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That, of course, would be a great accomplishment unto itself. What would make that all the more special — certainly unique, anyway — is that Peschke, a native of the Czech Republic, turned 33 five days ago.
At an age way past when a lot of professional tennis players are calling it quits, Peschke currently is in the midst of the best year of her career.
“It’s been great, a lot of fun,” Peschke said before the Explorers beat the Boston Lobsters 22-17 Monday evening at Barney Allis Plaza. “It’s been a great effort to get here.
“But right now, I’m just excited and looking forward to new experiences.”
Peschke, who stands just 5 feet 5, quite small for big-time pro tennis, recently reached a career high of No. 3 in the Women’s Tennis Association world rankings in women’s doubles, playing with Rennae Stubbs, who’s also her partner with the Explorers.
Speaking of the Explorers, Peschke’s season couldn’t have gone much better thus far. Heading into Monday’s match against Boston, she had yet to lose a set all season in either singles or doubles. She ranked third in WTT in singles win percentage (at 20-12 in games) and Stubbs and Peschke rank 1-2 in the league in women’s doubles.
Peschke couldn’t keep that streak alive against Boston, however. In her singles match against Canadian Marie-Eve Pelletier, she gave up a 2-0 lead at the beginning of the set and then a 2-0 lead in the tiebreaker before losing at set point, 5-4 (5-4).
But after Stubbs and Dusan Vemic tied the team score with a 5-2 win in mixed doubles, Peschke and Stubbs came out and shut out Pelletier and Raquel Kops-Jones 5-0, giving the Explorers the victory.
“It’s great,” Peschke said. “I’m really enjoying playing singles right now. I quit playing singles two years ago, just because of my age and my health and all.
“But I decided to try singles again here. It’s fun to be out on the court on my own again.”
Haygarth said Peschke has been an invaluable component to an Explorers team that ran its season record to a perfect 7-0 Monday night.
“She’s been awesome,” Haygarth said. “She’s perfect for (the WTT format). She doesn’t hold back and comes out ripping.”
Peschke has also enjoyed her time with Stubbs, a former No. 1-ranked doubles player and six-time Grand Slam winner, both with the Explorers and out on tour. She and Stubbs hooked up after the WTA Championships at the end of 2006, simply because neither had a partner.
The result has been a victory earlier this year in Doha, Qatar, and three titles in 2007.
The twosome is like the tennis equivalent of Penn and Teller. Stubbs is the fiery, verbal one on the court, while Peschke plays the silent, demure partner.
“We have very different personalities,” Peschke said. “I guess that’s maybe why it’s such a good fit.”
Peschke was ranked as high as No. 26 in the world back in 2005 and, just last year, notched a big upset of then top-20-ranked Nadia Petrova at the French Open.
But just because she’s enjoying playing singles in WTT, Stubbs doesn’t have to worry about losing her partner.
“Well, my ranking would be zero, so I don’t think I’ll be able to play singles,” she said, laughing. “If I get a wild card, maybe I’ll think about it.
“But, right now, I’m just enjoying what I’m doing.”
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