Flipkens Plays, Coaches To Lead Empire Past Kastles

July 31, 2017 | By Brian Coleman

Kirsten Flipkens had a plan. Serving as a player and coach tonight for the New York Empire presented by Citi, Flipkens put the weight of the team on her own shoulders as the Empire jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back, defeating the Washington Kastles, 25-18.

Refreshed after yesterday’s off day, Flipkens played in the women’s doubles, mixed doubles and women’s singles sets and scored wins in each.

Neal Skupski and Marcus Willis won the men’s doubles and first set of the match for the New York Empire, escaping 5-4 after a tiebreaker. Willis needed to win the fifth set tiebreaker to secure the victory for the New York Empire and did, sending the New York Empire to 6-6 on the season. The Kastles fall to 4-8.

Men’s Doubles:               Neal Skupski/Marcus Willis (NYE) def. Sam Groth/Bruno Soares (WAS), 5-4

Women’s Doubles:         Kirsten Flipkens/Maria Sanchez (NYE) def. Madison Brengle/Anastasia Rodionova (WAS), 5-3

Mixed Doubles:               Flipkens/Skupski (NYE) def. Rodionova/Soares (WAS), 5-4

Women’s Singles:           Flipkens (NYE) def. Brengle (WAS), 5-3

Men’s Singles:                  Willis (NYE) def. Groth (WAS), 5-4

Fan Appreciation Night is on Monday, July 31 featuring the New York Empire against the Springfield (MO) Lasers at 7 p.m.

 


Brian Coleman

 Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com

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