2019 New York Empire Season Recap: Empire Reach World TeamTennis Finals

August 16, 2019 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Hudson

 

This summer, the Bronx played home to the best season in the history of World TeamTennis’ New York Empire franchise, as the place to be from mid-July through early August was the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning.

After an up-and-down start to the season, the Empire caught fire towards the end of the season as it pursued the first playoff appearance in team history. Sitting on the edge of the playoff picture, the Empire won three of its final four matches in the regular season including a dominating performance over the top-seeded Philadelphia Freedoms on the season’s final day.

 

“It’s incredible to lead this team to the playoffs for the first time in team history,” said first-year Empire Head Coach Luke Jensen. “I was very blessed when I was given the opportunity by the Empire and the league and Commissioner Carlos Silva who thought this was a good fit. The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis is a special place, where more than 80,000 kids go through. We are built for World TeamTennis and Billie Jean King was the driving force for my family to start playing tennis.”

Coach Jensen’s contagious energy helped guide his team, whose core roster was comprised of Kirsten Flipkens, Neal Skupski, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Ulises Branch and Mardy Fish, and who were joined early in the season by top Americans John Isner and Sloane Stephens as they appeared in one match each, and Varvara Lepchenko joined the team to fill in for Flipkens when she returned to the WTA Tour briefly.

 

With the playoff spot secured, the Empire packed up and headed out west for the WTT playoffs at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. It was a quick turnaround as the Empire took on the Freedoms once again, playing for a third time in a week, in the semifinals.

Blanch was called into action in the semifinals, as Fish went down with a hamstring injury and the young American was needed. He filled in perfectly, winning the Men’s Singles Set 5-4 and pairing with Skupski to win at Men’s Doubles 5-4 en route to the Empire’s 24-18 victory, clinching its place in the championship match.

“I just tried to focus and when I stepped on the court, I knew a great part of it was mental and I just tried to deliver,” said Blanch. “The first night we played them at home, they kind of blew us away, we weren’t really ready. In Philly, I think we played a great match and we came into this match confident that we could win it.”

Unfortunately, the Empire would come up short in the championship match against the defending champion Springfield Lasers, who rallied in the match’s final set to win 20-19 and capture its second consecutive WTT title.

“I just love the way we fought … I love the way we played,” said Jensen. “It came down to losing just one game. What an amazing opportunity to be in this arena and this league with this atmosphere!”

While the season may have ended in disappointing fashion, it was still a successful one for the Empire. For his performances, Skupski was named the league’s Male Most Valuable Player, as he and Martinez-Sanchez were the top mixed doubles duo in the league all-season long.

 

The Empire also provided wins off the court as well, participating in many community events and holding special theme nights during its home matches throughout the season, including a “Community Hero Night,” where it honored Bronx’s police officers, firefighters, active-duty military and veterans and public school teachers; a “Taste of the Bronx Night,” where the local cuisine of the Bronx was on full display; a “Fan Appreciation Night” and “Family Fun Night;” and an “Empower Her Night,” where it honored Billie Jean King and the Women’s Sports Foundation.

With another year of World TeamTennis and New York Empire action here in New York City in the books, the team truly set the bar this season. The Empire and its fans are eager for the team’s return in 2020, as it hopes to build off this season and its run to the championship.

 

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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