|  | | | | Kansas City Explorers Advance to 2008 WTT Final | |  |
Kansas City Explorers Advance to 2008 WTT Final
Explorers Defeat Sacramento Capitals 21-10
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (July 25, 2008) --- The Kansas City Explorers advanced to Sunday’s World TeamTennis Final with a convincing 21-10 win over the Sacramento Capitals Friday evening at Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria in Roseville, Calif.
The Explorers dominated the three doubles, losing only four games in the final three events. WTT Female MVP Rennae Stubbs paired with Dusan Vemic to defeat Sacramento’s Elena Likhovtseva and Eric Butorac 5-3 in the Mixed Doubles. Stubbs then teamed with Kveta Peschke to blank Likhovtseva and Tammy Hendler in the women’s doubles, winning 5-0. In Men’s Doubles, Kansas City’s James Aukland and Vemic won easily, taking out Sam Warburg and Butorac, 5-1.
Sacramento’s only win of the night came in the opening set when Warburg handled Vemic 5-1 in Men’s Singles. In Women’s Singles, Peschke defeated Likhovtseva 5-1. Sacramento substituted Likhovtseva for Hendler at 1-3, but she could not win the set.
“We faced a much different Caps team than we did the first week of the season,” said Kansas City coach Brent Haygarth. “Tonight we changed the order of play, relying on our doubles teams in case we got down early. It worked in our favor, and we were able to get on top of the match starting with the second event.”
The Explorers posted the best record in the League this season, finishing 13-1. Friday’s win was the third time this season the Explorers defeated Sacramento.
Kansas City advances to Sunday’s final and will face the winners of Saturday’s semifinal between the New York Buzz and the New York Sportimes. John McEnroe will play for the Sportimes in Saturday’s semifinal and in Sunday’s final if the team advances.
“Our only loss of the season was to the Buzz, but regardless of who wins on Saturday, we will be ready,” Haygarth added. “It will help to be the home team on Sunday and being able to set the line-up will be a huge advantage because in the WTT format, every point is important.”
Tickets for all of this weekend’s matches are available by calling 916-638-4001 or online at www.gocaps.net.
# # #
KANSAS CITY EXPLORERS def. Sacramento Capitals 21-10
Men's Singles - Sam Warburg (Capitals) def. Dusan Vemic (Explorers) 5-1
Women's Singles - Kveta Peschke (Explorers) def. Elena Likhovtseva (Capitals) 5-1
Men's Doubles - James Auckland\Dusan Vemic (Explorers) def. Eric Butorac\Sam Warburg (Capitals) 5-1
Mixed Doubles - Rennae Stubbs\Dusan Vemic (Explorers) def. Eric Butorac\Elena Likhovtseva (Capitals) 5-3
Women's Doubles - Kveta Peschke\Rennae Stubbs (Explorers) def. Tammy Hendler\Elena Likhovtseva (Capitals) 5-0
|