WTT Washington Kastles

Serena Captures US Open Women's Doubles Crown

Published on September 15, 2009 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


On Monday afternoon, Serena Williams capped an unforgettable summer for the Kastles franchise by completing an incredible two weeks for Kastles players at the US Open with another dominating performance and another Championship. This time, Serena and sister Venus won their third Grand Slam Women's Doubles crown of the year by soundly defeating Cara Black and Liezel Huber, the number one doubles team in the world, 6-2, 6-2. The Williams sisters controlled the match from start to finish, never once facing a break point. Serena's victory marked the second US Open Title in two days for Kastles players, the first coming with Leander Paes' Men's Doubles victory on Sunday.

Overall in the tournament, facing the best competition in the world, the Kastles were an astounding 33-7. And of those seven loses, six came late in the tournament -- one in the finals, two in the semis, two in the quarterfinals and one in the fourth round. In fact, the Kastles' only early loss in the tournament occurred in the first round when Nadia Petrova and partner Max Mirnyi were unable to convert two match points against the eventual US Open Mixed Doubles Champions Travis Parrott and Carly Gullickson. Clearly, the high quality, competitive play in World TeamTennis helped Kastles players excel on the world's biggest tennis stage. As Leander explained to Tim Lemke of The Washington Times after his victory on Sunday, "Team tennis helped me recognize big situations, big points, because in team tennis, the scoring system the way it is, just infuses pressure situations."

After her loss to US Open Women's Champion Kim Clijsters in the semifinals on Saturday night, Serena came into this match focused and sharp. Kastles fans remember Huber who starred for the Springfield Lasers in a 5-3 Women's Doubles victory that nearly turned around the WTT Championship match before the Kastles won in their epic last set finish.

Venus began the match yesterday holding at love, sending a strong message to Huber and Black that the Williams would be tough to beat. After Huber held and a strong service game from Serena, the Williams sisters led 2-1. Serena and Venus found their first opening in the next game when they attacked Cara Black's serve. A big crosscourt winner from Serena provided their first break point of the game. They would later capture the break and take a 3-1 advantage in the set, when Black pushed a volley wide. Venus consolidated the break with several strong serves to extend their lead to 4-1. In the next game, Huber struggled to hold serve, fighting off several break points and seven deuces before winning a twenty-point, ten minute service game. Serena responded by holding serve and the Williams sisters looked to close out the set by breaking Black for a second time. After four deuces, the Williams' capitalized on set point with a Venus forehand.

Venus held serve to begin the second set and Huber managed to even the set in yet another epic seven-deuce service game by fending off three break points. After launching a big ace on game point, Huber let out a big scream in hopes of shifting momentum in the match. However, the window of opportunity would close quickly for Huber and Black in the next game. After they forced deuce, Serena responded with a brilliant forehand winner and Venus followed with an overhead volley to provide the Williams a 2-1 lead in the second set.

Black, who had yet to hold serve during the match, served next. Serena opened the game with a big backhand service return winner. After a Venus backhand lob and volley on consecutive points, Black faced triple break point. When Black double faulted to end the game, it had become increasingly evident that it would be the Williams sisters' day to shine. Venus cruised in the next service game, punctuated by a Serena overhead to increase their lead to 4-1. In the next game, for the third straight time on her serve, Huber fought off multiple break points before holding, once again showing why she and Cara Black are such a formidable doubles pair.

In the next game, Serena held serve with the game ending on one of the most exciting points of the match when Cara Black demonstrated her superb net play with several point blank defensive volleys before pushing a volley long. Serena and Venus ended the match in the next game, breaking Cara Black at love to clinch their tenth Grand Slam Doubles Championship and first at the US Open since 1999.

Kastles Players at the US Open

Women's Singles (Overall record 8-2)

Serena Williams - Lost in Semifinals to Kim Clijsters

Nadia Petrova - Lost in Fourth Round to Melanie Oudin

Women's Doubles (13-2)

Serena Williams (w/Venus) - Women's Doubles Champions

Rennae Stubbs (w/Sam Stosur) - Lost in Semifinals to Black/Huber

Nadia Petrova (w/Mattek-Sands) - Lost in Quarterfinals to Stubbs/Stosur

Men's Doubles (6-0)

Leander Paes (w/Dlouhy) - Men's Doubles Champions

Mixed Doubles (6-3)

Leander Paes (w/Black) - Lost in Finals to Parrott/Gullickson

Rennae Stubbs (w/Linnstedt) - Lost in Quarterfinals to Paes/Black

Nadia Petrova (w/Miryni) - Lost in First Round to Parrott/Gullickson

Winner of 2009 US Open Title

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World TeamTennis Stories from September 15, 2009


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