Rust is not evident as Kastles captain Paes returns to the WTT court

Written by: Staff on 25th July 2013

Rust is not evident as Kastles captain Paes returns to the WTT court

epa03084210 Elena Vesnina (R) of Russia and Leander Paes (L) of India in their mixed doubles final match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States of America and Horia Tecau of Romania at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 29 January 2012. Tecau/Mattek-Sands won the match. EPA/MARK KOLBE POOL |

Leander Paes was ready to return to the court three days ago, when the Washington Kastles hosted the Philadelphia Freedom. His injured hamstring was healed and — once again — he was able to run onto the court for pre-match introductions.

“I wanted to show them I was ready to play,” he said with his trade mark smile before the start of Wednesday’s match with the Boston Lobsters.

Paes was kept out of Monday’s match, as well as Tuesday’s against New York — both won by the Kastles – but returned for a tuneup Wednesday as the Kastles dominated the Lobsters 25-9 in the last regualr season match of the 2013 Mylan World TeamTennis season.

The same two teams meet tonight for the Eastern Conference Championship. The winner hosts the WTT championship on Sunday against either the Springfield Lasers or the Texas Wild; those two teams meet tonight for the WTT Western Conference Title.

“This will be the fifth time we play them,” said Lobster Amir Weintraub. “We make it to the playoffs and now we have to play the best team.”

The Kastles finished the season with a 12-2 record, with the first two wins of the year giving them a 34-match winning steak — setting a new U.S. professional sports record. They lost the next two matches to Texas and Springfield and have been undefeated since.

Although they will not post a third 16-0 season, they are in position to win their third consecutive WTT title and fourth in five years. With the best overall record, the Kastles earned the right to determine the order of play if they make it to the championship match.

Paes returned with style as well as smiles, as both teams played with a relaxed at times joshing manner. Mixed doubles was the first set of the night and Paes’ first serve was an ace. It took him only one one minute to win that first game — with aces on the first and third points, and two other winning shots.

Rust was not evident. He and partner Martina Hingis had a smile contest as they secured a quick 5-1 win to set the pace for the evening.

Paes, who proudly wears the letter “C” on his jersey to symbolize his being team captain, looked equally strong in his return to mixed doubles with partner Bobby Reynolds winning that third set 5-3 as Paes served out the winning game.

“You never want to lose any match, even when you have already the home advantage,” Paes said.

As the Kastles smiled and celebrated, three helicopters flew over the court, as if by design to symbolize the three-peat the team is seeking this year.

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TomSquitieri says:

July 25, 2013 at 7:53 pm

@Leander Peas shines on court and in new article http://t.co/5gIkw5fokS @WashKastles @WorldTeamTennis #goingforfour #threepeat
Leander says:

July 26, 2013 at 9:18 am

RT @TomSquitieri: @Leander Peas shines on court and in new article http://t.co/5gIkw5fokS @WashKastles @WorldTeamTennis #goingforfour #thre…
LeanderArmy says:

July 26, 2013 at 11:16 am

RT @TomSquitieri: @Leander Peas shines on court and in new article http://t.co/5gIkw5fokS @WashKastles @WorldTeamTennis #goingforfour #thre…
LindaMJohnsonPR says:

July 29, 2013 at 8:18 am

RT @TomSquitieri: @Leander Peas shines on court and in new article http://t.co/5gIkw5fokS @WashKastles @WorldTeamTennis #goingforfour #thre…