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WTT Washington Kastles

Undefeated Kastles Host Defending WTT Champions Tonight

July 18, 2018 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Tonight, the Kastles take on the reigning WTT champs Orange County Breakers on Military Appreciation Night at Kastles Stadium.

After a nail-biting Supertiebreaker win over the New York Empire Monday night in the Kastles' home opener, DC phenom Frances Tiafoe again headlines the evening for the Kastles, but the strength of the Breakers lies with their women who won the 2017 WTT Female MVP and WTT Rookie of the Year awards on their way to the title. They will be facing the Kastles' Madison Brengle, who has been consistently one of the toughest opponents in the league, especially at Kastles Stadium, and Christina McHale, who has been a very formidable addition to the team as a substitute for Wimbledon Mixed Doubles champion and Women's Doubles finalist, Nicole Melichar, who joins the team Thursday night.

Belgian star Yanina Wickmayer is the Breakers' singles player and was instrumental in Orange County's success last year, winning Rookie of the Year honors for her performance in singles and doubles. Wickmayer has had an impressive career on the WTA Tour, where she's won five singles and two doubles titles and reached a career-high singles ranking of #12 in the world in 2010. She is just coming off a third round showing at the 2018 Wimbledon, so she is in top form.

But at Kastles Stadium, Madison Brengle is very tough to beat as Monday night's stunning 5-1 win over the Empire's Tatjana Maria proved. That set was crucial to Washington's victory and Kastles fans should have full confidence in Brengle's ability to pull off another win tonight in what promises to be a memorable women's singles clash.

In women's doubles, the Breakers bring WTT veteran Andreja Klepac, who played for Washington in 2016, but won the WTT Women's MVP for her contributions to Orange County's success last season. On tour, Klepac is currently the #12 ranked doubles player in the world and won the Mallorca Open last month with the New York Empire's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, in addition to a semifinal run in Madrid and a quarterfinal run at Roland Garros. Klepac and Wickmeyer are a very strong team but will have a battle against Kastles' hard-hitter Christina McHale and Brengle, who took out the toughest women's doubles team in the league on paper Monday night.

In men's singles, Tiafoe will face 26-year-old Chicago native Evan King, who is subbing for Breakers' roster player Stephane Robert in DC. King is primarily known as a doubles player on tour. He's won three ATP Challenger doubles titles and 22 ITF Pro Circuit doubles titles, but this year reached a career-high singles ranking of #185 in the world.

King is comfortable playing in a team format. He is best known for being the most successful men's tennis player in the history of the University of Michigan. King holds the record for most combined career men's singles and doubles wins at Michigan and was a three-time ITA All-American, two-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year, and a four-time All-Big Ten. The question is whether he has it in him to defeat Tiafoe on his home court with what is certain to be a packed and energized hometown crowd behind him.

If King fails, he'll get another crack at Tiafoe in doubles with Breakers rookie Marcelo Demoliner, a formidable doubles specialist currently ranked #48, but not yet in the same league as Robert Lindstedt, who has won 22 career doubles titles, including the 2014 Australian Open Championship, in addition to reaching three consecutive Wimbledon men's doubles finals.

Mixed doubles will pit Lindstedt and McHale against Demoliner and Klepac. Both teams are experienced mixed competitors, but the Kastles will have an edge in this contest. Lindstedt and McHale have two sets under their belt as a team by now, with a solid .500 winning percentage, while Demoliner and Klepac will pair up for the first time in DC. Klepac split her previous two mixed doubles sets with former Kastle Sam Querrey, who was traded to Orange County this spring.

SET-BY-SET-PROJECTIONS

MXD - R. Lindstedt/C. McHale (WAS) vs. M. Demoliner/A. Klepac (OC)

WS - M. Brengle (WAS) vs. Y. Wickmayer (OC)

WD - M. Brengle/C. McHale (WAS) vs. Y. Wickmayer/A. Klepac (OC)

MD - F. Tiafoe/R. Lindstedt (WAS) vs. E. King/M. Demoliner (OC)

MS - F. Tiafoe (WAS) vs. E. King (OC)

For more info or to get your tickets go to washingtonkastles.com

Bob Bryan Returns to Tennis Tomorrow Night

Joining Two Wimbledon Champions: Brother Mike Bryan and Kastle Nicole Melichar

Tomorrow night, Bob Bryan makes his return to tennis after two months with the best team around to face the San Diego Aviators! Bob will hit DC with his brother, 2018 Wimbledon Men's Doubles Champion Mike Bryan by his side in addition to 2018 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion Nicole Melichar.

Over the last two years, the San Diego Aviators have become a formidable force in WTT. They reached the WTT Finals twice and won the title in 2016. This Thursday, the Kastles will play the Aviators for the first time this season with a lineup of players unmatched in recent memory.

Come see the return of Bob playing side by side with Wimbledon champion and world #1, Mike. Not to mention, get ready to see WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONS SIDE BY SIDE as Mike Bryan and Nicole Melichar team up for mixed doubles.

Don't miss this chance to see an incredible lineup with the world's best tennis players playing side by side! Get your tickets now, but hurry! They're going fast.

Tickets start at $15 and the first 1,000 FANS TO ARRIVE AT KASTLES STADIUM GET A FREE KASTLES T-SHIRT COURTESY OF TTR SOTHEBY'S.

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