Lasers beat Freedoms to win 1st World Team Tennis title

AP

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Miomir Kecmanovic beat Kevin King 5-3 in men's singles to give the Springfield Lasers their first World Team Tennis championship, beating the Philadelphia Freedoms 19-18 in the finals Sunday.

Women's MVP Taylor Townsend had given Philadelphia a 15-14 lead with a 5-2 win over Springfield's Vania King heading into the final match.

Springfield had lost in five finals over 23 years and was 0-3 against Philadelphia this season.

Kecmanovic, who teamed with Marcelo Demoliner to beat Kevin King and Fabrice Martin 5-3 in men's doubles to open the day, was named finals MVP. He trailed 3-1 in the final match before rallying for the win.

"It was definitely tough at the end being behind," Kecmanovic said. "I tried to keep calm and focused throughout the match. Luckily, it paid off at the end."

Vania King and Abigail Spears beat Townsend and Raquel Atawa 5-2 in women's doubles to extend the Lasers' lead to 10-5. Martin and Townsend beat Demoliner and Spears 5-2 in mixed doubles to pull the Freedoms within two.