Washington win 2nd straight WTT title
Venus Williams beat Coco Vandeweghe in a last-game tiebreaker as the Kastles completed their second straight championship WTT season with a 20-19 victory over Sacramento.
Williams, who was named the WTT finals MVP, felt fit, confident and ready to dig in and do whatever it took to succeed.
"I really felt like I came out on fire in all my matches," said Williams.
Williams and teammate Anastasia Rodionova won the women's doubles match to put Washington in front 8-6. After Sacramento took the men's doubles match to lead 11-10, Williams and Leander Paes won the mixed doubles competition in a last-game tiebreaker and sent the championship into a final women's singles showdown tied at 15-games apiece.
Vandeweghe broke Williams' serve to lead 3-2, but Williams broke right back and the match eventually went to the WTT's best-of-9 point, super tiebreaker. Vandeweghe quickly led 2-0 when Washington called time out. Paes jogged over talk with Venus.
"I just told her she's one of the greatest of all time," Paes said. "Go have fun and hit your shots."
The, Williams won five points to set up match point. Vandeweghe sent a final forehand long to start Washington's celebration.
"You know, a lot of the times it comes down to missing one opportunity on a three-all point," Vandeweghe said. "That's what makes it fun to play World Team Tennis. Winning those opportunities is more fun than losing them."
Williams has struggled to find the singles but she's taken satisfaction, she says, in succeeding in group ventures.
"It's my first World Team Tennis title in 12 years," she said. "It's amazing."
The WTT typically wraps up in midsummer after a three-week long season. This time, organizers pushed it to September because of the Olympic tennis competition and the U.S. Open.
Paes said the team was out of synch on Saturday night as it rallied to defeat the New York Sportimes and John McEnroe for the Eastern Conference finals.
He never doubted his club would end on top.
"We find solutions. We always have in my four seasons here," said Paes.
Williams was grateful for the victory and excited about what's she's accomplished, both on and off the tennis court.
"''This whole year's been a fight," Williams said. "But for me, the year's been incredibly successful because of what I've been up against."
Source AP
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