Kastles Cruise in Home Opener
The three-time defending
WTT champions opened their 2014 home campaign in grandiose style last night, crushing the
Boston Lobsters 25-8 at
Charles E. Smith Center before an exuberant crowd of 2,554. The
Washington Kastles (3-0) appeared even
more dominant than usual, matching a franchise record for biggest margin of victory, and sending notice to everyone that 3-in-a-row
won't be enough.
To be honest, I doubt
anyone could have bested the Kastles last night, as they christened their new indoor digs with one of the most dominant performances in team history. After team owner
Mark Ein unveiled last season's championship banner,
Martina Hingis and
Leander Paes took the court and cruised past
Eric Butorac and
Megan Moulton-Levy 5-1 to win the Mixed Doubles first set.
Next up... Women's Singles, where Hingis literally took apart
Caitlin Whoriskey 5-0 to boost the Kastles' lead to 10-1. I think it's safe to say, the home team had
this one safely in hand by this point.
Kevin Anderson, the #17 ranked men's player in the world then put things
completely out of reach, topping fellow South African
Rik de Voest 5-1 after losing his serve in the first game. Obviously, the Lobsters could have used star
John Isner; but
without the hard-serving American (ranked #12 in the world) the Kastles led 15-2 after three sets.
Charismatic Kastles coach
Murphy Jensen took the court for a friendly game of mixed doubles before giving way to Hingis and Women's Doubles partner
Anastasia Rodionova, who dismantled Moulton-Levy and Whoriskey 5-2 to push the Kastles' lead to 20-4.
Anderson and Paes started the fifth and final set, winning an exciting (and competitive) Men's Double vs. Butorac and de Voest 5-4 in a 28-minute finale. Kastles closer
Bobby Reynolds came on in relief of Anderson, and hit some incredible shots to help
close the door on the visitors.
Last night's motto was, "Refuse to lose," and the Kastles had no trouble complying. Washington returns tonight to host the
Philadelphia Freedoms (1-1.) Tickets start at just $8 and are available at the box office or online (
click here.)
Click here for last night's box score.
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| Kastles celebrate Kevin Anderson's Men's Singles victory |
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| Paes and Jensen (r) celebrate... Sense a theme here? |
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| Kastles Cheerleaders |
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| And we thought Kevin Anderson (6'8) was tall... |
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| Leander Paes serves |
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| Martina Hingis |
