Capitals drop home opener to Hingis, Sportimes

   Dusan Vemic made his season debut for the Sacramento Capitals on Friday night, but it didn’t help against Martina Hingis and the New York Sportimes.

   New York bolted to a 15-3 lead at intermission and held on to beat Sacramento 21-12 in the Capitals' home opener before an announced crowd of 2,137 in Citrus Heights.

   The Capitals returned to their former home at Sunrise Mall for the first time since 2006. They played at the Galleria at Roseville for the past four seasons.

   Sacramento (1-2) lost each of the first three sets 5-1 before outscoring New York (3-1) 9-6 the rest of the way.

   Hingis, who almost certainly is headed to the International Hall of Fame, won in 5-1 in women’s singles and mixed doubles but lost by the same score in women’s doubles.

   She retired four years ago at 27 after winning 15 Grand Slam titles (five in singles, nine in women’s doubles and one in mixed doubles).

   Vemic’s arrival in the United States was delayed by visa problems in Serbia. In his two sets Friday, he lost in men’s singles to open the match and fell 5-4 with Mark Knowles in men’s doubles to close it.

   The Capitals will face Serena Williams and the Washington Kastles tonight at 7:30 at Sunrise Mall. It will be the first appearance in the Sacramento area for the 13-time Grand Slam singles champion.

Sportimes 21, Capitals 12
   Men's singles -- Jesse Witten (Sportimes) def. Dusan Vemic (Capitals) 5-1.
   Women's singles -- Martina Hingis (Sportimes) def. Yasmin Schnack (Capitals) 5-1.
   Mixed doubles -- Hingis and Travis Parrott (Sportimes) def. Schnack and Mark Knowles (Capitals) 5-1.
   Women's doubles -- Christina Fusano and Schnack (Capitals) def. Hingis and Katie O Brien (Sportimes) 5-1.
   Men's doubles -- Parrott and Witten (Sportimes) def. Knowles and Vemic (Capitals) 5-4.