YESTERDAY (July 29)
LIVE on ESPN3: WASHINGTON KASTLES d. Philadelphia Freedoms 25-9
The Kastles put on a statement win to claim a fifth straight Eastern Conference Championship title on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Freedoms. Though the Freedoms had claimed one regular season win over the four-time defending champions at home, they were quickly outmatched by the team led by three-time 2015 Grand Slam Champion Martina Hingis, who raced through the opening set of mixed doubles with fellow Wimbledon winner Leander Paes. Once she and 2015 Female Co-MVP Anastasia Rodionova outlasted Taylor Townsend at CoCo Vandeweghe in women’s doubles, Sam Querrey delivered the final blow in men’s singles, blanking 2005 US Open semifinalist Robby Ginepri to end an otherwise successful season for Philadelphia.
LIVE on ESPN3: AUSTIN ACES d. California Dream 25-14
Austin improved to 4-0 against the California Dream; though the Dream arrived to the match late due to flight troubles, the Aces were unflappable over five sets. Male MVP and Female Rookie of the Year Teymuraz Gabashvili and Alla Kudryavtseva got out to a quick start under the watchful eye of 2015 Coach of the Year Rick Leach, who was on his feet as the Russians raced through the opening set of mixed doubles. Though 2015 Male Rookie of the Year Neal Skupski and Tennys Sandgren pegged Gabashvili and Jarmere Jenkins into a men’s doubles tiebreak, the Aces were too tough by halftime, and Gabashvili edged Sandgren in a second tiebreak to finish men’s singles.
SUNDAY (August 2)
LIVE on ESPN3: Austin Aces @ Washington Kastles 11:30AM EDT
It all comes down to this: who will claim the King Trophy during Mylan WTT’s 40th season? The Washington Kastles are heavy favorites to capture a fifth straight title, but will face stiff competition from the Austin Aces -- who not only enter their first Mylan WTT Finals with a better regular season record, but also beat the Kastles twice in three meetings. Can the Kastles make history, or will the team of three MVPs (Gabashvili, Kudryavtseva, Coach Leach) pull off the league’s biggest upset of the decade?