2015 Springfield Lasers season

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2015 Springfield Lasers season
Conference4th Western
Record
2015 record3 wins, 11 losses
Home record2 wins, 5 losses
Road record1 win, 6 losses
Games won–lost247–302
Team info
Owner(s)Springfield-Greene County Park Board
represented by John Cooper
President/CEOBob Belote
General managerPaul Nahon
CoachJohn-Laffnie de Jager
StadiumMediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex
(capacity: 2,500)

The 2015 Springfield Lasers season was the 20th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).

The Lasers had 3 wins and 11 losses, the worst record in WTT in 2015, and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Season recap[edit]

Trade for Isner and draft[edit]

At the WTT Draft on March 16, 2015, it was announced that the Lasers had acquired the top-ranked American player John Isner in a trade with the Boston Lobsters for undisclosed consideration which was presumably financial, since no other players or draft choices were moved in connection with the deal.[1] As the trade was announced, Isner said, "I’m really looking forward to joining the Springfield Lasers. I know Springfield has first-class tennis fans and the Lasers have been extremely close to bringing home the King Trophy the past couple of seasons. I’m very hopeful to help put them over the top in 2015."[2] In the roster portion of the draft, the Lasers protected Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Michael Russell and selected Andre Begemann and roster-exempt player Alison Riske.[1]

Other player transactions[edit]

On May 12, 2015, the Lasers signed Shelby Rogers as a substitute player.[3] Rogers was a member of the 2014 WTT Champion Washington Kastles.

On July 10, 2015, the Lasers announced that Rogers would miss the 2015 season due to an injury. In her place, the Lasers signed Varvara Lepchenko and Sachia Vickery as substitute players.[4]

A season of struggles[edit]

Things didn't go well for the Lasers from the start of the season. They lost their first four matches with three of those losses coming at home. They finally broke through with a win in front of the home fans on July 17, against the San Diego Aviators. Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Sachia Vickery earned a key 5–1 set win in women's doubles to help the cause. Grönefeld teamed with Andre Begemann in mixed doubles to win the final set in a tiebreaker and close out the victory.[5]

On the evening following their first victory, the Lasers visited the Austin Aces, who entered the match with 4 wins and 0 losses. Grönefeld and Vickery continued their solid play by taking the opening set of women's doubles, 5–2. Vickery followed with a 5–1 set win in women's singles, and the Lasers had a 10–3 lead after two sets. But the Aces turns things around from there. They won the next two sets to cut the Lasers' lead to 16–13 heading to the final set. Teymuraz Gabashvili overpowered Michael Russell in the final set of men's singles, 5–2, to tie the match at 18 and send it to a super tiebreaker. Gabashvili dominated the super tiebreaker, 7–1, as the Aces dealt the Lasers a heartbreaking 19–18 defeat.[6]

After the loss, the Lasers visited the Philadelphia Freedoms the next evening. The Freedoms won the first two sets to take a 10–6 lead. Russell and Begemann won the men's doubles set, 5–3, to cut the lead to 13–11. The Freedoms won the women's doubles set in a tiebreaker and took an 18–15 lead to the final set. In the men's singles, Russell redeemed himself after letting the previous match get away. He earned a 5–1 set win over Robby Ginepri that won the match for the Lasers in stunning fashion, 20–19.[7]

After losing their next two matches, the Lasers hosted the Freedoms on July 24. It was marquee player John Isner who made the difference for the Lasers. He teamed with Begemann for a 5–2 set win in men's doubles that gave the Lasers a 14–11 lead after three sets. The Freedoms took the fourth set of women's doubles, 5–2, to tie the match at 16. In the final set, Isner beat Ginepri, 5–2, to give the Lasers a 21–18 victory that improved their record to 3 wins and 7 losses.[8]

The following evening, the Lasers were eliminated from WTT playoff contention when the California Dream defeated the Boston Lobsters, 21–19, in extended play, a match which ended during the Lasers' 25–17 home loss to the Aviators.[9]

The loss to the Aviators was the first of four consecutive losses by the Lasers to close the season.

Event chronology[edit]

Draft picks[edit]

Since the Lasers were the Western Conference champions in 2014, they selected next to last (sixth) in each round of the draft. Unlike previous seasons in which WTT conducted its Marquee Player Draft and its Roster Player Draft on different dates about one month apart, the league conducted a single draft at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California on March 16, 2015.[1] The selections made[1] by the Lasers are shown in the table below.

Draft type Round No. Overall Player chosen Prot? Notes
Marquee 1 6 6 United States John Isner Y
2 6 13 Pass –
3 6 20 Pass –
Roster 1 6 6 Germany Andre Begemann N
2 6 13 United States Alison Riske N Exempt
3 6 20 Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld Y
4 6 27 United States Michael Russell Y
5[Draft 1] 1 29 Pass –

Notes:

  1. ^ The Lasers drafted one exempt player during the first four rounds of the roster draft and could have selected another player in the fifth round.[10]

Match log[edit]

Legend
Lasers Win Lasers Loss
Home team in CAPS
Match Date Venue and location Result and details Record
1 July 12 Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex
Springfield, Missouri		 Philadelphia Freedoms 22, SPRINGFIELD LASERS 15[11]
* XD: Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 5, Marcelo Melo/Coco Vandeweghe (Freedoms) 2
* WD: Coco Vandeweghe/Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Varvara Lepchenko (Lasers) 4
* MD: Robby Ginepri/Marcelo Melo (Freedoms) 5, Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 4
* WS: Coco Vandeweghe (Freedoms) 5, Varvara Lepchenko (Lasers) 1
* MS: Robby Ginepri (Freedoms) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 1		 0–1
2 July 13 Dream Stadium at Sunrise Mall
Citrus Heights, California		 CALIFORNIA DREAM 23, Springfield Lasers 18 (extended play)[12]
* MS: Tennys Sandgren (Dream) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 4
* WD: Jarmila Gajdošová/Anabel Medina Garrigues (Dream) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Varvara Lepchenko (Lasers) 2
* XD: Neal Skupski/Anabel Medina Garrigues (Dream) 5, Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 2
* WS: Varvara Lepchenko (Lasers) 5, Jarmila Gajdošová (Dream) 4
* MD: Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 5, Tennys Sandgren/Neal Skupski (Dream) 3
* EP - MD: Tennys Sandgren/Neal Skupski (Dream) 1, Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 0		 0–2
3 July 14 Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex
Springfield, Missouri		 Boston Lobsters 25, SPRINGFIELD LASERS 18 (extended play)[13]
* MS: Alex Kuznetsov (Lobsters) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 3
* WS: Irina Falconi (Lobsters) 5, Varvara Lepchenko (Lasers) 4
* MD: Alex Kuznetsov/Scott Lipsky (Lobsters) 5, Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 4
* WD: Irina Falconi/Arantxa Parra Santonja (Lobsters) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Varvara Lepchenko (Lasers) 0
* XD: Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 5, Scott Lipsky/Arantxa Parra Santonja (Lobsters) 4
* EP - XD: Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 2, Scott Lipsky/Arantxa Parra Santonja (Lobsters) 1		 0–3
4 July 15 Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex
Springfield, Missouri		 Washington Kastles 21, SPRINGFIELD LASERS 16[14]
* MS: Denis Kudla (Kastles) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 4
* WD: Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Varvara Lepchenko (Lasers) 5, Madison Brengle/Anastasia Rodionova (Kastles) 1
* MD: Denis Kudla/Leander Paes (Kastles) 5, Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 0
* WS: Madison Brengle (Kastles) 5, Varvara Lepchenko (Lasers) 3
* XD: Leander Paes/Anastasia Rodionova (Kastles) 5, Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 4		 0–4
5 July 17 Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex
Springfield, Missouri		 SPRINGFIELD LASERS 22, San Diego Aviators 19[5]
* MD: Raven Klaasen/Taylor Fritz (Aviators) 5, Michael Russell/Andre Begemann (Lasers) 4
* WD: Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Sachia Vickery (Lasers) 5, Darija Jurak/Chanelle Scheepers (Aviators) 1
* MS: Taylor Fritz (Aviators) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 3
* WS: Sachia Vickery (Lasers) 5, Chanelle Scheepers (Aviators) 4
* XD: Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 5, Raven Klaasen/Darija Jurak (Aviators) 4		 1–4
6 July 18 Gregory Gymnasium
Austin, Texas		 AUSTIN ACES 19, Springfield Lasers 18 (super tiebreaker, 7–1)[6]
* WD: Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Sachia Vickery (Lasers) 5, Nicole Gibbs/Alla Kudryavtseva (Aces) 2
* WS: Sachia Vickery (Lasers) 5, Alla Kudryavtseva (Aces) 1
*** Alla Kudryavtseva substituted for Nicole Gibbs at 1–4
* XD: Alla Kudryavtseva/Teymuraz Gabashvili (Aces) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Andre Begemann (Lasers) 2
* MD: Teymuraz Gabashvili/Jarmere Jenkins (Aces) 5, Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 4
* MS: Teymuraz Gabashvili (Aces) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 2
* STB - MS: Teymuraz Gabashvili (Aces) 7, Michael Russell (Lasers) 1		 1–5
7 July 19 The Pavilion
Radnor Township, Pennsylvania		 Springfield Lasers 20, PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS 19[7]
* XD: Marcelo Melo/Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) 5, Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 2
* WS: Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) 5, Sachia Vickery (Lasers) 4
* MD: Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 5, Marcelo Melo/Robby Ginepri (Freedoms) 3
* WD: Taylor Townsend/Asia Muhammad (Freedoms) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Sachia Vickery (Lasers) 4
* MS: Michael Russell (Lasers) 5, Robby Ginepri (Freedoms) 1		 2–5
8 July 21 Dream Stadium at Sunrise Mall
Citrus Heights, California		 CALIFORNIA DREAM 22, Springfield Lasers 19[15]
* MS: Michael Russell (Lasers) 5, Tennys Sandgren (Dream) 3
* WS: Jarmila Gajdošová (Dream) 5, Sachia Vickery (Lasers) 3
* MD: Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 5, Neal Skupski/Tennys Sandgren (Dream) 4
* WD: Jarmila Gajdošová/Anabel Medina Garrigues (Dream) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Sachia Vickery (Lasers) 4
* XD: Anabel Medina Garrigues/Neal Skupski (Dream) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Andre Begemann (Lasers) 2		 2–6
9 July 22 Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex
Springfield, Missouri		 Austin Aces 23, SPRINGFIELD LASERS 16[16]
* MS: Teymuraz Gabashvili (Aces) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 3
* XD: Alla Kudryavtseva/Teymuraz Gabashvili (Aces) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Andre Begemann (Lasers) 4
* MD: Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 5, Teymuraz Gabashvili/Jarmere Jenkins (Aces) 3
* WD: Nicole Gibbs/Alla Kudryavtseva (Aces) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Alison Riske (Lasers) 3
* WS: Nicole Gibbs (Aces) 5, Alison Riske (Lasers) 1		 2–7
10 July 24 Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex
Springfield, Missouri		 SPRINGFIELD LASERS 21, Philadelphia Freedoms 18[8]
* XD: Marcelo Melo/Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) 5, Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 4
* WS: Alison Riske (Lasers) 5, Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) 4
* MD: John Isner/Andre Begemann (Lasers) 5, Marcelo Melo/Robby Ginepri (Freedoms) 2
* WD: Abigail Spears/Taylor Townsend (Freedoms) 5, Alison Riske/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 2
* MS: John Isner (Lasers) 5, Robby Ginepri (Freedoms) 2		 3–7
11 July 25 Mediacom Stadium at Cooper Tennis Complex
Springfield, Missouri		 San Diego Aviators 25, SPRINGFIELD LASERS 17[9]
* XD: Raven Klaasen/Darija Jurak (Aviators) 5, Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 3
* WS: Chanelle Scheepers (Aviators) 5, Alison Riske (Lasers) 3
* MD: Taylor Fritz/Raven Klaasen (Aviators) 5, John Isner/Andre Begemann (Lasers) 4
* WD: Chanelle Scheepers/Darija Jurak (Aviators) 5, Alison Riske/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 3
* MS: Taylor Fritz (Aviators) 5, John Isner (Lasers) 4		 3–8
12 July 26 Kastles Stadium at the Charles E. Smith Center
Washington, District of Columbia		 WASHINGTON KASTLES 24, Springfield Lasers 16 (extended play)[17]
* XD: Leander Paes/Martina Hingis (Kastles) 5, Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 4
* WS: Alison Riske (Lasers) 5, Martina Hingis (Kastles) 4
* MD: Leander Paes/Sam Querrey (Kastles) 5, Michael Russell/Andre Begemann (Lasers) 0
* WD: Martina Hingis/Anastasia Rodionova (Kastles) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Alison Riske (Lasers) 2
* MS: Michael Russell (Lasers) 5, Sam Querrey (Kastles) 4
* EP - MS: Sam Querrey (Kastles) 1, Michael Russell (Lasers) 0		 3–9
13 July 28 Omni La Costa Resort and Spa
Carlsbad, California		 SAN DIEGO AVIATORS 22, Springfield Lasers 16[18]
* MD: Andre Begemann/Michael Russell (Lasers) 5, Taylor Fritz/Raven Klaasen (Aviators) 3
* WD: Madison Keys/Chanelle Scheepers (Aviators) 5, Anna-Lena Grönefeld/Alison Riske (Lasers) 2
* MS: Taylor Fritz (Aviators) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 4
* XD: Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 5, Raven Klaasen/Chanelle Scheepers (Aviators) 4
* WS: Madison Keys (Aviators) 5, Alison Riske (Lasers) 0		 3–10
14 July 29 Gregory Gymnasium
Austin, Texas		 AUSTIN ACES 21, Springfield Lasers 15[19]
* MD: Teymuraz Gabashvili/Jarmere Jenkins (Aces) 5, Michael Russell/Andre Begemann (Lasers) 4
* WD: Alison Riske/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 5, Elina Svitolina/Alla Kudryavtseva (Aces) 1
* MS: Teymuraz Gabashvili (Aces) 5, Michael Russell (Lasers) 2
* XD: Teymuraz Gabashvili/Alla Kudryavtseva (Aces) 5, Andre Begemann/Anna-Lena Grönefeld (Lasers) 1
* WS: Elina Svitolina (Aces) 5, Alison Riske (Lasers) 3		 3–11

Team personnel[edit]

References:[20][21]

On-court personnel[edit]

Front office[edit]

  • Springfield-Greene County Park Board (represented by John Cooper) – Owner
  • Bob Belote – Director
  • Paul Nahon – General Manager

Notes:

  1. ^ Player appeared in fewer than three matches during the season as a substitute player and was not eligible to be protected in the following year's draft.

Statistics[edit]

Players are listed in order of their game-winning percentage provided they played in at least 40% of the Lasers' games in that event, which is the WTT minimum for qualification for league leaders in individual statistical categories.[22]

Men's singles
Player GP GW GL PCT A DF BPW BPP BP% 3APW 3APP 3AP%
Michael Russell 96 42 54 .438 4 9 8 21 .381 16 27 .592
John Isner 16 9 7 .563 11 1 1 1 1.000 2 2 1.000
Total 112 51 61 .455 15 10 9 22 .409 18 29 .621
Women's singles
Player GP GW GL PCT A DF BPW BPP BP% 3APW 3APP 3AP%
Alison Riske 45 17 28 .378 7 14 2 10 .200 4 11 .364
Sachia Vickery 32 17 15 .531 3 4 7 12 .583 2 5 .400
Varvara Lepchenko 32 13 19 .406 0 6 5 14 .357 5 10 .500
Total 109 47 62 .431 10 24 14 36 .389 11 26 .423
Men's doubles
Player GP GW GL PCT A DF BPW BPP BP% 3APW 3APP 3AP%
Andre Begemann 112 53 59 .473 9 7 12 27 .444 10 24 .417
Michael Russell 96 44 52 .458 2 5 10 22 .455 10 23 .435
John Isner 16 9 7 .563 5 1 2 5 .400 0 1 .000
Total 112 53 59 .473 16 13 12 27 .444 10 24 .417
Women's doubles
Player GP GW GL PCT A DF BPW BPP BP% 3APW 3APP 3AP%
Anna-Lena Grönefeld 101 46 55 .455 6 14 18 45 .400 9 31 .290
Alison Riske 43 17 26 .395 2 4 6 14 .429 2 11 .182
Sachia Vickery 31 18 13 .581 2 2 9 22 .409 4 13 .308
Varvara Lepchenko 27 11 16 .407 1 1 3 9 .333 3 7 .429
Total 101 46 55 .455 11 21 18 45 .400 9 31 .290
Mixed doubles
Player GP GW GL PCT A DF BPW BPP BP% 3APW 3APP 3AP%
Andre Begemann 115 50 65 .435 12 8 9 18 .500 8 22 .364
Anna-Lena Grönefeld 115 50 65 .435 4 11 9 18 .500 8 22 .364
Total 115 50 65 .435 16 19 9 18 .500 8 22 .364
Team totals
Event GP GW GL PCT A DF BPW BPP BP% 3APW 3APP 3AP%
Men's singles 112 51 61 .455 15 10 9 22 .409 18 29 .621
Women's singles 109 47 62 .431 10 24 14 36 .389 11 26 .423
Men's doubles 112 53 59 .473 16 13 12 27 .444 10 24 .417
Women's doubles 101 46 55 .455 11 21 18 45 .400 9 31 .290
Mixed doubles 115 50 65 .435 16 19 9 18 .500 8 22 .364
Total 549 247 302 .450 68 87 62 148 .419 56 132 .424

Transactions[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Serena Williams, Eugenie Bouchard Headline Mylan World TeamTennis Player Draft for Historic 40th Season". World TeamTennis. March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  2. ^ "Springfield Lasers Draft No. 1 American John Isner". Springfield Lasers. March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "John Isner Adds Second Springfield Date with Lasers". City of Springfield. May 12, 2015. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Springfield Lasers Open Season Sunday, July 12". Our Sports Central. July 10, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Friday, 7/17/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Saturday, 7/18/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Mylan World TeamTennis – Final Results for Sunday, 7/19/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Friday, 7/24/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Saturday, 7/25/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  10. ^ 2015 Mylan WTT Official Rules Guide (PDF). World TeamTennis. 2015. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Sunday, 7/12/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis – Final Results for Monday, 7/13/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  13. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Tuesday, 7/14/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  14. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Wednesday, 7/15". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  15. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Tuesday, 7/21". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  16. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Wednesday, 7/22/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  17. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Sunday, 7/26/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  18. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Tuesday, 7/28". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  19. ^ "Mylan World TeamTennis - Results for Wednesday, 7/29/2015". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  20. ^ "2015 Lineup". Springfield Lasers. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  21. ^ "About Us". Springfield Lasers. Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  22. ^ "2015 Springfield Lasers Stats". World TeamTennis. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.

External links[edit]

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