Sacramento Capitals

The defending World Team Tennis champion Newport Beach Breakers will open their season July 5 and their seven home matches include a July 7 visit by the Sacramento Capitals, who feature Anna Kournikova. The Philadelphia Freedoms, whose roster includes Patrick Rafter, a singles champion at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, are scheduled to visit the Palisades Tennis Club July 11. Maria Sharapova, who won Wimbledon in 2004, is the marquee player on the Breakers' roster, which also includes returner Ramon Delgado, as well as newcomers Katarina Bondarenko, Anastassia Rodionova, and Estancia High product Devin Bowen.

The Newport Beach Breakers swept all three doubles matches to defeat the Sacramento Capitals, 19-16, in the World Team Tennis season opener for both teams Monday at Sunrise Mall. Breakers Josh Eagle and Lindsay Davenport earned a 5-3 victory over Andre Agassi and Elena Likhovtseva in mixed doubles and Eagle teamed with former Capital Brian MacPhie to claim a 5-0 men's doubles triumph over Agassi and Mark Knowles. Maria Sharapova and Eva Dyrberg won in women's doubles, 5-3, to help overcome singles losses by Sharapova and MacPhie.

Richard Dunn Get your special markers out and circle the dates now -- John McEnroe and the New York Sportimes will play the Newport Beach Breakers July 15 and Martina Navratilova and the Philadelphia Freedoms will face the new World Team Tennis franchise July 26 at Palisades Tennis Club. In addition, the Breakers announced Monday that three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport, a Palisades Club member and Laguna Beach resident who lived in Newport for seven years, will play for the local team at home July 8 against the Sacramento Capitals, a Tuesday night, and July 12 against the Springfield Lasers, a Saturday night.

Jeff Powers, a former UC Irvine All-American, scored four goals to help the U.S. men's national water polo team defeat Cuba, 13-6, at the FINA World Championships in Montreal Wednesday. Team USA's Tony Azevedo led all scorers with five goals. Ryan Bailey, another former Anteater standout, scored once while UCI product Rick Merlo did not score in 12 minutes of action. Goalie Brandon Brooks had six saves for the Americans. The U.S. (2-0) plays Serbia and Montenegro, also 2-0, in group play Friday.

Due to what a World Team Tennis representative called a technical glitch on the league Web site, the result of Monday's match between the Newport Beach Breakers and Sacramento Capitals was incorrectly reported in Tuesday's edition. Sacramento defeated the Breakers, 23-17, behind decisive wins in men's and women's singles. Sacramento's Elena Likhovtseva defeated Maria Sharapova, 5-3, in women's singles, while Daniel Nestor topped Brian MacPhie, 5-1, in men's singles.

World Team Tennis released the 2011 schedule for the Newport Beach Breakers on Thursday, featuring seven home matches throughout July at The Tennis Club Newport Beach. The Breakers open July 5, when they play host to former Breaker Lindsay Davenport and St. Louis. Breakers marquee player Pete Sampras, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, will play his only home match of the season July 9 against the New York Sportimes. Sampras, 39, played previously for the Breakers in 2006 and 2007.

Save the date if you want to see Maria Sharapova in action. The Russian beauty is going to make a lot of racquet on July 22 at Newport Beach Country Club. Sharapova’s only scheduled appearance for the Newport Beach Breakers comes in their regular-season finale. The Breakers play host to the Kansas City Explorers that day. By then, Newport Beach is hoping to rediscover the World Team Tennis postseason. Having a three-time Grand Slam singles champion around as its marquee player might put the Breakers over the top. The Breakers need all the help they can get. For the past two years, Newport Beach has failed to reach the playoffs.

Chris Yemma There's more on the line in this season opener than Dick Leach would like to think about. But entering his third year as coach of World Team Tennis' Newport Beach Breakers, the former USC head man has been in this position before. When the Breakers open their season tonight at 7 against the visiting Springfield Lasers at Palisades Tennis Club, Leach will face Leach in a father vs. son matchup. Rick Leach, Dick's son, is a player for the Lasers.

Rick Devereux The Newport Beach Breakers looked broken Tuesday night in a 25-13 loss to the Sacramento Capitals and the main reason was Mark Knowles. Knowles stole the show away from the Bryan brothers, playing for Newport and facing their father for the second time in as many nights. "It's very tough, Wayne Bryan said about coaching against his sons. "I'm conflicted because I want my team to do well, but I also want my boys to play well." Knowles played extremely well for Sacramento (11-1)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Newport Beach Breakers will now have to look to gain some type of momentum with Pete Sampras' return on Tuesday. That's because the Breakers suffered their second straight loss, as the Kansas City Explorers defeated Newport Beach, 23-19, on Sunday at Barney Allis Plaza in Kansas City. Newport Beach's Lauren Albanese will most likely welcome Sampras with the hopes he will cause distraction. The 17-year-old was playing in the final set, women's singles, just as in the Breakers' 20-19 loss to Springfield Saturday.

NEWPORT BEACH — Anne Keothavong doubled over and screamed in frustration. Two points later, Marie-Eve Pelletier kicked a tennis ball into the club seats to her right. It was only early in the second set of Saturday night's World Team Tennis match, but already the Newport Beach Breakers were way behind the Sacramento Capitals. If the tight WTT schedule hasn't made the team weary, a six-match losing streak might do the trick. The sixth straight loss was the 22-11 overtime setback to the Capitals at The Tennis Club Newport Beach.

World Team Tennis released the 2011 schedule for the Newport Beach Breakers on Thursday, featuring seven home matches throughout July at The Tennis Club Newport Beach. The Breakers open July 5, when they play host to former Breaker Lindsay Davenport and St. Louis. Breakers marquee player Pete Sampras, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, will play his only home match of the season July 9 against the New York Sportimes. Sampras, 39, played previously for the Breakers in 2006 and 2007.

NEWPORT BEACH — "¿Dónde está Ramón?" a Newport Beach resident called the Daily Pilot office to ask Tuesday night, upset that the Newport Beach Breakers didn't retain their six-year veteran, Ramon Delgado. Cyndie Borcoman's question in English is "Where is Ramon?," and he is playing with Philadelphia this summer. But she didn't go to their home opener against the Sacramento Capitals. If she did, she might have taken a liking to his replacement. Lester Cook made quite a splash in his home opener with the team.

NEWPORT BEACH — In the World Team Tennis media guide, it states Michael Chang’s residence is Newport Beach. Playing for the Newport Breach Breakers would have been so much better, closer to home, closer to being on a contender. The Hall of Famer might have asked before the season for a trade to the local team. Chang’s WTT debut season with the Sacramento Capitals lasted two matches, both losses to Newport Beach. So much for Sacramento having a marquee player, as the Breakers for the second time in as many days defeated the Capitals, 22-16, Saturday.

NEWPORT BEACH — Two days after being involved in the second biggest comeback in World Team Tennis history for all the wrong reasons, the Newport Beach Breakers had a chance to return the favor Wednesday. Instead of leading the Springfield Lasers by eight games late, the Breakers this time trailed the Lasers by seven heading into the final set. Not even Newport Beach’s comeback kid Ramon Delgado could pull it off. Playing four matches in four nights took its toll on the Breakers.

Save the date if you want to see Maria Sharapova in action. The Russian beauty is going to make a lot of racquet on July 22 at Newport Beach Country Club. Sharapova’s only scheduled appearance for the Newport Beach Breakers comes in their regular-season finale. The Breakers play host to the Kansas City Explorers that day. By then, Newport Beach is hoping to rediscover the World Team Tennis postseason. Having a three-time Grand Slam singles champion around as its marquee player might put the Breakers over the top. The Breakers need all the help they can get. For the past two years, Newport Beach has failed to reach the playoffs.

NEWPORT BEACH — Pete Sampras was nearly out of the point in Tuesday night's Newport Beach Breakers match against the Sacramento Capitals. Of course, with Sampras, the 14-time Grand Slam singles winner, the point is never over. He whipped a wicked crosscourt forehand past Sam Warburg, earning a break of serve and throwing in several small fist pumps. "Is this what you came to see?" the announcer asked, and the sellout crowd of 2,311 roared in approval. But Warburg broke Sampras' serve back in the next game, looking into the crowd while making a fist pump of his own. Sacramento always seemed to have a response Tuesday, downing the Breakers, 25-18, for the home team's third straight loss.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Newport Beach Breakers will now have to look to gain some type of momentum with Pete Sampras' return on Tuesday. That's because the Breakers suffered their second straight loss, as the Kansas City Explorers defeated Newport Beach, 23-19, on Sunday at Barney Allis Plaza in Kansas City. Newport Beach's Lauren Albanese will most likely welcome Sampras with the hopes he will cause distraction. The 17-year-old was playing in the final set, women's singles, just as in the Breakers' 20-19 loss to Springfield Saturday.

NEWPORT BEACH — It was easy to get caught up in all the newness Friday night at the Newport Beach Breakers' season opener against the Sacramento Capitals. There was a new venue and stadium at the Newport Beach Country Club. There was also a new coach in Trevor Kronemann, and an added curiosity because Anna Kournikova was in town with the Capitals. "What a great atmosphere," Kronemann said. "It's just a really great place to play." But amidst the change, a familiar face perhaps came up the biggest for the Breakers in their 20-15 win. Ramon Delgado, in his fourth year with the Breakers, came into his men's singles set with Newport Beach down, 10-5.

The Newport Beach Breakers' season begins tonight at 7 against the Sacramento Capitals at Newport Beach Country Club, where Breakers Stadium has been built. The new venue is sure to draw some memorable moments with the likes of Anna Kournikova (tonight), Pete Sampras (Tuesday) and Maria Sharapova (July 25) coming. As for the Newport Beach Breakers, they carry high expectations, too. They're expected to be a work of art, at least in Coach Trevor Kronemann's eyes. "If you can paint a perfect picture, it's been painted," said Kronemann, the first-year Breakers coach who has been involved with World Team Tennis as a player, commentator and coach for 18 years.