WTT Washington Kastles

Murphy Blogs From London; Smash Hits Free Webcast Tonight

Published on December 8, 2009 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Coach Murphy Jensen Reflects on ATP Champions Event in London's Royal Albert Hall

Kastles Coach Murphy Jensen and his brother Luke just completed competing in the ATP Champions Tour year end event at Royal Albert Hall in London where they played doubles against tennis greats including Peter Fleming, Henri Leconte, Cedric Pioline, Mark Woodforde, and Peter McNamara.

On his way back home after an incredible week in London, Murphy blogs about his experience:

Hey Kastles Fans!!!! Coach Murphy here and I just landed in NY after playing tennis in the AEGON Masters Doubles Tournament....this is my first year playing in the event. What makes this tournament most exciting is the venue and the players. I was competing with Mark Phillapousis, Patrick Rafter, Pat Cash, Mikael Pernfors, Stefan Edberg, Henri Leconte and Monsour Bahrami and Peter Flemming just to name a few.

And the Venue was magnificent. We played the Masters tournament at Royal Albert Hall which is a stadium that's used to hosting Pavarotti or Eric Clapton and not tennis! But it's still not as great as Kastles Stadium which is home to the 2009 World TeamTennis Champions!!!! I have played on center court at Wimbledon and the tournament at Royal Albert Hall was electric and atmosphere was amazing! Reminded me of the great matches and incredible play that we saw from Kastles superstar Leander Paes!

Another thing that was special was playing with my brother Luke!!!! Its been awhile since we made some noise on the courts and we were not sure if we had any rock and roll tennis left in us. But we did! We started the event winning our first 4 matches. Then the tennis climate changed as it does sometimes and we lost our last 3. We ended up as the only team with a winning record and it was great. The tennis was shown live on european television and I became an instant celebrity as I was recognized at Harrods as I was getting some Christmas Shopping done.

I got a lot of emails from Kastles fans wishing me luck and I really appreciate it. To be back on the courts running like I was 20 felt amazing! I wish I had the Kastles fans with me. And I'm not quite ready to play in the Kastles starting lineup but I am excited for 2010 and another Kastles season! My favorite thing about the tournament in London was catching up with all of the superstar players from yesterday. And instead of asking each other how we were playing or what's your ranking, our conversations were more about what's injured and what isn't injured! Hahaha!

As I look forward to wrapping up 2009 I will remember my favorite year in tennis and the highest point came when the Washington Kastles Team and its Fans all became World Champions!!!! I still get goose bumps when I think of Olga's amazing comeback! Until next time, Happy Holidays and get your tickets now for the 2010 Washington Kastles Season!

Refuse to Lose!!!!

Coach Murphy

Watch WTT Smash Hits Live Webcast Tonight at 8:00 PM

Tennis legend and WTT co-founder Billie Jean King and music superstar Sir Elton John are teaming up for their annual charity event -- the 17th annual WTT Smash Hits tonight at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge. This year's event will feature a bevy of current and former tennis champions including Kastles star Serena Williams.

Billie Jean King and Elton John will each captain a team and be will joined by Serena, Andy Roddick, Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas, Lindsay Davenport, Liezel Huber, Jan-Michael Gambill, Chanda Rubin and Devin Britton who will form two teams competing in World TeamTennis format. Elton will also participate in a celebrity doubles match to open the event.

For the first time ever, the event will be streamed live on the web beginning at 8:00 PM tonight. You can tune in to watch the entire event, free of charge, at

http://www.wtt.com/livestream.aspx .

This year's event, presented by the Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation and hosted by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, will benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation and AIDS charities serving the Greater Baton Rouge area. Smash Hits has raised more than $9 million for EJAF and various local AIDS charities since 1993.

TEAMS: Two teams of tennis stars will be coached by Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King.

TEAM ELTON: Sir Elton John (coach); Jan-Michael Gambill, Tommy Haas, Anna Kournikova, Serena Williams

TEAM BILLIE JEAN: Billie Jean King (coach); Devin Britton, Lindsay Davenport, Liezel Huber, Andy Roddick, Chanda Rubin

SCHEDULE OF PLAY:

Pro-Celebrity match: Evening begins at 8:00 PM with a special celebrity match featuring Elton John/Serena Williams vs. Andy Roddick/Anna Kournikova. (Note: Pro-Celebrity set does not count toward total scores)

ORDER OF PLAY:

Mixed Doubles: Tommy Haas/Serena Williams (Team Elton) vs. Andy Roddick/Chanda Rubin (Team Billie Jean)

Women's Doubles: Serena Williams/Anna Kournikova (Team Elton) vs. Liezel Huber/Lindsay Davenport (Team Billie Jean)

Men's Doubles: Tommy Haas/Jan-Michael Gambill (Team Elton) vs. Andy Roddick/Devin Britton (Team Billie Jean)

Men's Singles: Tommy Haas (Team Elton) vs. Andy Roddick (Team Billie Jean)

McEnroe, Oudin, Olga and Bryans Compete in BCF TeamTennis Exhibition in Baltimore Wednesday Night

Exclusive Discounted Ticket Offer for Kastles Fans

Former world No. 1 and Tennis Hall of Famer John McEnroe joins fellow former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, current world No. 1 doubles stars Bob and Mike Bryan, Kastles Championship hero Olga Puchkova, and rising American stars/US Open giant killers Melanie Oudin, and John Isner, for Pam Shriver's 24th Annual BCF Tennis Challenge presented by The Baltimore Sun Media Group at 1st Mariner Arena tomorrow night, Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 PM.

The BCF Tennis Challenge will utilize World TeamTennis format and scoring, and benefits the Baltimore Community Fund. The evening will additionally include the Orioles Challenge with Baltimore Orioles players Jeremy Guthrie and Brad Bergesen mixing it up with the tennis pros in a celebrity doubles match coached by stars from the Baltimore Ravens.

As an associate sponsor of the BCF Tennis Challenge, the Kastles are proud to offer our fans discounted pricing to both the TeamTennis event tomorrow and the "Let it Rip" charity auction tonight. The auction will begin at 6:30 PM at Baltimore's Tremont Grand and include the Bryan Brothers playing hits from their debut album.

What: BCF Tennis Challenge

When: Tomorrow, December 9, 2009 at 7:00 PM

Where: 1st Mariner Arena Baltimore, Maryland

What: Let it Rip Kick Off Reception and Auction

When: Tonight, December 8, 2009 at 6:30 PM

Where: Baltimore's Tremont Grand

225 N. Charles Street

Baltimore, MD

SPECIAL "KASTLES" DISCOUNT PRICING:

Tickets for the BCF Tennis Challenge are on sale at Ticketmaster. Visit the BCF Tennis Challenge Page on Ticketmaster.com and under the Washington Kastles Discount, enter KASTLES.

Select $25 seats discounted to $20

Select $50 seats discounted to $45

Select $75 seats discounted to $70

$75 Let it Rip Reception - $25 off - discounted to $50

To order tickets for the Let it Rip Reception, please call x21 or via email at info@tennischallenge.org

Be sure to mention the Washington Kastles discount to take advantage of this special offer.

For more information visit www.tennischallenge.org.

Kastles Holiday Ticket Offer: 2010 Kastles Tickets at 2009 Prices and Championship Hat or Shirt!

Through December 31, 2009, when you buy 2010 season tickets, you can take advantage of 2009 prices and, for each ticket purchased, receive your choice of a first run, limited edition Washington Kastles Championship Hat (in red, white, or blue) or our top of the line Championship T-Shirt made by American Apparel. This is a great value offered in appreciation to our amazing fans who cheered and inspired our team to the Championship.

As a 2010 season tickets holder you will receive tickets to see DC's Championship Team defend their title at all seven regular season home matches and any home playoff matches. This includes several matches featuring marquee tennis stars such as Serena Williams and Venus Williams making their only 2010 appearances in Washington.

All season ticket holders are invited to exclusive VIP Kastles social events throughout the season, including our memorable post-match parties and pre-season reception that feature appearances by Murphy, Kastles players and our marquee tennis stars. Also included with your season ticket purchase will be a tennis clinic on Kastles Stadium Court led by Coach Murphy and the Kastles team.

As a season ticket holder, you will have the opportunity to select your exact seats in the premier sections of Kastles Stadium before single match tickets go on sale to the general public, ensuring that you receive the very best seating for the 2010 season.

Each Kastles season ticket order comes with a certificate perfect for gift giving.

Reserved Chair Back seats:

$350

Reserved Grandstand seats:

$250

2010 Single Match Tickets

Gift certificates for individual Kastles matches are also available for purchase. These gift certificates can be redeemed for tickets to any Kastles match (including those featuring tennis stars such as Serena and Venus Williams) as soon as the Kastles schedule is announced during the spring of 2010.

Reserved Chair Back seats:

$65

Reserved Grandstand seats:

$45

2010 Box Seats

There are a limited number of Premier and Basic Box seats available for the 2010 season on a first-come, first-served basis. Both types of boxes come with 4 seats and the Premier boxes are located in the front row and come with VIP hospitality passes. And every box holder is invited to all exclusive VIP Kastles social events throughout the season and the team tennis clinic on Kastles Stadium Court. Our Premier Boxes sell out each year well in advance of the season so don't wait to get yours.

Order now and not only secure your box for 2010 but also lock in 2009 pricing. Additionally, by purchasing your box you will receive a championship shirt and hat and a professionally framed, matted, and inscribed "Refuse to Lose" poster personally signed by the 2009 World TeamTennis Champion Washington Kastles.

Premier Box (4 seats):

$3000

Basic Box (4 seats):

$1800

To purchase tickets email us at info@washingtonkastles.com or call 202-4-TENNIS.

With all holiday ticket gift purchases, you will receive a Washington Kastles certificate that is perfect for gift giving.

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World TeamTennis Stories from December 8, 2009


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