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WTT Washington Kastles

Sacha Jones Nearly Brings Kastles Back; Team In Battle for Final Playoff Spot

July 21, 2008 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


The "Kiwi Kid" Sacha Jones, nearly brought the Kastles back from a six-game deficit Sunday against the Philadelphia Freedoms. Jones downed Audre Cohen decisively 5-2 in the fifth set forcing overtime. Trailing by three, Jones battled in the first game of OT but lost the game 4-2, giving the Freedoms a 23-19 victory.

The Kastles who were playing their fourth match in four days thrilled another near sellout at Kastles Stadium at CityCenterDC. The inaugural "Family Day," was a huge success as everyone in the nearly packed house enjoyed the festivities.

The Kastles (5-7) currently sit in a log jam for the WTT wildcard playoff spot. The Sacramento Capitals currently hold one of the top two spots in the Western Conference, thus a wildcard position is up for grabs. Currently leading the fight for the last position are the Boston Lobsters, but the Kastles are just one game back. In between the Lobsters and Kastles and just a half game out of the wildcard spot are the Freedoms. The Kastles still have a great opportunity to make the playoffs, so make sure to get your tickets for Tuesday and Wednesday's matches before its too late. On Tuesday, the Kastles will face the Delaware Smash and, on Wednesday, the team will host the St. Louis Aces featuring Anna Kournikova in the team's final two matches at Kastles Stadium at CityCenterDC. Both matches begin at 7 PM.

Sacha Jones, the youngest member of the Kastles, started the fifth set with the Kastles down by six games but she rallied the crowd and began to pull the team back with her inspiring play. After splitting the first two games, Jones began to dominate play. On game point in the third game, Jones ended a ferocious rally with a forehand winner to give the New Zealand native a 2-1 lead. In the next game, Jones broke Cohen with three winners and then held serve at love. After dropping the sixth game, Sacha closed out the set with several strong forehands and her overall solid play.

Scott Oudsema and Alex Bogomolov Jr. kicked off the match in men's singles. It was an exciting and well-fought set with Oudsema nailing several blistering serves but falling 5-3. Next, Mashona Washington and Jones lost a tough set 5-4 against Wimbledon doubles finalist Lisa Raymond and Cohen, losing the tiebreaker 5-3. In the third set, Oudsema and Justin Gimelstob lost to Bogomolev and Travis Parrott 5-3 in mens doubles and then the Kastles mixed doubles team of Washington and Gimelstob fell to Parrott and Raymond 5-4, losing the tiebreaker 5-2.

The match capped off a rough stretch for the Kastles of four defeats in four days. After a tough loss Thursday to Sacramento at home, the Kastles fell in Boston to the Lobsters 23-14. Mashona Washington and Sacha Jones were a bright spot, winning the fifth set, 5-2 to force OT but then lost 1-0. On Saturday in Kansas City, the Kastles fell 24-13 to the league leading Explorers led by the #1 mens doubles team in the world, the Bryan Brothers, and the #4 ranked womens doubles team, Kveta Peschke and Rennae Stubbs. Highlights of the night were Oudsema winning the men's singles set 5-4 and Sacha Jones narrowly losing to Peschke, formerly ranked #26 in singles, 5-4 to start the match but the doubles sets were the Kastles downfall.

With a shot at the playoffs and two last home matches to wrap up the season, the Kastles players look forward to finishing the season strong in front of the best crowds in WTT.



World TeamTennis Stories from July 21, 2008


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