“Puchie” Plays Tough As DC Wins WTT Championship
- WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 26: Olga Puchkova of the Washington Kastles is lifted by team mates after winning the final match and clinching the Advanta World TeamTennis Championships for the Washington Kastles over the Springfield Lasers played at Kastle Stadium, CityCenter DC in Washington, DC on July 26, 2009. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
It was an unlikely hero that helped the Washington Kastles win their first Advanta World TeamTennis Championship in dramatic fashion with a win over the Springfield Lasers.
To chants of “Olga” and “Puchie,” it was Olga Puchkova who raised her game and fought off the nerves that turned her serve from weapon to liability.
The order of play for the night had numerous tennis players holding tennis Grand Slam victories play their matches earlier in the night. Springfield played tough throughout and Washington was never able to open a large lead despite having the firepower of Scott Oudsema, and double specialists Rennae Stubbs and Leander Paes.
The Kastles went into the final match with just a two game lead and pitting Puchkova against the League’s Female MVP, Vania King, and if needed they would complete the team match in overtime play. King lived up to her billing reaching a 4-2 lead and holding three championship points.
But that is when coach Murhpy Jensen went into overdrive helping to calm Puchkova’s nerves. Kastle’s Scott Oudsema and Rennae Stubbs donned their rally caps, wearing the baseball caps inside out and the large crowd started chanting, “OLGA.”
While Kastle’s Scott Oudsema earned the MVP of the Championship game it was Puchkova’s gutsy play overcoming a worthy opponent in King and her own demons when it came to serving. Puchkova fought off three championship points to defeat King and lead Washington to a 23-20 victory over Springfield.
Puchkova credited her team and the Kastles crowd with pushing her to the victory. “It was amazing, it was awesome,” said Puchkova of the crowd chanting her name in the final games of her match with King. “The win boosted my confidence a lot. Hopefully this year I can build on this experience.”
“The team just never game up,” said Coach Jensen. “That’s what makes WTT so exciting.”
Kastles team owner Mark Ein called it the most exciting match he had ever seen. “It’s a dream come true to win this in front of our fans,” Ein said.
Breakdown of the Match – Washington (23) over Springfield (20)
- Men’s Singles – Scott Oudsema (Kastles) def. Raven Klaasen (Lasers) 5-3
- Mixed Doubles – Rennae Stubbs\Leander Paes (Kastles) def. Liezel Huber\Martin Damm (Lasers) 5-4
- Men’s Doubles – Scott Oudsema\Leander Paes (Kastles) def. Martin Damm\Raven Klaasen (Lasers) 5-4
- Women’s Doubles – Liezel Huber\Vania King (Lasers) def. Rennae Stubbs\Olga Puchkova (Kastles) 5-3
- Women’s Singles – Olga Puchkova (Kastles) def. Vania King (Lasers) 5-4
Enjoy the following slideshow of pictures from the final.
World TeamTennis Comes To Washington DC
World TeamTennis was co-founded by Billie Jean King, 33 years ago and has now added a team in Washington DC. DC’s team is called the Washington Kastles and will play in a stadium built at the location of the former Convention Center.
Tonight will be the home opener for the Kastles as they go up against the Boston Lobsters. Serena Williams will be on hand to play for the Kastles at 7pm tonight. The Kastles are currently undefeated (2-0) in league play.
Yesterday members of the team and city officials kicked off the season with the first practice at the new stadium.
Mashona Washington, Sacha Jones, and Scott Oudsema joined their captain Thomas Blake for their practice. Team members Serena Williams and Justin Gimelstob were not present. Williams will be playing tonight in the Kastles first home match, while Gimelstob will be sitting out the match for a one game suspension.
The league has a 3-week season, stretching from July 3rd to July 23rd, will have 11 teams vying for the King Trophy.
The format of play is unique from what you see at other professional tennis matches:
- Two men and two women compete on each team.
- The match format consists of five sets
- One set each of men’s and women’s singles
- One set each of men’s and women’s doubles
- One set of mixed doubles
- Every game counts as a point in the overall score
- Typical score is 23 – 19
- A team must win the last game of the last set or the match goes into overtime
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