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WTT Philadelphia Freedoms

Philadelphia Freedoms capture 2006 World Team Tennis Championship

July 30, 2006 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Philadelphia Freedoms News Release


(July 30, 2006) --- The Philadelphia Freedoms captured their second World TeamTennis championship, ousting the Newport Beach Breakers, 21-14, in a back and forth battle Sunday at the Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif.

The match was close throughout the afternoon until the final set when Philadelphia shut out the Breakers 5-0 in mixed doubles to capture their second King Trophy. This is the second WTT crown for the Freedoms, who also won the title in 2001. They also won the only meeting between the two teams during the regular season, capturing a 23-16 win in Philadelphia on July 20.

"We got a little help from some other teams to get us into the Finals," said Freedoms coach Craig Kardon after the match. "But, once we got here, we took control of things. We have some of the finest players in the world on our team and they did not disappoint anyone this weekend."

Newport Beach's Ramon Delgado opened the day with a 5-3 win over Jaymon Crabb of Philadelphia in men's singles. The momentum swung to the Freedoms when Raymond and Rennae Stubbs overpowered the Breakers' Anastassia Rodionova and Tina Krizan 5-1 in women's doubles to give Philadelphia an early lead.

The Breakers evened the match at 11-all at halftime when they captured a close victory in men's doubles, with Delgado and Rick Leach surprising Daniel Nestor and Crabb, 5-3. Philadelphia's Raymond picked up her second women's singles victory of the weekend, taking Rodionova 5-3 and giving the Freedoms a slim 16-14 lead heading into the final set.

"Rodionova played well all day," Raymond said. "At the end (of women's singles) I just was able to run everything down and I fought a little hard because I knew I needed to give us some cushion heading into the final set."

Behind some strong play from Stubbs and Nestor in mixed doubles, Philadelphia stepped out to a quick 2-0 lead over Newport's Krizan and Leach. At the start of the third game, Breakers' coach Dick Leach substituted Delgado and Rodionova into the match. They didn't do much better as Stubbs and Nestor closed out the match in impressive style, not allowing the Breakers to win a single game in the set.

"Daniel and I have played well together all season," Stubbs said. "Lisa gave us a nice cushion and once we got the first break, we felt we could roll through the set. We knew when we got to Newport Beach there was no looking back and I think we earned the title this weekend." Stubbs, who posted victories in both women's doubles and mixed doubles on Sunday and also during Saturday's semifinal match, was named the MVP of the WTT Championship weekend.

World TeamTennis Championship Finals at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif. FINAL RESULTS - Sunday, July 31, 2006



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