Mylan World TeamTennis celebrates its 40th birthday this year. For more on WTT, including this season's schedule, click here.
YESTERDAY (July 16)
Live Stream of the Day - AUSTIN ACES d. California Dream 20-19
In a nail-biting affair, the Austin Aces retained their unbeaten record in Mylan World TeamTennis’ 40th season, recovering from a disastrous start to lead fellow Western Conference team California Dream by just one game after five sets. The Dream were faster out of the blocks, winning seven straight games to take women’s doubles and lead 3-0 in the mixed. But when California Coach David Macpherson subbed Anabel Medina Garrigues out for Jarmila Gajdosova, Alla Kudryavtseva began playing inspired tennis alongside Teymuraz Gabashvili. Suddenly it was the Aces who were on a seven-game winning streak that saw them capture mixed and men’s doubles before halftime. Gajdosova redeemed herself in women’s singles but Tennys Sandgren would injure himself early in the final set against Gabashvili, who held his nerve to clinch the win on a deciding point. The Aces and Dream will face familiar opponents today: each other! Austin heads to the Sunrise Mall parking lot to face the Dream once more, having already earned two road wins to start the season.
Boston Lobsters d. PHILADELPHIA DREEDOMS 21-17
In a surprising turn of events, the Boston Lobsters find themselves leading the Eastern Conference after a hard-fought win in Philadelphia on Thursday. Billie Jean King’s signature team looked to have the momentum at first, winning two of the first three sets and edging the Lobsters in a mixed doubles tiebreak just before halftime. Following the break, Mylan WTT No. 1 Draft Pick Irina Falconi rose to the challenge by taking out Taylor Townsend, and Kuznetsov got his revenge on Ginepri when pairing with Scott Lipsky, who beat the former US Open semifinalist and French Open champion Marcelo Melo, 5-3. The Lobsters have a day to rest before making the trip out to the Sunrise Mall to face the California Dream on Saturday, while the Freedoms host a struggling Washington Kastles today.
San Diego Aviators d. WASHINGTON KASTLES 22-18
Coming into the 2015 season, the Kastles had lost just two home matches in four years. The four-time defending Champions have already matched that dubious total after two appearances at the Kastles Stadium this summer, now losing to the San Diego Aviators for the second time in two seasons. Rising teen Taylor Fritz drew first blood for San Diego in upsetting Denis Kudla in men’s singles, and though Kudla got the junior No. 1 back in men’s doubles with Leander Paes, Chani Scheepers and Darija Jurak made the difference in women’s singles, doubles, and mixed, the latter edging Paes and Anastasia Rodionova 5-3 with Raven Klaasen in the final set. With world No. 1 Serena Williams not joining the Kastles until Monday, the team to beat may be in for a long weekend.
TODAY (July 17)
Washington Kastles @ Philadelphia Freedoms 7PM EDT
Washington heads to Philly on Friday looking to wrest first place from the Boston Lobsters; between two teams with strong doubles pedigree, who have meshed better in the first week? Will Anastasia Rodionova and Madison Brengle be able to fight off the onslaught presented by Taylor Townsend and Asia Muhammad (winner of a WTA doubles title in 2015)? Leander Paes was in rare form in men’s doubles on Wednesday; can he maintain that level after that disappointing defeat to Austin?
San Diego Aviators @ Springfield Lasers 9PM EDT
Springfield will be looking for their first 2015 season win against the Aviators, who have been in solid form thus far -- even grabbing a win over the vaunted Kastles on Thursday. Youth vs. Experience will be on the menu as 17-year-old Taylor Fritz takes on Mylan WTT veteran, Michael Russell. Will powerful Germans Andre Begemann and Anna-Lena Groenefeld be able to fend off Darija Jurak and Raven Klaasen in mixed doubles?
Austin Aces @ California Dream 10:30PM EDT
After an epic encounter on Friday, all eyes will be on this Mylan WTT sequel. How will Tennys Sandgren pull up after appearing to injure himself in men’s singles? Will Alla Kudryavtseva continue to find inspiration from the crowd? Jarka Gajdosova proved to be a tough out in women’s singles; it will be interesting to see how the line-up changes in 24 hours.
TOMORROW (July 18)
Philadelphia Freedoms @ Washington Kastles 5PM EDT
In another Mylan WTT reversal, the Kastles will host the Freedoms one day after facing them on the road. Will Washington finally earn a home-court victory? How will Marcelo Melo match up against Wimbledon mixed doubles champion Leander Paes? Will Madison Brengle be able to deal with the flair and variety coming from Taylor Townsend?
Springfield Lasers @ Austin Aces 8PM EDT
The top and bottom Western Conference teams face of at Austin’s home stadium, and if Thursday’s encounter with the California Dream was any indication, this one will be one to watch. Plenty of cheering, exhorting, and devoted crowd support should all be on the menu as the Russian/American rookies take on the two-time Mylan WTT finalists.
Boston Lobsters @ California Dream 10:30PM EDT
Boston has caught fire in the first week; will their flame keep burning as they head west to face the California Dream? The match-up between Irina Falconi and Jarka Gajdosova will be an intriguing affair, as will the doubles match-up between Scott Lipsky and Neal Skupski. Can the Lobsters hold onto their lead?