The Orange County Breakers claimed their third World TeamTennis title in franchise victory with a 21-13 win over the Springfield Lasers in the 2021 WTT Finals Presented by Guaranteed Rate on Sunday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Steve Johnson was awarded the 2021 WTT MVP after clinching his second career WTT title, finishing second in the league in men’s singles winning percentage at 57.7%. Orange County coach Rick Leach won his second title as coach of the Breakers and is one of four coaches in league history to win a title as a coach and a player, claiming the title as a player in 1996 with the St. Louis Aces.
Johnson and Tatjana Maria helped the Breakers jump out to a 10-4 lead with their victories in their singles matches, with Johnson and doubles partner Austin Krajicek following up with a win in men’s doubles to give Orange County a commanding lead at halftime. Marcelo Arevalo and Giuliana Olmos, the 2021 US Open mixed doubles finalists, helped the Lasers get some momentum going into the final set with a 5-1 win in mixed doubles. Coachella Valley native and three-time Major mixed doubles champion Desirae Krawczyk and Maria closed out the final set with a women’s doubles victory that allowed Orange County to clinch its first WTT title since 2017.
Notes
- Orange County won its third title in franchise history (2004, 2017, 2021).
- This was Steve Johnson’s second WTT title. This was the first title for all other Orange County players.
- Breakers’ coach Rick Leach won his second title as a coach and third title overall (1996, St. Louis Aces Player, 2017 + 2021, Orange County Breakers Coach)
Season MVP: Steve Johnson (Orange County Breakers) Johnson finished second in World TeamTennis in men’s singles winning percentage at 57.7% and a 60-44 games record in 2021. The 2013 WTT Male Rookie of the Year also compiled a 55-50 games record in men’s doubles for a 52.4% winning percentage. In addition to winning 115 total games in WTT this season, Johnson has won four singles titles and one doubles title on the ATP Tour along with finishing as a two-time US Open doubles semifinalist.
