The San Diego Aviators dropped each of the first three sets in a 24-17 loss to the Orange County Breakers in a World TeamTennis match Monday evening in Newport Beach, dropping into a tie for first with the Breakers.
The Aviators (7-5) trailed 15-8 after three sets at Breakers Stadium at Palisades Tennis Club. They got their only victory when Darija Jurak and Raven Klaasen defeated Andreja Klepac and Ken Skupski, 5-4, in mixed doubles, the fourth set.
The Breakers (7-5) closed out the match with Teymuraz Gabashvili’s 5-4 victory over Rajeev Ram in men’s singles.
Naomi Broady opened the match for the Aviators with a 5-2 loss to Yanina Wickmayer. Broady and Darija Jurak then lost to Wickmayer and Klepac, 5-3 in women’s doubles, the second set.
Klaasen and Ram lost to Gabashvili and Skupski, 5-3, in men’s doubles, the third set.
The defending-champion Aviators and Orange County are a half-match ahead of the New York Empire (7-6) and one match ahead of the Philadelphia Freedoms (6-6) in the six-team league.
The Aviators, Breakers and Philadelphia all have two matches remaining, New York one. The top two finishers will play in the WTT Finals Saturday in Carlsbad.
The Aviators will play host to Philadelphia Tuesday at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
— City News Service
