By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday August 2, 2019
Olga Govortsova clinched a tense victory for the defending champion Springfield Lasers over the San Diego Aviators on Friday in Vegas.
Photo Source: World Team Tennis
Olga Govortsova rallied from 4-2 down to defeat Arina Rodionova, sending the Springfield Lasers back to the World Team Tennis title match on Friday night in Vegas.
Govortsova’s 5-4 tiebreak victory over Rodionova earned the Lasers a shot at a repeat title—they’ll face the New York Empire on Saturday at Orleans Arena to decide it all.
Robert Lindstedt won men’s and mixed doubles for the Lasers, but the situation was looking dire when Govortsova fell behind 4-2 to Rodionova after James Ward had defeated Evan Song 5-3 in men’s singles. Rodionova could have clinched the win with one more game, but the 2011 WTT Finals MVP could not get it done.
The Philadelphia Freedoms season ended in heartbreaking fashion as they were dumped out of the playoffs by the Empire. The Freedoms were the WTT’s best team in the regular season with an 11-3 record, but Ulises Blanch subbed in for injured Mardy Fish to lead the Empire to an upset triumph.
Kirsten Flipkens and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez sealed the win for the Empire with a crucial win over Philly’s top doubles team of Taylor Townsend and Raquel Atawo.