New York Sportimes Kick Off 2012 Season With Win Over Springfield

July 11, 2012 | By Kristen Kelleher
WTT 2012-1-12
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Last night kicked off the 2012 World TeamTennis season at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island as the New York Sportimes defeated the Springfield Lasers 22-14. The night got off to a rocky start for the Sportimes as they dropped the men’s singles match which opened play. The opening match featured Robert Kendrick playing for the Sportimes, Kendrick’s fifth season of World TeamTennis, all five years with the Sportimes. Kendrick was defeated by Amir Weintraub of the Lasers, 5-2.

Women’s singles was next up, with former world number one Martina Hingis representing the Sportimes as she faced Springfield’s Timea Babos. Hingis defeated Babos in a close match, 5-3. Hingis will play in all matches this summer for the Sportimes. Hingis’s win cut into the Lasers overall lead, which they at this point held at 8-7.

The Sportimes continued their charge back in the third match of the night, as the men’s doubles team of Robert Kendrick & Jesse Witten defeated Devon Britton & Amir Weintraub of the Lasers, 5-2. Tensions rose briefly in this set when Weintraub’s racket hit the net after an overhead. It was not called by the umpire, but after a bit of arguing, the coach of the Lasers, John Laffnie de Jager, admitted that the racket did hit the net and he conceded the point to Kendrick & Witten. The Sportimes went on to win the match shortly after.

Next up was a women’s doubles match where Martina Hingis was back on the court with her teammate Ashley Harkleroad to face Timea Babos & Maria Sanchez.. Again, the Sportimes pulled out the win 5-3, giving New York a 17-12 overall lead heading into the last match of the night. 

The last match of the night was a mixed-doubles encounter featuring Hingis & Kendrick facing Maria Sanchez & Devin Britton. The Sportimes duo dominated the match, defeating Sanchez & Britton 5-1.

Next on the schedule for the Sportimes is an away match against the Washington Kastles on Thursday, July 12. The Sportimes are back in New York this Friday, July 13 where Martina Hingis will lead them back into action against the Philadelphia Freedoms.

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Martina Hingis of the Sportimes en route to her 5-3 win over Springfield’s Timea Babos

 

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

The Sportimes team of Martina Hingis & Robert Kendrick were 5-1 winners over Springfield’s Maria Sanchez & Devin Britton in mixed-doubles action

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. GOldberg

The 2012 New York Sportimes started off their season with a victory over the Springfield Lasers

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Springfield’s Devon Britton & Amir Weintraub fell 5-2 to the team of Robert Kendrick & Jesse Witten of the Sportimes

 

Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Robert Kendrick in mixed-doubles action against the Springfield Lasers

 

Ashley Harkleroad & Martina Hingis prepare for women’s doubles action at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island


Kristen Kelleher
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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