“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.
Kastles Into WTT Finals
- WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 24: Owner Mark Ein and Members of the Washington Kastles celebrate following their victory in the Eastern Conference Championships of World TeamTennis over the New York Sportimes at Kastle Stadium at CityCenter DC in Washington, DC on July 24, 2009. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
In only the second year of the franchise’s history the Washington Kastles have earned a birth into the Advanta World TeamTennis Championships with their win over the New York Sportimes.
The victory came overtime, by a score of 22-19 over the New York Sportimes. The win came down to the shoulders, and serve, of Scott “Boom Boom” Oudsema, who played in the final match of the evening against Sportime’s, Robert Kendrick. Oudsema pushed Kendrick, one of the best singles players in the league, but narrowly lost in a tiebreaker in regular match play. Oudsema however held tough and defeated Kendrick in the first game of overtime.
The Kastles displayed once again that the strength of their team is with their doubles. The Kastles have high ranking male and female double players in Leander Paes and Rennae Stubbs. Paes was recognized last night as the League’s most valuable male player. Paes and Stubbs have a combined 16 Grand Slam victories between them.
The Kastles will defend their home turf, Kastles Stadium against the Springfield Lasers, on Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Advanta WTT Championship Finals.
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 24: Owner Mark Ein of the Washington Kastles celebrates with Coach Murphy Jensen after winning the Eastern Conference Championships of World TeamTennis against the New York Sportimes at Kastle Stadium at CityCenter DC in Washington, DC on July 24, 2009. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
