After the match, Bobby Reynolds announced that he will retire following Sunday’s WTT National Championship match. Reynolds spent five years on the Kastles. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer
The Washington Kastles finished their home matches in the Smith Center with a win Thursday that will send them to the Mylan World TeamTennis Finals.
The Kastles needed an overtime game to take down the Philadelphia Freedoms 21-16 and win the Eastern Conference Championship.
After the match, roster mainstay Bobby Reynolds announced he would retire from team tennis after the finals to spend more time with his family. Reynolds spent five years with the Kastles, leading the team to three-straight national titles.
With young local tennis players cheering her on, Martina Hingis makes her way to the court. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerTennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King, who owns the Philadelphia Freedoms, visited the Smith Center to support her team. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerBobby Reynolds of the Washington Kastles returns a serve. Reynolds won the men’s singles set 5-3. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerLeander Paes serves past his partner Martina Hingis. The pair won the mixed doubles set 5-2. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerBobby Reynolds, Anastasia Rodionova and coach Murphy Jensen look on as the Kastles score a point. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerAfter her partner left the match with an injury, Taylor Townsend of the Philadelphia Freedoms continued the women’s doubles set on her own. The Freedoms lost the set 1-5. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerLeander Paes serves the ball in the men’s doubles set. Paes and partner Bobby Reynolds lost the set, but ultimately won in overtime, clinching the Eastern Conference Championships for the Kastles. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerLeander Paes of the Washington Kastles stretches to return a serve. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerThe Kastles react after winning the WTT Eastern Conference Championship. The team will compete in its fourth-straight WTT Finals on Sunday. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerAfter the match, Bobby Reynolds announced he would retire following the WTT Finals. Reynolds spent five years playing for the Kastles. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff PhotographerThe Washington Kastles give Bobby Reynolds a standing ovation after he announced his retirement. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer
The Kastles will face Western Conference Championship winners the Springfield Lasers, who the Kastles defeated Tuesday in front of First Lady Michelle Obama.
The match will be streamed live Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN3.com before moving to ESPN2 at 6 p.m.
