NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (July 22, 2017) – The New York Empire presented by Citi lost to the Orange County Breakers tonight, 24-18, at Breakers Stadium at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
The NY Empire’s west-coast swing got off to a rough start with a 5-0 loss in the women’s singles and first set. Kirsten Flipkens and Maria Sanchez earned the second-set win for the NY Empire, 5-4, however the team faced a 9-5 deficit heading into the men’s doubles and third set. The Breakers won the third set, 5-4, extending their lead to 14-9.
Another tight battle saw the Breakers win 5-3, setting up the final set of the evening featuring the Breakers Steve Johnson and Marcus Willis of the New York Empire. Willis fought back to win the set, 5-4, forcing extended play. Willis won the first game of extended play but Johnson won the second, securing the 24-18 victory for the Breakers.
The loss takes the NY Empire’s record to 3-3 while the Breakers improve to 2-3.
| New York Empire at Orange County Breakers Box Score | |||||||||||||||
| WS | WD | MD | MXD | MS | EP | Total | |||||||||
| New York Empire | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 18 | ||||||||
| Orange County Breakers | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 24 | ||||||||
Women’s Singles: Yanina Wickmayer (OCB) def. Kirsten Flipkens (NYE), 5-0
Women’s Doubles: Flipkens/Maria Sanchez (NYE) def. Andreja Klepac/Wickmayer (OCB), 5-4
Men’s Doubles: Steve Johnson/Ken Skupski (OCB) def. Neal Skupski/ Marcus Willis (NYE), 5-4
Mixed Doubles: Andreja Klepac/Ken Skupski (OCB) def. Flipkens/Neal Skupski (NYE), 5-3
Men’s Singles: Willis (NYE) def. Johnson (OCB), 5-4
Extended Play: Johnson (OCB) secures win with hold against Willis (NYE) by winning the second game of extended play. Final score is 24-18.
The New York Empire continues its west-coast swing tomorrow when they face the San Diego Aviators at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The New York Empire returns home to Court 17 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Thursday, July 27.