Abigail Spears helped win three events and Robert Kendrick two as the New York Sportimes defeated the Boston Lobsters 22-17 Friday night at SPORTIME at Randall’s Island to win the 2010 WTT Eastern Conference Championship.

The Sportimes will now hit the road and travel to Kansas City to take on the Western Conference Champion Kansas City Explorers Sunday (7:35 EDT), with the winner taking home the 35

th WTT Championship and the Billie Jean King Cup. The final will be shown on tape on July 28 on The Tennis Channel .

Friday night’s matches came indoors, with torrential rain forcing play off the Sportimes home court and into the $19 million dollar indoor facility, where a loud and enthusiastic capacity crowd saw Spears win women’s singles, as well as mixed and women’s doubles, while Kendrick took home mixed and men’s doubles (with Jesse Witten) to secure the victory and the trip to Kansas City.

The team had to fly cross country for the match, after finishing the regular season in Newport Beach, California Thursday night (posting a narrow 23-22 win over the Newport Beach Breakers, with Kendrick sealing the deal with a 5-4 singles win in the final event).

The Sportimes will be playing for the title for the second time.

They won the 2005 title, 21-18 over the Newport Beach Breakers.

FRIDAY RESULTS BY EVENT NEW YORK SPORTIMES def. Boston Lobsters 22-17Men’s Doubles – Robert KendrickJesse Witten (Sportimes) def. Eric ButoracJan-Michael Gambill (Lobsters) 5-2

Women’s Doubles – Ashley HarkleroadAbigail Spears (Sportimes) def. Raquel Kops-JonesCoco Vandeweghe (Lobsters) 5-3

Men’s Singles -

Jan-Michael Gambill (Lobsters) def. Robert Kendrick (Sportimes) 5-4

Women’s Singles -

Abigail Spears (Sportimes) def. Coco Vandeweghe (Lobsters) 5-1

Mixed Doubles – Eric ButoracRaquel Kops-Jones (Lobsters) def. Robert KendrickAbigail Spears (Sportimes) 5-2

Overtime – Mixed Doubles – Robert KendrickAbigail Spears (Sportimes) tied Eric ButoracRaquel Kops-Jones (Lobsters) 1-1

For more details and live scoring Sunday, visit

www.nysportimes.com.

McEnroe’s presence on behalf of the New York Sportimes helped to fill The Tennis Club Newport Beach with its largest crowd of the 2010 World TeamTennis Pro League presented by GEICO season. The 17-time Grand Slam champion, former World No. 1 and 1999 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee also won both of his sets – in men’s doubles and mixed doubles – in tiebreakers over foes at least 20 years his junior to help send the Newport Beach Breakers to a 23-22 defeat in the teams’ regular season finale.

The Breakers displayed plenty of energy, fight and spirit in their most riveting, excruciatingly close match of the season. All five sets went to a tiebreaker. Breakers men’s singles player Lester Cook, the team’s standout player, waved his arms and encouraged the entire crowd to stand for the final tiebreaker, which Robert Kendrick won on the last possible point of the match, 5-4, after Cook lost three match points.

“That was one of the funnest matches all year. Wish it could have turned out a little different,” Cook said. “Nothing I’ll regret tomorrow. At 4-2 (in the tiebreak), I went for it and it just missed the line. The last point, it was just a big serve by him. I had a blast this year.”

Other Breakers highlights in their season finale, before a near 1,800-capacity crowd, included Marie-Eve Pelletier’s first set victory in women’s singles in five tries this season, defeating San Diego resident Abigail Spears 5-4 (5-3 in a tiebreaker), and Pelletier and Julie Ditty rallying from 4-1 down in women’s doubles to win a 5-4 set (5-3 tiebreak) over Spears and Ashley Harkleroad to even the match at 18-18 heading into the match’s final set, men’s singles.

“This is what TeamTennis is all about,” Breakers fourth-year coach Trevor Kronemann said. “It’s exciting for the fans. This is the first time in my 21 years of World TeamTennis that I’ve ever seen that (all five sets going to tiebreakers). It was definitely the best Marie-Eve played this year. The team chemistry was great. That was the No. 1 thing (this year). We just didn’t have the time off to rebound. We didn’t have a chance to work on our games.”

The Breakers finished (5-9) in WTT’s Western Conference after playing their sixth match in seven nights and 12^th match in 14 nights. New York (9-5), a WTT finalist last year, won WTT’s Eastern Conference title outright with Thursday’s win and will host the Boston Lobsters in WTT’s Eastern Conference final Friday.

As is typically the case during McEnroe’s visits to Newport Beach the past few years, he entertained the Breakers crowd with his play and his playful banter. It only took four games into the match for him to unleash his first verbal blast, in jest, when he finally felt the umpire was on his side on a close call on the baseline – “It’s the first (call) I got in 30 years,” McEnroe quipped.

A few points later, before McEnroe let a serve fly, he retorted to a member of the crowd, “We got a genius over in Row C.” As it turned out, McEnroe rallied the Sportimes to a first-set victory in a tiebreaker on his racket. He erased two Breakers set points on his server and gave New York the edge in the tiebreaker, 5-4.

McEnroe also took the court with Harkleroad in mixed doubles, the match’s third set. When McEnroe wasn’t hitting his racket on the ground and muttering not so nice things under his breath, he unintentionally hit David Martin with a volley at the net in the fourth game. Martin’s partner, Julie Ditty, returned the favor and picked McEnroe off with her own volley, to the delight of Ditty and the crowd, in the next game. McEnroe and Harkleroad had the last laugh, though, winning another 5-4 set (5-2 in the tiebreak) before McEnroe bid adieu to the court.

“You play in a one-set format and he’s still one of the best in the world,” Kronemann said of McEnroe. “A living legend. Last year, I really became a McEnroe fan. I was always more of a (Bjorn) Borg fan. He’s unbelievable. He’s one of the best ever.”

Though McEnroe is World TeamTennis’ oldest active player, he has not lost his touch at the net, his knack for showmanship, a flame of his competitive fire or an ounce of pride in his game.

“This is why I like to play, because you get to be part of a team,” McEnroe said. “I got a great group of guys that I play with, and girls. But I’m excited about hopefully making a run, being part of a team that wins (the WTT title) finally. We usually end up getting in the playoffs and not winning the whole thing. But I think we’re the best team.

“When (WTT co-founder and Breakers co-owner Billie Jean King) is nice enough to say they still want me to do it, it’s a no‑brainer for me to try to play a few. This is my fifth (match) out of 14. That’s going to be pushing the limit for me. I don’t want to be a drag, certainly. I do believe the (WTT) concept should be a part of the sport in some way, shape or form. It would be great if it ever had, sort of, its own time. There would be a lot more of the top players. I think it would be something people would gravitate towards.”

Results:

Men’s Doubles – John McEnroe/Robert Kendrick (NY) def. David Martin/Lester Cook (NB), 5-4 (5-4 tiebreak)

Women’s Singles – Marie-Eve Pelletier (NB) def. Abigail Spears (NY), 5-4 (5-3 tiebreak)
Mixed Doubles – John McEnroe/Ashley Harkleroad (NY) def. David Martin/Julie Ditty (NB), 5-4 (5-2 tiebreak)

Women’s Doubles – Julie Ditty/Marie-Eve Pelletier (NB) def. Abigail Spears/Ashley Harkleroad (NY), 5-4 (5-3 tiebreak)

Men’s Singles – Robert Kendrick (NY) def. Lester Cook (NB), 5-4 (5-4 tiebreak)

Final: New York Sportimes 23, Newport Beach Breakers 22

About Newport Beach Breakers

The Newport Beach Breakers are one of 10 nationwide teams that make up the World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League presented by GEICO and are co-owned by WTT founder Billie Jean King. In July 2010, the Breakers will play seven home matches and will be managed by Newport Beach-based Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. Profits from the team’s operations for the season will go towards Hoag Hospital Foundation, the Breakers’ primary beneficiary. Hoag Hospital’s expert involvement with professional sports also extends to its organization of the PGA Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic held annually in March. For tickets, sponsorship and more information, visit www.NewportBeachBreakers.com or call 714/352-6301.

About World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League

The World Team Tennis (WTT) Pro League presented by GEICO showcases the best in professional team tennis with the innovative coed team format co-founded by Billie Jean King in the 1970s.  The WTT Pro League, which celebrates its 35^th season in July 2010, is a showcase for three generations of tennis standouts, including legends, current tour players and future champions.  Since the League’s debut, virtually every major champion of the Open era has played World TeamTennis.  WTT is well known for showcasing and introducing innovative elements to tennis including instant replay, coed format, cumulative and no-ad scoring, on-court coaching, Overtime and Supertiebreakers, multi-colored courts and player names on the back of shirts.

Official WTT Pro League sponsors for the 2010 season include Acura, DecoTurf, GEICO, Novo Nordisk, Solfire and Wilson Racquet Sports. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis.   WTT and the USTA are teaming up on number of initiatives, including development of the youth market through junior team tennis programs.

For more information on the WTT Pro League, visit www.WTT.com.

The host Sportimes (8-4) moved 1 1/2 gamea ahead of second place Washington for the top spot in the WTT Eastern Division with three matches remaining in the regular season.  The No. 1 seed will play a home match on Friday in the WTT playoff semifinals.

In the other feature match on the evening, Alex Domijan edged John McEnroe, 5-4.  McEnroe led, 4-3, but Domijan served a 4-1 eight game, then won the tiebreak, 5-3, to take the men’s singles event.

The Sportimes mens doubles team of Robert Kendrick and Jesse Witten closed out the match, defeating Scoville Jenkisn and Alex Domijan, 5-3.

The Buzz dropped to 2-9 on the season.

MXD: Sarah Borwell/Scoville Jenkins (Buzz) def. Kim Clijsters/John McEnroe, 5-3
WD: Kim Clijsters/Abigail Spears (Sportimes) def. Martina Hingis/Sarah Borwell, 5-2
MS: Alex Domijan (Buzz) def. John McEnroe, 5-4
WS: Kim Clijsters (Sportimes) def. Martina Hingis, 5-2
MD: Robert Kendrick/Jesse Witten def. Scoville Jenkins/Alex Domijan, 5-3

The action continues tomorrow with Fish facing India’s Somdev Devvarman first on Center Court, followed by No. 1 seed Sam Querry versus Jamaican Dustin Brown. Nicolas Mahut returns to Center Court for the third match, when he will face Canada’s Frank Dancevic. Wednesday’s final match on Center Court will be an All-American contest between 18-year-old Ryan Harrison and 17-year-old Denis Kudla, who both received wild cards for the tournament.

Click here for a downloadable PDF of the Order of Play for Wednesday, July 7.

Click here for a downloadable PDF of the Singles Main Draw.
Click here for a downloadable PDF of the Doubles Main Draw.

Following are Tuesday’s results and the Order of Play for Wednesday, July 7.

RESULTS – JULY 6, 2010
Singles – First Round
[1] S Querrey (USA) d J Levine (USA) 63 63
[2] S Giraldo (COL) d [Q] A Peya (AUT) 76(1) 16 64
[WC] N Mahut (FRA) d [3] A Falla (COL) 63 16 63
[5] M Fish (USA) d M Russell (USA) 61 62
[7] R Ram (USA) d I Navarro (ESP) 63 76(3)
B Dabul (ARG) d C Ball (AUS) 57 62 01 Retired
[Q] S Bubka (UKR) d C Guccione (AUS) 76(0) 64
[Q] R Klaasen (RSA) d I Bozoljac (SRB) 76(5) 76(0)
S Devvarman (IND) d K Kim (USA) 64 63
[WC] D Kudla (USA) d S Ventura (ESP) 63 36 75
[Q] R Bloomfield (GBR) d C Rochus (BEL) 76(1) 63

Doubles – First Round
T Bednarek (POL) / D Brown (JAM) d S Giraldo (COL) / O Rochus (BEL) 76(13) 62
N Mahut (FRA) / E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) d A Falla (COL) / S Prieto (ARG) 67(2) 76(4) 10-5
M Kohlmann (GER) / A Peya (AUT) d K Beck (SVK) / R Wassen (NED) 64 64
ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2010

CENTER start 11:00 a.m.
[5] M Fish (USA) vs S Devvarman (IND)
[1] S Querrey (USA) vs D Brown (JAM)
F Dancevic (CAN) vs [WC] N Mahut (FRA)
[WC] R Harrison (USA) vs [WC] D Kudla (USA)
COURT 1 start 11:00 a.m.
B Dabul (ARG) vs G Soeda (JPN)
[Q] R Klaasen (RSA) vs [7] R Ram (USA)
[Q] R Bloomfield (GBR) vs [2] S Giraldo (COL)
[1] M Fish (USA) / S Querrey (USA) vs C Ball (AUS) / C Guccione (AUS)
M Gicquel (FRA) / S Ventura (ESP) vs [2] R Ram (USA) / J Rojer (AHO)

COURT 2 start 11:00 a.m.
[3] R Hutchins (GBR) / J Kerr (AUS) vs J Erlich (ISR) / S Lipsky (USA)
J Marray (GBR) / J Murray (GBR) vs [WC] J Cerretani (USA) / A Shamasdin (CAN)
[4] O Rochus (BEL) vs [Q] S Bubka (UKR)
[WC] S Huss (AUS) / J Sirianni (AUS) vs [4] S Gonzalez (MEX) / T Rettenmaier (USA)

# # #

About the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships

The Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event, will be held July 5 – 11, 2010 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. The tournament draws 32 top male players to Newport direct from Wimbledon to compete for the Van Alen Cup and $442,500 in prize money. Hosted on the legendary grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is the only ATP World Tour event played on grass in North America. In conjunction with the tournament, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum will host the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, July 10. The Campbell Soup Company is the title sponsor of the tournament In addition, the tournament is made possible through the generous support of numerous Official Partners, including BNP Paribas, Corona Extra, Chubb Personal Insurance and Rolex Watch U.S.A. For additional information, visit www.tennisfame.com

The day offers a full day of action on Center Court, as the match will be followed by the finals of the Hall of Fame Doubles Challenge, a first of its kind amateur event that will feature local players from area tennis clubs competing on Center Court. That tournament will be followed by the finals of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event being contested July 5 – 11.

“An exhibition match featuring the newest inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame on the historic grass courts that have hosted the game’s biggest stars since 1881 is a great way to top off induction weekend,” said Mark L. Stenning, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “The match up of these legendary doubles stars playing together offers a once-in-a-lifetime match that tennis fans won’t want to miss.”

The exhibition will be a highlight of 2010 Hall of Fame Weekend, during which these four players will be among the seven newest inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.  Since 1955, the game’s greatest champions, innovators, and contributors have been awarded induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor available in tennis. When the Class of 2010 is inducted on July 10, the Hall of Fame will have recognized a total of 218 individuals from 19 countries.

Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva amassed an impressive 14 Grand Slam titles together. Their passion and skill on the court was remarkable, and it is hard to find a pair who showed as much enthusiasm and love for the game as these two outstanding players. They hold the second-longest Grand Slam doubles title streak in Open Era history, winning six in a row from the French Open in 1992 through Wimbledon in 1993. The pair also completed a non-calendar year Grand Slam that ran from the 1992 French Open to the 1993 Australian Open.  Fernandez and Zvereva were named the WTA Doubles Team of the Year four times.

Mark Woodforde is one half of the legendary Australian duo known as “The Woodies.” The partnership of Todd Woodbridge and Woodforde, produced 61 ATP doubles titles, including 11 majors. The Woodies won two Olympic medals – doubles gold (1996) and doubles silver (2000). The duo was named ATP Top Doubles Team five times between 1992 and 2000. Mark Woodforde captured 67 doubles titles, four singles titles and five mixed doubles crowns. He held down the No. 1 doubles ranking for 84 weeks during his career, and held a singles ranking within the top 20.

Owen Davidson is a member of an elite group of just 13 people in tennis history who have won a calendar-year Grand Slam, which he earned in 1967, partnered with Lesley Turner Bowrey and Billie Jean King.  His 15-year career is highlighted by 12 Grand Slam titles.

For additional information about the Hall of Fame Classic, please call 866-914-FAME(3263) or visit tennisfame.com.
# # #

About the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum
Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, enshrining tennis heroes and heroines, and providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum was recognized as the sport’s official Hall of Fame in 1986 by the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis. For information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 401-849-3990 or visit us online at www.tennisfame.com.

Reynolds had won a tiebreak over Witten, 7-4, to extend the match to overtime.

Abigail Spears won a singles event and teamed with Robert Kendrick to win mixed doubles to pace the Sportimes.

After the Kastles took two of the first three events (sets), Spears defeated Angela Haynes, 5-1, in the fourth frame, putting the Sportimes ahead, 16-13.

Reynolds then won the fifth event, 5-4, to set up the tiebreak and decisive super-tiebreak.

Spears and Kendrick began the night by upsetting reigning Wimbledon mixed doubles champion and former world doubles No. 1 Leander Paes and former women’s world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs, 5-2.

New York (1-0) travels to Albany on Tuesday to face the New York Buzz, then returns home to take on James Blake and the Boston Lobsters on Wednesday on Randall’s Island.

Monday, July 5, 2010
World TeamTennis Results:
New York Sportimes def. Washington Kastles, 21-20
1: Abigail Spears/Robert Kendrick (N.Y.) def. Rennae Stubbs/Leander Paes, 5-2.
2: Rennae Stubbs/Angela Haynes (Wash.) def. Ashley Harkleroad/Abigail Spears, 5-2
3: Bobby Reynolds/Leander Paes (Wash.) def. Robert Kendrick/Jesse Witten, 5-4
4: Abigail Spears (N.Y.) def. Angela Haynes, 5-1
5: Bobby Reynolds (Wash.) def. Jesse Witten, 5-4
Tiebreak: Reynolds d. Witten, 2-0
Super-Tiebreak: Witten d. Reynolds, 7-4

Then he ran into Roger Federer in the Australian Open final.

And much like the last Grand Slam final when they met back in Flushing Meadows in 2008, the Scot was not match for the Swiss Master, losing in straight sets, 3-6 4-6 6-7 (11-13).

“Tonight’s match was a lot closer than the one at Flushing Meadows,” Murray said. “You know, like I say, I had a chance at the beginning of the match, and I had chances, you know, at the end of the match.

“It’s just the second set that didn’t go my way. Not that any of them went my way. But obviously I felt like I had opportunities in the rest of them.

Yeah, I mean, obviously I’m getting closer. I mean, my results in the Grand Slams would show that. Just got to keep working hard.”

Even with the loss, Murray is still one of the rise stars on the tour. As a top rated Brit, the eyes of the United Kingdom are on him and is followed around like a rock star in his homeland.

All of this doesn’t make life easy for 22 year-old and after the last night’s match, he was in tears.

“I don’t feel great,” he said. “You know, obviously worked really hard, you know, to get to this stage. I wanted to win the tournament. You know, I think it was more the way the end of the match finished. You know, obviously it was pretty emotional end to the match.

“If it was a complete blow‑out, if I lost 3, 4, and 2, you know, it probably wouldn’t have happened. But I had my chance to get back into the match. That was probably why I was upset.”

One day, Murray will win a major, and it could come in the most unlikely of places. He’s not the biggest fan of the clay courts, and of course there’s Wimbledon which would not just make him popular, but the greatest British hero since Winston Churchill.

And maybe that’s what makes it so hard for Murray, since the pressure from back home is so great as the UK years for their own major tennis champ.

“It didn’t feel it on the court,” he said. “You know, you get a lot of good luck messages. You know, everyone wishing you well from back home. You know, that’s obviously nice.

“Once you get on the court, it’s not what you’re thinking about at all. And then obviously after the match, you know, I would have liked to have done it for everyone back home, you know, won the tournament. Obviously for myself and for the people I work with as well.

“But it wasn’t to be.”

Eventually, though, he will make his breakthrough. Although Federer is still in his prime, Murray has time to catch up. And that’s what keeps driving the Scotchman.

“I’m hungry to win one,” Murray said. “I haven’t since I was 16, 17 years old when I started playing the junior Grand Slams. You know, I realized I wanted to win one of them, you know, when I was playing.

“Like I say, I worked really, really hard to try to do it and give myself the opportunity. You know, so far it’s not been good enough.

“But I’m sure one day, it will be. When it comes, maybe because of the two losses, it will be even better.”

With her [K] Blade Team racket, the 12 time Grand Slam champion held strong throughout the entire tournament despite being injured. The final match was all about Serena’s well known power game as she defeated Henin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Fans knew they were watching a great champion doing what she does best. Serena pushed through her injury and played like a true champion, running down every ball and leaving it all on the court.

“It feels incredible to defend my title here in Melbourne,” Serena said after winning against Henin. “Justine is a great competitor but I knew this was my time to shine and gave it everything I had.”

This was Williams’ fifth Australian Open title and she is the first woman in the Open Era to win five Australian Open titles. She is also the first to win back-to-back Australian Opens since Jennifer Capriati in 2002.

Before winning her singles championship, Serena defended the doubles title with her sister Venus and their [K] Blade Team rackets. The sisters rolled over the world’s top-ranked women’s doubles team of Cara Black and Liezel Huber in two sets 6-4, 6-3. It’s their fourth Australian Open title together; part of their collection of an astonishing eleven Grand Slam women’s doubles championships.

“It is just great to continue this success with Serena,” said Venus after winning her doubles title. “We know each other’s game so well– we’re the perfect match.”

Wilson Racquet Sports is a division of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sports equipment and owned by Amer Sports. Wilson designs, manufactures and distributes sporting goods throughout the world and focuses on making technologically advanced products which help players of all levels perform better. Wilson’s core sport categories include: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, Soccer, Youth Sports, Uniforms/Apparel, Golf, Footwear and Racquet Sports (Tennis, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton and Platform Tennis). For more information, visit www.wilson.com.