WTT Washington Kastles

Emotional Paes Clinches Career Grand Slam

Published on January 30, 2012 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


On a weekend when Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played the longest and one of the greatest Grand Slam finals ever, Leander Paes of the Washington Kastles secured a place in history all his own.

The living legend from India completed a career Grand Slam by capturing the Australian Open men's doubles title, having already won championships at the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open over his illustrious 21-year career.

Playing with Radek Stepanek for the first time at a major, Paes clinched his 13th Grand Slam title overall on Saturday with a 7-6(1), 6-2 triumph over three-time defending champions and world No. 1s Bob and Mike Bryan of the Kansas City Explorers.

"Tennis has given me so much," Paes said in his post-match press conference. "It's given me great friendships... It's given me an opportunity to entertain people around the world in my own personal style. But the greatest thing that tennis has given me is the ability to lead a clean life and to work really hard and enjoy with a lot of passion what I do."

How passionate is Paes? In the hours leading up to one of the most important matches of his career, he dragged Stepanek onto Rod Laver Arena for an impromptu practice session, hoping to get a feel for the Stadium Court that he had yet to play on during the event.

Suddenly, the lights in the stadium turned off completely as tournament officials prepared for the opening ceremony of women's singles final, which preceded the men's doubles championship match on Saturday's schedule.

With more than two decades on tour, Paes has seen and done just about everything, so a lack of lighting wasn't going to stop him.

"When I was a kid, I used to practice my shots, my volleys, my footwork in the dark at home in front of a mirror," said Paes. "And actually it struck me today during practice. Radek and myself, we have been working on Radek's volleys every single day for the last 21 days, quick volleys from the net, reflex volleys.

"He's got the fastest hands, but he has so many options that he has to pick a shot. So today when the lights were off we were actually doing reflex volleys on Center Court..."

"...in complete dark," Stepanek interjected.

Well prepared from his practice in the dark, Paes played at a high level from the opening point of the match. With Bob Bryan serving to start the final, Paes followed a deep lob into the net, angled an overhead that sent Mike Bryan into the photographer's pit, and then carved a backhand drop volley winner into the open court.

Bob Bryan rebounded to hold serve, as did Stepanek and Mike Bryan. But with Paes serving at 1-2, Deuce, the American twins went to work on the less-experienced Stepanek, making the Czech hit six straight backhand volleys during the rally before he netted one.

Now facing a break point, Paes spun a kick serve out wide to force Mike Bryan into a backhand return error. After another service winner, Paes held for 2-2 when Stepanek redeemed himself, splitting the Bryan brothers with a backhand volley winner down the middle of the court.

"When we were both at the net, I might as well have put my racquet down and folded my arms because I didn't see a ball," said Paes. "They pushed Radek around. They were flat, they were lobbing him, they were dinking. So we had to work on that. We had to work on his net game, on covering the court like a team. Don't forget this is our first Grand Slam, so we had to work like a team."

Each team traded holds until Paes stepped to the baseline to serve at 5-6. That's when he and Stepanek -- playing just their fourth tournament together -- began to resemble the top-ranked doubles team more than the Bryans.

The Kastle held at love to start a remarkable run in which he and Stepanek won 22 of 24 points, including 11 of 12 to clinch the first set and 11 of 12 to begin the second.

In the first-set tiebreaker, the Indo-Czech pair took a 6-1 lead after Paes hit three winners, Stepanek put away an overhead and the Indian connected on two low returns to draw errors from the Bryans.

With extraordinary confidence and chemistry for such a new team, Paes and Stepanek needed only one set point to claim the early lead. After the quick-handed Paes picked up a half-volley like only he can, Stepanek ended a scintillating 13-shot rally by hitting a lob that was too tall for the 6-foot-4 Bob Bryan to retrieve.

Stepanek yelled, "Come on," as Paes rushed by his side to deliver a double hand-slap, which has quickly become the team's trademark celebration.

To watch highlights from Radek Stepanek and Leander Paes' championship win, click the video above.

"There is one thing that is making us very strong, which is that we have great respect for each other as persons," said Stepanek, a former world No. 8 in singles. "We are great friends. We never let down: He never lets me down and I never let him down."

That was certainly the case on Saturday as Stepanek and Paes maintained all of their first-set momentum.

Following a love hold by Stepanek, Paes earned a break point for his team when he nearly beheaded Mike Bryan at the net, nailing a forehand volley that ricocheted off the brim of the right-handed Bryan's hat.

Paes and Stepanek converted the first service break of the match when Stepanek stood his ground and directed a backhand volley into the open court for a winner after Mike Bryan had moved across the net to intercept Paes' return.

"They don't necessarily have to be the hardest, fastest, biggest returns in the game," said Paes. "You just have to make them. Because once the point starts, with the speed that we have, it's going to be very tough for our opponents to get past us."

Playing for a record 12th Grand Slam title as a team, the Bryan brothers did not go away without a fight. After holds by Paes and Mike Bryan, Stepanek was tested on serve at 3-1, 30-30.

Paes prevented any further damage by slamming home a high forehand volley before his partner jammed Mike Bryan at 40-30 with a second serve that bounced off the service line.

With Paes serving at 4-2, however, the American twins got one point closer to the break they needed. Reverting to his team's strategy from early in the match, Bob Bryan blasted seven straight shots at Stepanek, finally forcing the Czech into popping up-and-out a backhand volley.

That gave the Bryans a break point, and when Paes missed his first serve, Mike Bryan appeared poised to pounce on the opportunity.

Sure enough, the right-handed Bryan rifled a return right at the Kastle's Nikes. What would have been a difficult volley for any other player, Paes made with the slightest of ease. The Indian scooped the ball off his shoe-tops and directed it down the alley, drawing an error from an outstretched Bob Bryan.

When Paes held for 5-2, he effectively ended any chance of a Bryan brothers comeback. On match point in the following game, Mike Bryan's second serve crashed into the net, clinching Paes' first Australian Open men's doubles title in his 17th tournament appearance.

After shaking hands with the Bryans, Paes and Stepanek couldn't shake their emotions: racing around the court and jumping for joy once Stepanek had released his partner from a bearhug. Even Hall-of-Famer Martina Navratilova, twice a mixed doubles champion with Paes, shed tears as she saluted her former teammate from her seat in Paes' player box.

It was a momentous occasion for Stepanek as well. In 16 years as a professional, he was without a Grand Slam championship until Saturday.

But in his post-match press conference, the 33-year-old veteran made it clear that he was playing for Paes.

"When we made our schedule, he told me: 'Partner, the only two things missing in my career are Australian Open for the Grand Slam and winning the Masters,'" Stepanek recalled. "I said: 'Partner, I will give you my heart and my everything to reach those goals.' It's happening right now, so it's amazing."

Besides snapping the Bryans' 23-match Australian Open win streak, the Indo-Czech pair also defeated No. 2 seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor in the semifinals and No. 3 seeds Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic in the third round.

Never before in the Open Era had a team defeated the top three seeds en route to the Australian Open men's doubles title.

Beating the Bryans also allowed Paes to exercise several demons that have haunted him since 2006. Paes was 0-5 in finals and 0-3 at the Australian Open against Bob and Mike Bryan before he and Stepanek defeated the twins on Saturday.

The Indian's weekend did not end there. He and Elena Vesnina met Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Horia Tecau for the mixed doubles championship on Sunday.

A sterling performance by the American Mattek-Sands helped her and Tecau defeat Paes and Vesnina 6-3, 5-7, [10-3].

Though he fell short of a 14th Grand Slam title, Paes has already established 2012 as a season he will never forget.

"I love playing the game of tennis at my age," said Paes. "I'm going to be 39 this year. The reason I can still win Grand Slams is, one, I know how to pick great partners; and, two, I'm very passionate about my daily schedule. Every day I put myself on the line, and that's a lot of fun."

~~~~~

Ex-Kastle Azarenka Wins Australian Open Singles Title

Along with her first Grand Slam singles championship, Victoria Azarenka is now the world No. 1. Photo by Ben Solomon/Tennis Australia

Leander Paes wasn't the only member of the Washington Kastles family to celebrate a career milestone at the 2012 Australian Open.

The women's singles title was won by Victoria Azarenka, who played for the Kastles during the final four matches of the 2010 WTT season.

With newfound composure, Azarenka blasted her way through the draw, dropping four games or less in four of her seven victories at the Australian Open.

That included a remarkable performance in Saturday's final, during which she won nine consecutive games to complete a 6-3, 6-0 rout of 2008 champion Maria Sharapova.

Besides earning her first Grand Slam singles title, Azarenka clinched the world No. 1 ranking.

"It's a dream come true," Azarenka said after the final. "I have been dreaming and working so hard to win the Grand Slam, and being No. 1 is pretty good bonus for that."

Vika, as she is known to her fans, has turned her career around since representing Washington 17 months ago. She came to DC as the No. 18 player in the world, without a title in the first half of 2010.

Though Azarenka struggled at times during Kastles matches, the intensity and camaraderie of the team format sparked a turning point in her young career.

She immediately won her first WTA tournament following the WTT season and has captured seven singles titles overall since her stint as a Kastle. Already in 2012, Azarenka is a perfect 12-0.

Next up for Vika is a trip to Worcester, Mass., where the Belarusian will be representing her country against Team USA in Fed Cup action Feb. 4-5. Among the Americans expected to participate are current Kastles Venus and Serena Williams.

Stay tuned to the next Kastles e-newsletter for an in-depth preview of the U.S. vs. Belarus Fed Cup tie.

~~~~~

Coach Murphy to Emcee Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame Ceremony This Saturday Night

Join Kastles' Owner Mark Ein and Head Coach Murphy Jensen on Saturday night. Photo by Fred & Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Reigning WTT Coach of the Year Murphy Jensen will be the emcee of the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony this Saturday night at the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md.

The event serves as a celebration of the sport, attracting members of the tennis community from in and around Washington, DC. Tickets are selling fast and sure to sell out by Saturday.

Established by the Mid-Atlantic Tennis and Education Foundation, the Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding individuals who have participated, contributed or supported tennis in a significant way in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Among the honorees will be Kastles' team owner Mark Ein, whose business savvy and passion for tennis led to the creation of the Kastles in 2008.

In just four short seasons, the team has captured two WTT championships, completed the first perfect season in league history, and contributed more than $600,000 in charitable donations to youth, community and military charities.

Also being inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame are Mary Boswell and Ernie Mosby.

Boswell, now an accomplished player on the ITF Seniors Circuit, became the first woman to play on the men's tennis team at Fairmont State University. After starting her college career as a beginner, Boswell rose to No. 2 in the singles lineup by the time she was a senior.

Mosby, a Vietnam veteran, played his college tennis at Morgan State University. For the last three decades, he has emerged as one of the most well-respected tennis officials in the U.S., earning a white badge from the ITF and the John T. McGovern Award from the USTA during the 2011 US Open.

The Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony will also feature a fantastic silent auction.

The Kastles have donated four auction packages, including an Owner's Club Dinner Table for opening night and Chairback tickets to a match of the winner's choice. Autographed items from Serena Williams, John McEnroe, Chris Evert and the 2011 WTT Championship Team will also be up for bid.

Join Coach Jensen, Ein, Boswell, Mosby and many more special guests by securing your spot at Saturday's Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame induction ceremony. To RSVP, please call 301-229-5401 or e-mail events@sportsplus.com .

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World TeamTennis Stories from January 30, 2012


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