Philadelphia Freedoms Cruise to Victory over the New York Empire, 23-13
August 1, 2018 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
New York Empire News Release
PHILADELPHIA - The first-place Philadelphia Freedoms, who clinched home-court advantage for the World TeamTennis presented by GEICO championship match this past Saturday, showed no mercy against the New York Empire presented by Citi, winning 23-13 on Wednesday night. It was the 12th win in 13 matches for the Freedoms. The Empire fall to 1-12 on the season.
Fresh off of their first win, the Empire's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Neal Skupski opened tonight's match against the Freedoms' Gabriela Dabrowski and Fabrice Martin by forcing a break, silencing the crowd and winning the first set, 5-3.
Taylor Townsend, however, re-energized the home crowd as she continued her dominant play for the Freedoms this season. Facing the Empire's Francoise Abanda, Townsend only gave up one point taking the set, 5-1, and giving Philadelphia an 8-6 lead heading into the men's doubles set. Townsend is 55-21 in women's singles this season.
Philadelphia's Martin opened up the third set with playing partner, Kevin King, striking first and never slowing down against the Empire duo of Dennis Novikov and Skupski. The Freedoms controlled the entire set, scoring a 5-1 win.
Raquel Atawo joined Townsend for the women's doubles set against the Empire's Abanda and Martinez Sanchez, winning the set, 5-3, and widening the Freedoms lead heading into the final set of the match.
Down 18-10, Novikov returned to the court facing an incredibly tough challenge. He'd need to win the set, then shutout the Freedoms' King in extended play to force a supertiebreaker. Unfortunately for the Empire and Novikov, King proved to be too tough to tame. King claimed the set, 5-4, and the win for the Freedoms, 23-13.
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