at love after Rojer won a remarkable rally at the net with Paes by making three consecutive rapid-fire reflex volleys before putting away an overhead.

With the set tied at 2-2 and Reynolds serving at 3-1 in the game, it was Paes' turn to provide the magic.

After a well-placed lob by de Voest on the return, Paes retrieved the shot with an over-the-shoulder, sky-high lob of his own. Then, the Indian got back overheads from both Rojer and de Voest before Rojer ended the point with a short volley winner.

Reynolds responded one point later with an ace to hold for 3-2. Following a Rojer hold, Paes again found himself down triple break point on his serve. This time, he couldn't summon a comeback, yielding the break when Rojer hit a top spin lob over both Kastles for a winner.

The South African de Voest had the honor of serving out the sensational set, which he did with a touch volley winner past Reynolds.

After a slow start, Springfield had slowly begun to trim the Kastles' lead on the scoreboard.

SCORE: Washington 13, Springfield 8

WD - V. King/A. Kleybanova (SPR) def. M. Hingis/A. Rodionova (WAS) 5-3

The Lasers' comeback continued with a second-straight 5-3 win, this one coming in women's doubles.

King and Kleybanova entered as the No. 1-rated women's doubles team in the league, but for much of Wednesday's set they were matched shot for shot by Hingis and Anastasia Rodionova.

The Kastles forced deciding 3-all points in both Kleybanova and King's first service games, but failed to convert.

For their part, Hingis and Rodionova won a 3-all point on a strong second serve by the Swiss to even the set at 2-2.

Kleybanova, who was brilliant in Springfield's win over Washington on July 11, was on top of her game again on Wednesday, hitting two backhand winners to give Springfield a 3-2 lead.

Holds by Rodionova and King followed, leaving Hingis to serve at 3-4, hoping to force a tiebreaker. A pair of volley winners by Rodionova gave the Kastles a 3-2 lead in the game, but a down-the-line backhand winner by Kleybanova earned Springfield a deciding 3-all point.

With the set on the line, King hit a backhand that appeared destined to go long. Paes yelled "OUT" from the Kastles' bench, but Hingis was already in mid-air and couldn't stop herself from volleying the ball back long.

Thanks to their 5-3 win in women's doubles, the Lasers had inched within striking distance of the Kastles going into the final set.

SCORE: Washington 16, Springfield 13

MXD - L. Paes/M. Hingis (WAS) def. J. Rojer/A. Kleybanova (SPR) 5-2

As his team's lead was being cut from seven games to three, the Kastles captain Paes knew all along that he had the power to end Springfield's run in mixed doubles.

That's just what he did, establishing his authority in the first game of the set with two violent swings on volley winners, a service winner and an ace.

Meanwhile, Rojer won all eight of the points on his serve in the set to keep Springfield alive.

However, one break of Kleybanova was all the Kastles needed to seize control, which they got when Paes unloaded on a down-the-line forehand that the Russian could not handle.

Hingis served for the match with a 4-2 lead, but fell behind 1-3. That's when Kastles fans came to their feet, rallying behind the Hall-of-Famer Hingis.

The Swiss saved one break point when Kleybanova missed a forehand and a second break point when she handled a short ball from Rojer with a forehand winner.

Then, on a 3-all point that doubled as a break point and a match point, Hingis hit a service winner off of the net cord.

With their head-to-head now even at 1-1 this season, Washington and Springfield could still meet for a third time in the Mylan WTT Finals on Sunday, July 28th.

SCORE: Washington 21, Springfield 15

Washington Kastles Charity Classic Preview

All Tickets Just $10 with 100 % of Proceeds Going to Charity

Washington Kastles Charity Classic Thursday, July 18 at 7:00 pm Tickets: Ticketmaster.com, Box Office All-Time: Stars lead Stripes 1-0

Last Meeting: Stars def. Stripes 41-39 on July 17, 2012 (Washington, DC) Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (#RefuseToLose)

A memorable night awaits Kastles fans as the team hosts its second-annual Charity Classic beginning at 7 pm.

All tickets are only $10 to enjoy this one-of-a-kind team tennis match, and can be purchased with cash or credit card at the gate or via Ticketmaster.com.

This event will bring together some of DC's elite -- Democrats and Republicans, Members of Congress and the Administration, media personalities and local sports celebrities -- as they prove that we can all work together for a good cause!

A series of six doubles tiebreakers up to 7 points will be played between Team Stars and Team Stripes, culminating in a match tiebreaker up to 10 in which both teams can make unlimited substitutions.

All points throughout the evening count towards the overall score, so just like at a Kastles match, every forehand and backhand is important.

All of tonight's ticket proceeds will benefit three great organizations:

- D.C. Public Education Fund (DCPEF)

- Food & Friends

- Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)

This year's unbelievable lineup includes:

- Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling

- NBC's Meet the Press moderator David Gregory

- Fox News host Bret Baier

- MD Congresswoman Donna Edwards

- D.C. United Coach Ben Olsen

- Many More Prominent Players (Click here for the full list)

Also competing in the quest for the Kastles Cup will be your favorite Kastles players: Coach Murphy Jensen, Martina Hingis, Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds and Anastasia Rodionova.

After the match, drink and chat with all of the Charity Classic players at Cantina Marina, which is hosting an after party just two blocks from Kastles Stadium at The Wharf (600 Water Street SW). Everyone 21+ with a match ticket will receive one free Corona!

For more information on the event and to see a full list of players, please visit the Charity Classic website. See what our players and supporters are saying by following us on Twitter or Facebook.

We hope you will join us for this very special evening and show your support for three great charities!



World TeamTennis Stories from July 18, 2013


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