Duane Cross, Author at WTT

New York Wins a Match for the Ages, Defeats Chicago 21-20 in Supertiebreaker

Posted on August 2, 2020 (August 10, 2020)

The 2020 World TeamTennis season came down to a 13-point Supertiebreaker. And for a league that promotes “every point matters,” all 13 points were necessary. The New York Empire outlasted the expansion Chicago Smash to claim a 21-20 victory to cap the 45th WTT season and hoist the King Trophy for the first time. […]

Chicago Punches Tickets to Championship Match; Throttles Orlando

Posted on August 1, 2020 (August 1, 2020)

It came to pass on Saturday in the World TeamTennis playoffs: Chicago is an expansion team in name only. The Smash ended No. 2 seed Orlando’s seven-match win streak with a 24-13 semifinal victory to earn a berth in the championship match against the New York Empire. […]

Chicago Smash Eye No. 1 Overall Seed, Lock Up WTT Playoffs Berth

Posted on July 26, 2020

The expansion Chicago Smash took to the court Sunday with a World TeamTennis playoff berth already in their back pocket. It remained to be seen whether Coach Kamau Murray’s squad would keep the pressure on Philadelphia for the top seed. Earlier, New York beat Washington, 25-15, to lock in Chicago and Philly – the WTT […]

Sloane Stephens Powers Chicago to Decisive Victory Against New York

Posted on July 25, 2020 (July 26, 2020)

Entering play with the chance to tie Philadelphia atop the World TeamTennis standings, Chicago rallied past New York on Saturday behind the solid play of Sloane Stephens at Center Court at Creekside at The Greenbrier. NEW YORK EMPIRE vs CHICAGO SMASH MATCH STATSFacing the Empire for the second time in eight days, the Smash played […]

Chicago Edges Closer to Locking Up Playoff Spot; Holds off Washington 21-15

Posted on July 24, 2020 (July 24, 2020)

On Match Day 13, Chicago’s Brandon Nakashima had a coming-out party at Center Court at Creekside at The Greenbrier as the Smash dropped Washington, 21-15. But veteran Venus Williams almost stole the show, winning her singles match and sparking the Kastles’ women’s doubles team into extra play. WASHINGTON KASTLES vs CHICAGO SMASH MATCH STATSThe 18-year-old […]

Philadelphia Alone in First Place After Topping Chicago

Posted on July 21, 2020 (July 21, 2020)

Chicago’s four-match win streak ended with a 23-19 setback to Philadelphia on Tuesday at The Greenbrier. […]

Brandon Nakashima Lifts Chicago Past New York in Supertiebreaker

Posted on July 17, 2020 (July 17, 2020)

Brandon Nakashima may be the youngest player in World TeamTennis, but he played like a veteran on a sun-drenched Friday at The Greenbrier. In a matchup of 2-1 teams entering the day’s play as part of a four-way tie atop the WTT standings, Chicago pulled out a 22-21 victory decided in a supertiebreaker won by […]

BMS, Chicago Smash Cruise Past OC Breakers in WTT’s Day 4 Opener

Posted on July 15, 2020 (July 15, 2020)

Bouncing back after its first loss, the expansion Chicago Smash surfed past the Orange County Breakers 23-16 Wednesday at Center Court at Creekside at The Greenbrier.

In a match that epitomized “team” tennis, Chicago did not have the lead until late in the third match – mixed doubles – but managed to hang tight early to set up a charge by Sloane Stephens in women’s singles play. In the final match, the Smash closed out the decision in women’s doubles behind Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Eugenie Bouchard. […]

Danielle Collins Leads Orlando to a 21-16 Win Against Chicago

Posted on July 14, 2020 (July 14, 2020)

After experiencing the euphoria of winning its inaugural match on Sunday, Chicago had the pendulum swing the other way on Tuesday. The expansion Smash dropped four of five sets in nip-tuck 21-16 loss to Orlando at The Greenbrier. In the deciding match, Chicago’s men’s double tandem of 18-year-old Brandon Nakashima and Rajeev Ram went up […]

Sloane Stephens Leads Expansion Franchise Chicago Smash as Team Readies for Unique Season

Posted on July 10, 2020 (July 11, 2020)

World TeamTennis is back in Chicago, and 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens is leading the way. One of the original eight WTT franchises in 1973, Chicago returns as the league’s third expansion team during the past two years, in addition to Orlando and Vegas. The Smash opens the season at 4 p.m. ET Sunday […]

Author: Duane Cross

Posts by Duane Cross