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| Head coach Murphy Jensen cheers on his Kastles |
So
this is what losing feels like... Forgive me (and all fans of the
Washington Kastles) for asking, but losing isn't something we're used to feeling or
seeing lately at Kastles Stadium. That's what happens when you win
three WTT championships in a row, and set the record for most wins in a row (34) by a major professional sports team. The
San Diego Aviators gave the Kastles their first taste of defeat this season, edging the defending champs 22-18 and putting an end to Washington's 18-game winning streak in the process.
Washington slips to 6-1 on the season, still a comfortable 3.5 matches ahead of second place
Boston in the Eastern Conference. The Aviators improve to 5-2, and lead the Western Conference by a match over the
Texas Wild. Unless
Andy Roddick and the
Springfield Lasers have something to say about it, don't be surprised to see San Diego and Washington duke it out again in this year's championship.
San Diego jumped out to an early lead, thanks to
UVA product (and two-time NCAA champion)
Somdev Devvarman's 5-4 victory over the Kastles'
Bobby Reynolds in Men's Singles. The electrifying first set took a whopping 39 minutes, part of an almost 3½ hour marathon. After that,
Martina Hingis and
Anastasia Rodionova took the court in a Women's Doubles contest vs.
Daniela Hantuchova and
Kveta Peschke. Hantuchova is currently the 32nd ranked women's singles player in the world; and Peschke won a Wimbledon title (Women's Doubles) just three years ago. Hingis and Rodionova have looked unstoppable of late, but were no match for the Aviators dynamic duo. Hantuchova and Peschke won the second set 5-3.
Down 10-7, the Kastles turned to their top tandem... Hingis and
Leander Paes (29 Grand Slam titles between the two of them) who stopped the Aviators run, winning Mixed Doubles over Peschke and
Raven Klaasen 5-2. After three sets, it was all tied up at 12.
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| Leander Paes: 14 Grand Slams and a great head of hair. Not fair! |
Hingis remained on the court for her
third straight set, splitting the first four games with former doubles partner Hantuchova. The better rested (and four-time Grand Slam winner) Slovakian closed out the set with three straight games, putting plenty of pressure on the Kastles' Men's Doubles team of Reynolds and Paes.
The fifth and final set was another nail-biter, as the Kastles chipped away at San Diego's lead; before ultimately coming up short, 5-4 (including a tie-breaker) to Devvarman and Klaasen. The result wasn't favorable; but you can't discount the intensity and playoff-like atmosphere at the Smith Center. Before last night, the Kastles had lost a
total of three sets in six matches: Versus San Diego, they lost four of five in one night.
Tonight, Smith Center hosts the third annual
Kastles Charity Classic with celebrities and politicians taking the court to raise money for Best Buddies, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), DC Public Education Fund and Food & Friends. The Kastles return to WTT action on Wednesday night as
Venus Williams makes her season debut vs. the Texas Wild at 7:00 PM.
Click here to purchase tickets. Act fast: It's bound to be a sell-out.
Click here for last night's box score.
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| Refuse to Lose! |
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| Martina Hingis |
