Kastles advance to World Team Tennis finals vs. Capitals

Charleston, SC, United States (4E Sports) – Overall defending champion Washington Kastles extended their winning streak to 31 games after defeating the New York Sportimes, 19-15, Saturday to bag the WTT Eastern Conference title at the Family Circle Tennis Center.

The Kastles will face Western Conference champion Sacramento Capitals for the overall WTT title, eyeing to finish the 16-match season undefeated for the second straight year and retain the overall title.

Made up of Kevin Anderson, Coco Vandeweghe, Mark Knowles, Yasmin Schnack and Asia Muhammad, the Capitals defeated the Orange County Breakers 25-15 to claim the Western Conference Championship.

Ashley Harkleroad broke a 14-14 tie and gave New York the overall lead after breaking Venus Williams’ serve in the opening game. Williams, however, retaliated by taking the next five games to give the Kastles the victory.

“I enjoy the pressure and there was so much pressure today to keep the streak going and get into the Finals,” said Williams.

Before the final match, the Kastles took an early lead after 2012 WTT Male MVP Bobby Reynolds and Leander Paes teamed up to score a 5-2 win over John McEnroe and Robert Kendrick.

Kveta Peschke started with McEnroe and ended the set with Robert Kendrick as they beat the partnership of Williams and Leander Paes, 5-2, in the mixed doubles to tie the count.

In men’s singles, Reynolds was too much for New York’s Jesse Witten, winning 5-2, to give the Kastles a 12-9 halftime lead.

Peschke and Ashley Harkleroad upended Williams and Anastasia Rodionova in women’s doubles 5-2 to even the match at 14-all heading into the final set.

“We had to play hard,” said Paes. “Hats off to New York, they threw everything at us. I am so happy to be on this Kastles team. This is what we do, we fight together as a team. Tomorrow’s final will be a real highlight of the season.”

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