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WTT Springfield Lasers

Springfield Lasers Notch Their First Win in a Thriller over the Washington Kastles

July 16, 2020 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Springfield Lasers News Release


WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. - Every point counts. The motto for World TeamTennis proved prophetic as Springfield's Mitchell Kruger rallied in the fifth set tiebreaker, winning the last three points on his serve and fighting off two set points by Washington's Tommy Paul, to score the 5-4 Men's Singles win and close out a 20-18 victory for the Lasers. The victory was the first of the season for the two-time defending champions, the loss the first of the year for the Kastles.

In a match that was close throughout, Bernarda Pera got the Kastles started early with a 5-2 opening set win over Caty McNally in Women's Singles, however, McNally would get her revenge in Women's Doubles. With the Kastles down 3-2 and trying to hold serve, a Pera mishit off a McNally return would ultimately cost Washington the game. Pera's disgust was quickly followed by a blast of the offending ball into the stands and out of the stadium, resulting in a warning. Springfield would go on to win the set, 5-2, tying the match at 7-7.

The Kastles would bounce back in the third, Mixed Doubles, with the combo of Arina Rodionova and Marcelo Arevalo downing McNally and Robert Lindstedt, 5-3. That lead would not last long as Springfield's Men's Doubles team of Lindstedt and Jean-Julien Rojer would respond, taking the fourth set 5-2 over Arevalo and Nick Monroe, giving the two-time defending champions a 15-14 lead heading into the final set.

Kruger on feeding off the energy of his teammates: "It's huge having the support and the guys on the bench pumping me up and some of the guys in the back settling me down after points. I wish I could have it all year round. I love the format."

Kruger on the importance of notching the team's first win: "We were hungry for our first win and I was happy that I was able to bring us over the line. I'm hoping this kind of opens the floodgates a little bit."

Springfield Lasers defeat WASHINGTON KASTLES, 20-18

Women's Singles - Bernarda Pera (Kastles) def. Caty McNally (Lasers), 5-2

Women's Doubles - McNally/Olga Govortsova (Lasers) vs. Pera/Arina Rodionova (Kastles), 5-2

Mixed Doubles - Marcelo Arevalo/Arina Rodionova (Kastles) def. Robert Lindstedt/McNally (Lasers), 5-3

Men's Doubles - Lindstedt/Jean-Julien Rojer (Lasers) vs. Arevalo/Nick Monroe (Kastles), 5-2

Men's Singles - Mitchell Krueger (Lasers) vs. Tommy Paul (Kastles), 5-4 in tiebreaker

NOTEBOOK:

In the fourth set, with the match tied 14-14 apiece, a rain delay forced the action to The Greenbrier's indoor court causing a 22-minute delay in action.

Daily WTT video highlights can be found here: https://vimeopro.com/worldteamtennis/wtt-2020-video-highlights

NEXT SCHEDULED MATCH: The Washington Kastles return to action tomorrow against the Philadelphia Freedoms at 9 AM ET on Facebook Watch and the CBS Sports App. The Springfield Lasers host the Vegas Rollers tomorrow at 3:30 PM ET. That match can be viewed on ESPN+.

WTT's entire season schedule, and daily results can be viewed at WTT.com/schedule. WTT historical information and more media resources (i.e., media guide, press releases, images) can be viewed at WTT.com/media.

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