Reviews: July 22
Washington Kastles def. Kansas City Explorers, 25-8
The Washington Kastles (10-0) extended their win streak to 26 matches with a victory over the Explorers. The Kastles are now tied with Major League Baseball’s 1916 New York Giants for the second longest professional sports team winning streak. Washington’s win also clinched the number one seed for the Finals Weekend presented by GEICO. The Kastles’ Bobby Reynolds and Venus Williams won their singles sets decisively; Williams had two aces and connected on 80 percent of her first-serve points en route to a singles win over Kansas City’s Tetiana Luzhanska, 5-1. Now that the Kastles have already clinched a spot in the playoffs, all they have to do is wait and see who will come out of the Eastern Conference.
Springfield Lasers def. Sacramento Capitals, 23-16
Since starting 0-6, The Lasers have won three matches in a row after last night’s victory over the Western Conference-leading Capitals. The win puts Springfield right back into the playoff race. The Lasers’ Maria Sanchez was flawless alongside Timea Babos in their doubles victory against Coco Vandeweghe and Asia Muhammad. Sanchez connected on 91 percent of her first serves to help win the set 5-2. If the Lasers can ride this recent momentum to more success, they could be one of the biggest surprises in recent WTT memory.
Boston Lobsters def. New York Sportimes, 22-20
The Lobsters picked up a pivotal Eastern Conference victory Sunday night with a win against the Sportimes. Boston’s Eric Butorac and Jan-Michael Gambill closed the match out with a 5-4 men’s doubles win over New York’s Jesse Witten and Robert Kendrick. Butorac was seven of 10 on first serve points during the set. Entering the final week, the Lobsters trail the Sportimes by a match and a half for the last seed in the playoffs.
Previews: July 23
Live Stream of the Day
Philadelphia Freedoms at Boston Lobsters, 6:00 p.m. EDT (WATCH LIVE HERE)
In the final week of the WTT season, the Freedoms travel to Boston for a huge Eastern Conference match. Both of these teams are a match and a half out of the playoffs right now. The Lobsters will receive a huge boost with John Isner making an appearance tonight. Isner, who is currently ranked No. 11 in the ATP, is one of the best American tennis players and will be a physical force on the court.
Other Match
Springfield Lasers at Orange County Breakers, 10:00 p.m. EDT
It is virtually a dead heat in the Western Conference with the reemergence of the Springfield Lasers. After an 0-6 start, the Lasers have won three consecutive matches, two of which were against the first place Sacramento Capitals. Orange County is in position to make the playoffs right now, but the Explorers and Lasers are close behind. The Breakers will have Lindsay Davenport, who last appeared in a WTT match on July 17.
Previews: July 24
Live Stream of the Day
Boston Lobsters @ New York Sportimes, 7:00 p.m. EDT (WATCH LIVE HERE)
Boston travels to Hudson Valley Community College for a key match in the Eastern Conference. This is the third time in five days that these two foes will face off. There should be a playoff atmosphere in Troy, N.Y. as these two teams are fighting for the last spot in the postseason.
Other Matches
Springfield Lasers at Kansas City Explorers, 8:05 p.m. EDT
The Lasers battle the Explorers in an in-state rivalry match Tuesday night. Both of these teams are in the thick of the Western Conference battle. No teams in the West have clinched playoff spots yet, so expect a lot of shake up in the standings as the final week of the WTT season winds down.
Philadelphia Freedoms at Washington Kastles, 7:10 p.m. EDT
While Washington has already clinched first place in the East, Philadelphia will fight for their playoff lives in the nation’s capital on Tuesday. With a win, the Kastles would surpass the 1916 New York Giants for the second longest winning streak in pro team sports history.
Orange County Breakers at Sacramento Capitals, 10:35 p.m. EDT
The Breakers try to make their way into the playoffs with this Western Conference matchup of two California squads. Sacramento is in first place, with the other three West teams very close behind. With Springfield and Kansas City also battling Tuesday night, the West standings cold look very different come Wednesday morning.