CHARLESTON, S.C. (July 22, 2011) – The Washington Kastles moved one step closer to their second World TeamTennis title and the first undefeated season in WTT Pro League history with a 23-15 victory over the Boston Lobsters in the WTT Eastern Conference Championship final. The Kastles advance to Sunday’s WTT Finals to face the winner of Saturday’s Western Conference Championship match.
Leander Paes, who was announced as the 2011 WTT Male MVP prior to the match, partnered with Rennae Stubbs to power past Boston’s Eric Butorac and Mashona Washington, 5-2, in the opening set. That opening match set the tone for the rest of the first half as Stubbs and Arina Rodionova dominated Washington and her partner Irina Falconi in women’s doubles 5-1. The Kastles cruised to a 15-5 halftime lead after Paes and Bobby Reynolds defeated Butorac and Jan-Michael Gambill in men’s doubles, 5-2.
Falconi tried to turn the tide in women’s singles as she faced off against WTT’s Female Rookie of the Year Rodionova. Falconi jumped out to a 3-1 lead before Rodionova shifted gears and evened out the set at 4-4. Falconi hit a crosscourt forehand winner for the 5-4 victory and the first set win for the Lobsters.
Gambill won men’s singles 5-3 to send the match into overtime. Reynolds closed outWashington’s 15th consecutive victory by winning the first Overtime game to give the Kastles the 23-15 win. The win gives 2011 Coach of the Year Murphy Jensen and his squad a shot at making WTT history in Sunday’s final. No team in WTT history has ever gone undefeated throughout the entire regular and post-season.
The St. Louis Aces and the Sacramento Capitals face off for the Western Conference title at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 23. The winner will play the Kastles at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 24, for the King Trophy in the WTT Finals. The Finals will be televised live on Tennis Channel and live streamed on http://video.wtt.com.
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FINAL RESULTS FROM THE EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
(Home teams in capital letters)
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WASHINGTON KASTLES def. Boston Lobsters 23-15 (OT)
Mixed Doubles – Leander PaesRennae Stubbs (Kastles) def. Eric ButoracMashonaWashington(Lobsters) 5-2
Women’s Doubles – Arina RodionovaRennae Stubbs (Kastles) def. Irina FalconiMashonaWashington(Lobsters) 5-1
Men’s Doubles – Leander PaesBobby Reynolds (Kastles) def. Eric ButoracJan-Michael Gambill (Lobsters) 5-2
Women’s Singles – Irina Falconi (Lobsters) def. Arina Rodionova (Kastles) 5-4
Men’s Singles – Jan-Michael Gambill (Lobsters) def. Bobby Reynolds (Kastles) 5-3
Overtime – Men’s Singles – Bobby Reynolds (Kastles) def. Jan-Michael Gambill (Lobsters) 1-0
Next Match: 7/23/2011
Western Conference Championship:Â Â Sacramento Capitals @ST. LOUIS ACES, 5:00 PM (EDT)
From World TeamTennis