Blake said that the WTT first-to-five-games format shows little mercy to players who start off slow. “You’ve got to just go for it” if you want to win, he said.

Despite being down 19-11 with only five points up for grabs, WTT rules would have allowed the Lobsters to force overtime if they won the mixed doubles tie. It was a win that seemed within their grasp given Blake’s form—but though Blake was on the card to play alongside Schlukebir, he was subbed out in favor of Johan Landsberg.

Blake said it was Coach Anne Smith’s decision to play Landsberg.

‘’I was ready to play and would have loved to since I just have one more game with the team,” he said. “I guess she wanted to give Johan and Kristen practice together.”

The Lobsters pair lost the set 5-3, giving the Lasers a final 24-14 victory, putting the Lobsters’ record at 3-3.

The match was Blake’s only home game for the Lobsters, though he did play Wednesday in the Lobsters’ 23-22 overtime loss to the Houston Wranglers Wednesday night. Despite the loss, Blake played in and won the men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles events.

On Sunday, playing at Bright without either of their “marquee” stars Blake or Navratilova, the Lobsters defeated the Delaware Smash 22-19. Lobsters alternate Jonathan Chu ’05 won his doubles match 5-1, though he was defeated 5-3 in his singles match.

Last night the Lobsters lost to Patrick Rafter and the Philadelphia Freedoms at Bright by a score of 22-17, bringing the Lobsters’ overall record to 3-5 with six matches left to play in the season.

—Staff writer William C. Marra can be reached at wmarra@fas.harvard.edu.