WTT Washington Kastles

Serena and Venus Lead Team USA; Kastles' Owner Ein Inducted Into Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame

Published on February 7, 2012 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Serena and Venus Lead Team USA to Fed Cup Win

With Serena and Venus Williams of the Washington Kastles playing Fed Cup on a home court this past weekend, odds for an upset of the Americans by visiting Belarus were always going to be slim.

Slim turned to none two minutes before the tie began on Saturday, when a press release revealed that former Kastle and reigning Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka had withdrawn from the competition due to a lower back injury.

With the world No. 1 Azarenka on the sideline, the Williams sisters, Christina McHale (Kansas City Explorers) and Liezel Huber (St. Louis Aces) swept through the depleted Belarusians 5-0 in Worcester, Mass., advancing out of World Group II and into a World Group Playoff tie in April.

"I had the pain since the Australian Open and was hoping to recover, but did not have enough time with all the flying I did," said Azarenka . "It is frustrating to sit out, but what I did in Australia was very physical, so the body needs a little break."

Scheduled to play the first match of the tie, Azarenka was replaced by world No. 65 Anastasiya Yakimova against the 38th-ranked McHale. The 19-year-old American seized the opportunity, claiming the first 10 games en route to a 6-0, 6-4 win.

Serena followed up with a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Olga Govortsova, giving the U.S. a 2-0 lead and forcing Belarus into a must-win situation in all three of Sunday's matches.

With Serena set to play Yakimova in the first of those matches, all hope appeared to be lost for the Belarusians. But Yakimova stunned her legendary opponent -- and the partisan crowd -- by taking the first set from Serena in the American's entire Fed Cup career.

"I knew it couldn't get worse," said Serena. "It was important to stay positive. I was extremely negative out there. In the past, I haven't been like that. I think I just wanted to do so well for the team."

After dropping the first set, a calmer Serena took control of the match to prevail 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, giving the U.S. an insurmountable lead. McHale continued her fine form in the fourth match of the tie, defeating Darya Kustova 6-0, 6-1.

Win or lose in the doubles finale, the U.S. had already assured itself of advancing thanks to the singles efforts of McHale and Serena. That didn't make a difference to Venus, who was happy to be playing her first match since she was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome during the US Open.

Though she is accustomed to playing doubles with her sister, Venus appeared right at home alongside Huber, the current world No. 1 in doubles who earned 2011 WTT Female MVP honors and led the Aces to the WTT Finals against the Kastles.

The dream team of Venus and Huber rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kustova and Yakimova.

"It felt great to win the first service game," said Venus, who continues to battle fatigue in her recovery. "It felt great to come back from those Love-40 games, down 2-Love. It felt good to be able to move the ball. It felt good when Liezel helped me out. It was everything I expected."

Venus improved to 18-4 all-time in Fed Cup competition, while Serena is now a perfect 9-0.

Health permitting, both Williams sisters are expected to be back in the American lineup April 21-22 when the U.S. plays for a berth in the 2013 Fed Cup World Group. Only the eight nations in the prestigious World Group each season can ultimately clinch a Fed Cup championship.

The U.S. will face either Germany, Japan, Slovak Republic or Ukraine, with a draw being held February 14 to determine the Americans' opponent. Learn who it will be by following the Washington Kastles on Facebook and Twitter.

And don't forget that the World TeamTennis Marquee Player Draft will also take place February 14, when the Kastles hope to secure both Serena and Venus for the 2012 season. The Kastles' Facebook page will have exclusive, live coverage of the Marquee Draft, with an exciting contest debuting immediately thereafter!

Team USA (L to R): McHale, Serena, Venus, Captain Mary Joe Fernandez, Huber and Sloane Stephens

Kastles' Owner Mark Ein Joins Mary Boswell and Ernie Mosby in Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame

Four inspirational members of the Greater Washington tennis community were honored Saturday during the The Best of Tennis: An Evening Celebrating Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame Inductees.

With a sold-out crowd gathered at the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md., Washington Kastles Head Coach Murphy Jensen entertained as the evening's emcee and proved to be a huge hit as the auctioneer for the event's annual live auction.

"I took away from the event that being of service and using the game of tennis to benefit others is what it's all about," Coach Murphy wrote in his latest online blog. "Tennis is an amazing game and there is no better way to love it than to share it with another."

Kastles' owner Mark Ein, veteran official Ernie Mosby and renowned seniors player Mary Boswell joined the likes of Arthur Ashe and Pam Shriver in the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame. Wheelchair player Jillana "Mel" Curry was also recognized with the Robert Marsteller Courage Award.

Despite having her left leg amputated in 2003, Curry continues to be an active league and tournament tennis player, competing alongside the world's best wheelchair players Esther Vergeer and Shingo Kunieda.

Curry has also become an ambassador for wheelchair tennis in Virginia, proving to other disabled athletes that with strong will and a positive outlook, tennis can be the sport of a lifetime for both able-bodied and wheelchair players.

Like Curry, Boswell has enjoyed a second stint as a tennis player. She took up the sport as a student at Fairmont State College, becoming the first woman to play on the men's tennis team. But while raising a family and teaching at Damascus High School, Boswell gave up the sport.

She returned to the courts in 1991, and has since emerged as one of the most accomplished players on the ITF Seniors Circuit. Playing at events as far as Australia and South Africa, Boswell earned the world No. 1 seniors ranking in 2002.

For Mosby, playing tennis provided welcome entertainment while he served for the United States Army during the conflict in Vietnam. Having competed on the Army Inter-Service Tennis Teams, Mosby turned to officiating upon returning home.

Since the 1990s, Mosby has worked at professional tournaments throughout the country, including the US Open, where he was honored in 2011 with the John T. McGovern Award for his outstanding contributions to tennis officiating.

Mosby also serves as the referee at home matches for the Washington Kastles, who in four seasons have succeeded on the court with two World TeamTennis titles, and off of it with more than $600,000 in charitable donations.

Much of that is thanks to the team's owner Ein, a tireless business leader who has successfully used tennis as a vehicle to make a major impact in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Through kids' clinics, racquet giveaways and player appearances, the Kastles continue to add to their historic 16 wins in 2011 with victories in communities across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Each of the honorees delivered poignant remarks upon receiving their awards, relaying to the audience that there are no limits to what can be accomplished in tennis.

The evening kicked off with none other than WTT co-founder and Hall-of-Famer Billie Jean King paying tribute to Ein in a touching video tribute. The Kastles' owner was also humbled to receive touching messages from Coach Murphy, Kastles' players Rennae Stubbs and Serena Williams, and his mother Marion Ein-Lewin, who introduced him at Saturday's ceremony.

After being inducted, Ein relayed his sheer gratitude to the hundreds in attendance.

"This is what is so great about this game that we all love," said Ein. "Whether you become No. 1 in the world, make a living in the sport or are a guy like me who figured that success would come in other ways, tennis teaches you discipline, problem solving, integrity, coping with pressure, the importance of fitness and commitment, strategy.

"It is truly the sport of a lifetime -- not just because you can play it your whole life, but just as importantly, because the lessons you learn stay with you for life."

A native of Chevy Chase, Ein expressed his admiration for the community spirit among tennis organizations in the Greater Washington area that strive to improve thousands of lives.

The philanthropic efforts he's led with the Kastles have complemented those of the team's partners in the community, including the Mid-Atlantic Tennis & Education Foundation, the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, the Tennis Center at College Park, and the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation.

"You go to these programs and you see these kids who are inspired to be great tennis players," said Ein. "But I believe at the end of the day, the way we'll measure the success is not whether we have another Serena or Venus Williams. It's going to be if the kids there use what they learn on the court to become great scientists, teachers, artists, businesspeople and community leaders.

"They're going to look back like I feel, and say: 'The most important things that I learned from tennis aren't about the game of tennis. They're about the game of life.'"

Kastles Clinch 2012 WBJ Best in Business Award

The 16-0 Washington Kastles continue to be honored on the heels of their historic perfect season.

The induction of Kastles' owner Mark Ein into the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame is the latest in a long line of honors for the team.

The Kastles and Ein were also honored on January 26th at the Washington Business Journal's annual Book of Lists party.

The magazine opened voting to the public for its Best in Business awards, including the Best Marketer in Washington, DC. Thanks to the loyal support of Kastles fans, sponsors and social media followers, the Kastles and Ein won the poll.

Winning has been contagious for the Kastles since the start of the 2011 season, when they became the first franchise in the 36-year history of World TeamTennis to go 16-0.

Thanks to a historic perfect season, Washington was well-represented among the 2011 WTT award winners. Co-captain Leander Paes claimed his second Male MVP award, Arina Rodionova was named the Female Rookie of the Year and Murphy Jensen earned Coach of the Year honors.

Thus far this offseason, the Kastles received a proclamation from Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray, were honored as the USTA Mid-Atlantic Section Organization of the Year, and were recognized at the eighth-annual SneakerBall gala and inside Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open.

In addition, Ein was named Washington's Business Leader of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce.

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