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WTT New York Empire

New York Empire Falls to Washington Kastles, 22-18

July 15, 2018 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
New York Empire News Release


NEW YORK - The New York Empire presented by Citi opened the 2018 World TeamTennis season today with a 22-18 loss to the Washington Kastles in front of an electric crowd at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

The Kastles' women's doubles team of Madison Brengle and Christina McHale forced a first set tiebreaker after being down 4-1. Brengle and McHale took the Empire's Tatjana Maria and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez to 4-4, however New York squeaked out the first set winning the tiebreaker, 5-4.

The Empire's Maria was pushed to the brink in the women's singles second set but edged out Brengle, 5-3, before the two teams' mixed doubles pairings took Court 17. The Empire's Martinez Sanchez was joined by doubles specialist Neal Skupski to face Washington's Robert Lindstedt and McHale in the third set. Martinez Sanchez and Skupski jumped to a quick 3-1 lead but Lindstedt and McHale took control by winning four straight games to win the set, 5-3.

Washington's Matthew Ebden cruised through the men's singles set, winning 5-1 over the Empire's Steve Johnson and giving the Kastles a 17-14 lead heading into the men's doubles and final set. Facing a daunting deficit, the Empire's Johnson and Skupski forced the set into a tiebreaker before ultimately falling, 5-4, as the Kastles won the season-opening match 22- 18.

Washington Kastles at New York Empire Box Score

WD WS MXD MS MD Total

Washington Kastles 4 3 5 5 5 22

New York Empire 5 5 3 1 4 18

Women's Doubles: Maria/Martinez Sanchez (NYE) def. Brengle/McHale (WAS), 5-4

Women's Singles: Maria (NYE) def. Brengle (WAS), 5-3

Mixed Doubles: McHale/Robert Lindstedt (WAS) def. Martinez Sanchez/Neal Skupski (NYE), 5-3

Men's Singles: Ebden (WAS) def. Johnson (NYE), 5-1

Men's Doubles: Johnson/Skupski (NYE) def. Ebden/Lindstedt (WAS), 5-4

The New York Empire travel to Washington, D.C. on Monday, July 16 to face the Kastles for a second straight match and return home to Court 17 on Wednesday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m. as host to 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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