Washington Kastles Capture Third Consecutive WTT Title

July 29, 2013 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

The Washington Kastles defeated the Springfield Lasers 25-12 on Sunday night in the Mylan World TeamTennis (WTT) finals to capture their third consecutive title and their fourth in five years.

"It is the best feeling in the world to share so much success with such great people," said the Kastles’ Murphy Jensen, the WTT coach of the year. "We are America’s team and it’s kind of cool. It’s kind of a dream come true to be able to wear a jersey that says coach."

Sunday’s dual was a rematch of the 2009 Mylan WTT Finals, when the Kastles held off three match points to defeat Springfield and win the title in D.C., 23-20.

Following Springfield’s win over Texas to advance to the finals, Lasers coach John-Laffnie de Jager announced that Andy Roddick would return for the finals match, while Martina Hingis was on hand to play for the Kastles.

"It was pretty cool to have five perfect sets," said Kastles star Martina Hingis, who was inducted two weeks ago into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Hingis will return to the WTA this week, playing doubles with Daniela Hantuchova at the Southern California Open in Carlsbad, Calif.

Springfield coach John-Laffnie de Jager chose Rik de Voest, rather than Roddick, to face the Kastles’ Bobby Reynolds. De Voest was 5-0 against Reynolds in his career. Hingis and Anastasia Rodionova kept momentum in the women’s doubles set, earning a 5-3 win. It looked like luck was on the Lasers’ side when a volley from Alisa Kleybanova trickled over the net to get a 2-1 lead, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the strategic lobs the Kastles pair launched over Vania King during the set. The Kastles then took command in men’s doubles, leading 4-2, when Roddick stepped in to replace de Voest, joining Jean-Julien Rojer, but the Kastles’ Leander Paes & Reynolds held on to win the set 5-2. Hingis rolled past Kleybanova 5-2 in women’s singles, and the duo of Hingis & Paes defeated Roddick & Kleybanova 5-4 in the final match.

Reynolds was named finals MVP.

"It’s been fun," Roddick said. "(The Kastles) deserve the success they get; they put a lot into it."


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
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