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WTT New York Empire

New York Empire Drop Two Tiebreakers En Route to 25-17 (EP) Loss to Springfield Lasers

July 25, 2018 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
New York Empire News Release


NEW YORK - The New York Empire presented by Citi fell to the Springfield Lasers, 25-17 (EP), indoors at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on a rainy night in Flushing, N.Y. The Lasers improve to 3-5 on the season while the Empire drop to 0-8.

In the opening set of men's singles, 18-year-old World TeamTennis rookie Miomir Kecmanovic used his youthful exuberance to get the better of former American No. 1 Mardy Fish, allowing the Lasers to jump out to an early 5-2 lead. The Empire's women's doubles team of Tatjana Maria and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez started strong in the second set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead over Vania King and Abigail Spears, but the New York duo ultimately fell in a tiebreaker which extended Springfield's lead to 10-6.

Next, in men's doubles, the Empire's pair of Fish and Neal Skupski proved to be a difficult matchup for the Laser's team of Kecmanovic and doubles legend and former WTT Male MVP Daniel Nestor. However, the Lasers were able to grind out the win in a thrilling set that came down to the last point, winning another tiebreaker and extending their lead to 15-10.

Despite the best efforts of Tatjana Maria, the Empire's women's singles representative was outplayed by 2009 WTT Female MVP Vania King, who cruised to a 5-2 victory. The Empire saved their best set for last, as the mixed doubles team of Skupski and Martinez Sanchez battled extremely hard to fight back and win the set on a tiebreaker and force extended play. The Lasers won the first game in extended play, ending the match with a 25-17 victory.

Springfield Lasers at New York Empire Box Score

MS WD MD WS MXD XP Total

Springfield Lasers 5 5 5 5 4 1 25

New York Empire 2 4 4 2 5 0 17

Men's Singles: Miomir Kecmanovic (SPR) def. Mardy Fish (NYE), 5-2

Women's Doubles: Vania King/Abigail Spears (SPR) def. Tatjana Maria/Martinez Sanchez (NYE), 5-4

Men's Doubles: Kecmanovic/Daniel Nestor (SPR) def. Fish/Neal Skupski (NYE), 5-4

Women's Singles: King (SAN) def. Maria (NYE), 5-2

Mixed Doubles: Skupski/Martinez Sanchez (NYE) def. Nestor/Spears (SPR), 5-4

Extended Play: Nestor/Spears (SPR) def. Skupski/Martinez Sanchez (NYE), 1-0

The New York Empire return to Court 17 tomorrow night, when they face the Orange County Breakers at 7:00 p.m. The team then hits the road for four straight matches before they close out the season at home on Thursday, August 2 against the Philadelphia Freedoms.

Group tickets and various hospitality packages are available by calling the New York Empire office at 844-5-EMPIRE (844-536-7473) or by visiting www.nyempiretennis.com .

New York Empire tickets can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster or by calling the New York Empire office at 844-5-EMPIRE (844-536-7473). The 2018 WTT regular season will take place from July 15 - August 2 with the No. 1-seeded team hosting the championship match for the King Trophy on August 5.

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