Sportimes Pull Off Dramatic Win Over the Aces

July 12, 2011 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Everet_King_Hingus-3
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

The New York Sportimes pulled victory from the jaws of defeat last night at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island with a come-from-behind 16-15 win over the St. Louis Aces in World TeamTennis action.

The Sportimes got off to a rocky start, as Travis Parrott & Jesse Witten fell in the men’s doubles match 5-2 to the Aces duo of Roman Borvanov & Jean-Julien Rojer. Next up was women’s doubles where the Sportimes fans got their first look at Martina Hingis for the evening. However, the Aces team of doubles specialist Liezel Huber & Maria Sanchez easily defeated Hingis and partner Katie O’Brien 5-1. This defeat put the Sportimes in an early 10-3 hole. The Sportimes fought back valiantly the rest of the way, as Jesse Witten made it a match by rolling through Roman Borvanov 5-0 which brought the Sportimes back into contention now down only 10-8 overall.

After the mixed-doubles team of Huber & Rojer of the Aces defeated Hingis & Parrott of the Sportimes 5-2, the Sportimes had their backs against the wall, down 15-10 with just one match remaining, the women’s singles match. The Sportimes turned to their star, former world number one Martina Hingis who needed to win 5-0 in order to tie the overall match and give the Sportimes a chance. As the stars often do, Hingis rose to the challenge and got the 5-0 victory over Huber, setting up a tie-breaker to decide the overall match which the Sportimes won 7-6, giving them the match victory.

The Sportimes now move to 5-1 overall on the 2011 WTT season and are one game out of first place behind the Washington Kastles.

Aside from the thrilling match, the evening was further enhanced by the special appearance of another former world number one, Chris Evert. Evert, who joined Jesse Witten and two youngsters from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy for a special mixed-doubles match at halftime.

The next Sportimes home match at Randall’s Island will be Thursday night, July 14, when they take on the Philadelphia Freedom. John McEnroe will join Martina Hingis as the Sportimes marquee players and McEnroe will face his former rival Bjorn Borg who will play for the Freedom.



Match Results: New York Sportimes vs. St. Louis Aces (July 11, 2011)

►Borvanov & Rojer (STL) defeated Parrott & Witten (NY) 5-2

►Huber & Sanchez (Aces) defeated Hingis & O’Brien (NY) 5-1

►Witten (NY) defeated Borvanov (STL) 5-0

►Huber & Rojer (STL) defeated Hingis & Parrott (NY) 5-2

►Hingis (NY) defeated Huber (STL) 5-0

►Supertiebreaker: Hingis (NY) defeated Huber (STL) 1-0 (7-6)



 

Credit all photos to Kenneth B. Goldberg

Credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

The New York Sportimes were victorious in their 16-15 comeback win over the St. Louis Aces on Monday night at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island

 

Credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Chris Evert joined Jesse Witten and two youngsters from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy for a special mixed-doubles match at halftime

 

Credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Billie Jean King taking in the Sportimes-Aces World TeamTennis matches Monday evening at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island

 

Credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

The team of Travis Parrott & Jesse Witten fell in the men’s doubles match 5-2 to the St. Louis Aces duo of Roman Borvanov & Jean-Julien Rojer

 

Credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

The St. Louis Aces (pictured here) couldn’t hold off the surgiing New York Sportimes in Monday’s 16-15 loss at Sportime Stadium at Randall’s Island

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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