CAPS Hope for Strong Finish; Will Host Championship Weekend

Season at a Glance

    The CAPS are back on track and have evened their record at 6-6 going into the final two matches.  After the CAPS fell to 1-4 to begin the season, the team has started to mesh and has looked strong in the second half of July.  Here's a look at how the CAPS have rebounded from that slow start:

    On July 11, Dmitry Tursunov proved why he was chosen as the CAPS' marquee player.  After the first four sets, the CAPS trailed the Springfield Lasers 14-13 with men's singles to decide things.  Enter local product and No. 32 in the world; Tursunov punished Springfield's Isak Van der Merwe with his trademark forehand and won the final set 5-0 to get the CAPS back into the win column with an 18-14 victory.  Record: 2-4.

    Next up was the Newport Beach Breakers.  Even with the services of Newport's marquee player Lindsay Davenport, the CAPS were still able to find a way to win, this time in dramatic fashion.  After a tightly contested five sets, nothing had been decided -- the CAPS and Breakers were tied at 20 games each.  Eric Butorac and Sam Warburg recovered quickly from a 5-4 loss in the final set and won the super-tiebreak 7-3 to give the CAPS a huge win, 21-20.  The biggest crowd of the year at Allstate Stadium had plenty to cheer for as the CAPS improved to 3-4.

    Unfortunately they couldn't follow it up two nights later in Newport Beach, losing 23-16 in what CAPS players called one of the ugliest matches of the year.  Record: 3-5.

    The CAPS returned home for the easiest match of the year, taking out the St. Louis Aces 25-12.  They won every set in the win and improved to 4-5. 

    Back on the road, the CAPS would play three matches in three nights.  And the first night in Washington, they finally reached .500.  The surprise story of the night was the play of Tammy Hendler and Elena Likhovtseva.  After struggling early in the season, it seemed the pair figured out how to play together as they won the deciding fifth set 5-0, a first for the duo, much to the delight of CAPS Coach Wayne Bryan and the rest of the squad!

    Now at 5-5, the CAPS headed to New York to take on the Buzz.  Although they trailed all night,  Sam and Booty won the final set in a tiebreaker, giving the CAPS hope for a comeback.  In overtime, the leading team has to win a game to close out the match or they continue play.  The CAPS looked like they were ready to take advantage of the rule, winning the first game and inching within two games, 20-22.  However, New York's Patrick Briaud and Nathan Healey were able to close out the next game.  Record: 5-6.

    On to Deleware, where women's doubles came up big once again.  This time, Tammy and Elena won their set 5-1, which proved to be the difference.  Booty and Sam got the job done in another tiebreak set, 5-4, but this one would go down to the wire.  After the impressive doubles win, "The Belgian Babe" lost her singles set 5-2 and Hendler and the CAPS were suddenly in a nail-biter, leading by just one game, 19-18.  Tammy had to win the next game or the match would have gone to a super-tiebreaker.  Luckily for the CAPS, the youngest player in the league held on to give her team a 20-18 victory.    

     So the CAPS return home tonight at 6-6!

     They take on the Boston Lobsters tonight and the New York Sportimes tomorrow to wrap-up the 2008 regular season.  But don't forget the CAPS are hosting WTT Championship Weekend July 24-27.  Come out to AllState Stadium and watch the best teams in the league compete for the King Trophy, including your CAPS!  For more information and tickets, visit us at www.gocaps.net, or call (916)638-4001.  

Tammy in SacBee

"The Belgian Babe" Tammy Hendler was featured in today's Sacramento Bee.   She got quite the front page treatment in the sports section.  Pick up a copy or see Paul Bauman's article at:  http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1099470.html .  

 

Road Woes; Looking Ahead

CAPS Struggle on Road

    After an impressive victory in St. Louis on Monday, the CAPS had a great shot to take out the Springfield Lasers on Tuesday and even its record at 2-2.  Going into the final set, the CAPS were in yet another tight battle, leading the match 18-17.  That's when the wheels fell off for Elena and Tammy, who could only muster one game, giving the Lasers a 22-19 win.  

    Although disappointed, the CAPS had to recover quickly to be ready for a duel with undefeated Kansas City last night.   Perhaps it was the fact that it was their third match in as many days, or maybe the Explorers are just that good, but the CAPS dropped all five sets, losing 25-15, one of its worst losses in years.  

    The CAPS, now 1-4, return home this week facing another back-to-back, on Friday and Saturday.

Mark Your Calendars

    Every year, the CAPS prepare their schedule with the fans in mind.  Theme nights help make a night out at Allstate Stadium more than just a tennis match.  Here's a look at what the CAPS have in store for you in '08.

Friday, July 11 - CAPS Idol -- The CAPS seek revenge on the Springfield Lasers.  Marquee player Dmitry Tursunov will be in action and we might even get to hear his singing voice.  It's CAPS Idol Night! Back on June 21st, contestants battled in an American Idol type singing competition as Coach Wayne Bryan played the part of Simon (only much more cheery).  Now the finalists will perform at half-time and you get to help decide the winner... Reminder, this is tomorrow night!

Saturday, July 12 - Drop-Shot Divas - Lindsay Davenport and the Newport Beach Breakers are in town, but this day is all about the ladies!  Just listen to this:  For only $50, ladies start the day at Nordstrom for a private "Dress Like a Diva" seminar, makeup session, and gourmet lunch.  After you pamper yourself, enjoy a clinic with Coach Bryan and Lindsay Davenport has even agreed to participate!  A ticket to the match is also included.  This is by far the best deal in town, so go ahead, be a Diva for a day!  

* Just a note on Lindsay, it is so clear how much she loves the game of tennis.  It's not often a marquee player agrees to interact with fans, participate in clinics, and don't forget she had to pull out of Wimbledon with an injured knee.   But she will be here in Sacramento, honoring her commitments to World Team Tennis.  Be sure to give her a warm CAPS-style welcome on Saturday night.

Tuesday, July 15 - Ready to Rumble - Get a group together from your club and see how you stack up against the local competition.  Teams will play a WTT-format match for $500 in prize money.  Bring your A-game!

Tuesday, July 22 - Couples Night -  Couples receive two-for-one ticketing and a chance to win great prizes in a special half-time contest.   The 7th Annual Coca-Cola High School Challenge also will take place today!  During the day, area high school teams compete in a co-ed, WTT-format tournament, with the finals being held under the lights after the match.  It's a bonus for the fans, who can stick around for more great tennis, as some of the top high-school players in town try to bring the title to their school. 

 

Wednesday, July 23 - Fan Appreciation Night, as well as a tribute to our local heroes.  Join the CAPS as they salute local law enforcement officials, volunteers, and firefighters, who especially deserve recognition after the past two months battling numerous wildfires in California. 

Don't forget, WTT Championship Weekend is July 24-27 at Allstate Stadium!  Contact the CAPS at (916)638-4001 or visit our website at www.gocaps.net for more information.  

Great Day for Tennis

    The Wimbledon final put tennis back on the map.  

    Rafael Nadal's epic victory over Roger Federer was absolutely shocking, stunning, incredible, magnifico, bueno... in whatever language you choose, whatever adjective you can come up with, the match was one for the ages!  

    I got up at 6:15 am thinking I would watch Federer win yet another Wimbledon title, breaking Bjorn Borg's record, and I would be on with my Sunday by 10 am, catching up on the things I failed to do all week.  About 2 pm, I was still glued to the television, watching two of the greatest players our sport has ever seen battle back and forth in a winner-take-all fifth set. Four hours, 48 minutes later -- but really about seven hours real time -- we had a winner.  

    Nadal deserves major credit for his grittiness and fighting attitude, prevailing 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 after two rain delays and unbelievable pressure packed moments.  But as crushed as Federer was -- nearly breaking into tears in his post-match interview with John McEnroe -- he is still the better player.  Regardless, the fact that the match took place on the most prestigious court in tennis with the world watching, was a big boost for the sport.  

    The image of an elated Nadal laying on the grass in triumph was voted ESPN's Image of the Week.  It's not often an image from a tennis match gets that kind of recognition in a sports world dominated by major sports like football, basketball, baseball, and NASCAR.  

    I cannot wait for the US Open, and I have a feeling plenty of sports fans now share that sentiment.  So please join me in welcoming tennis back to the mainstream!    

CAPS Notch First Win

After Tough Start, CAPS Rebound on Road

    The 2008 season is underway and the CAPS are now on the board in the win column after taking out the St. Louis Aces yesterday in dramatic fashion.

    It was a tough holiday weekend for CAPS fans, as they watched their team lose it's first two matches at home, the second by just one game!   

    Now on the road, the CAPS have three matches in as many nights.  And last night, they proved why they are the defending WTT Champions.  

    Elena and Booty looked strong in mixed doubles, winning 5-3 to start the night right for the CAPS in St. Louis.  However, the team dropped the next three sets 5-4. 

    Tammy Hendler, the youngest player in the league at just 15 years old, made her World Team Tennis debut.  Although she lost her singles set and came up just short in doubles with Elena (both were 5-4), CAPS owner Lonnie Nielson was impressed.  "Sacramento is going to love 'The Belgian Babe'," he said.  "She's going to be great!"

    The CAPS entered the final set of the night down 18-17, but Sam Warburg's big serving proved to be the difference as he and Booty came through with a 5-3 win that sealed the victory for the CAPS 22-21!  This was almost the exact opposite of Friday night's CAPS loss.  The CAPS can get back to .500 tonight with a win in Springfield!

Here We Go...

Opening Night Upon Us

Tomorrow night, the CAPS take the court for the first match of the 2008 season.  For "Vine and Vibes" night, the Newport Beach Breakers will be in town .  Get there early to enjoy jazz and wine tasting at Mansour's Rug Gallery from 5:30-7:30 (cost is just $15).  

The CAPS invite you celebrate this Independence Day family-style.  Friday night, come join the Family Freedom Fest at Allstate Stadium as the CAPS take on the Kansas City Explorers!  As you root your team to victory, join in the summertime favorite watermelon eating contest, take advantage of $1 menu items, and stick around for the kids parade.  Did I mention kids under 13 get in FREE!  If you're can't make it to the match, the CAPS wish you a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

The CAPS may be shorthanded for this week's matches because Tammy Hendler is into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon Juniors.  She has only lost one set thus far, and will next play the No. 2 seed, Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.  Good Luck to "The Belgian Babe!"