WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Historic Home Schedule Preview

Published on April 25, 2013 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


In 2013, the Kastles are playing for their fourth Mylan WTT title in five seasons.

Individual match tickets to a must-see season of Washington Kastles tennis are now on sale through Ticketmaster.com!

Kastles seats have become the hottest tickets of the summer, with most matches selling out in past years. Get your tickets before they are gone!

No Kastles season has had more anticipation and excitement than the upcoming one July 8-24.

With 32 consecutive wins and back-to-back perfect seasons, the Kastles are on the cusp of history in 2013, when they will be playing for their fourth Mylan World TeamTennis title in five years.

The Kastles have never lost with four-time Olympic gold medalist Venus Williams in their lineup. That's right where she'll be July 8-9 when Washington plays for the longest winning streak in major U.S. pro sports history.

Previously confirmed for Washington's match against Boston on July 9th, Williams added the Kastles vs. New York Sportimes July 8 match to her schedule in hopes of making history.

"I'm looking forward to taking our streak to the next level and hopefully an unbeaten season," said Williams, who will fly to Washington straight from Wimbledon . "We never thought that we'd do it again, but since we did, why not try for a third? It's so great to have the whole city of DC supporting us, so I'm looking forward to seeing everyone this summer."

Williams, Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds, Anastasia Rodionova and Coach Murphy Jensen are all returning from Washington's 2012 championship team. They will be joined by reigning WTT Female MVP and former singles and doubles World No. 1 Martina Hingis .

You won't want to miss any of the exciting action during the Kastles' seven upcoming home matches, which all begin at 7 pm. Here's why.

MON. 7/8 vs. NEW YORK SPORTIMES TICKETS: $35-60

An unforgettable season opener awaits on July 8th, when all fans in attendance at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf will receive a complimentary Kastles championship T-shirt, courtesy of GEICO.

By defeating their long-time rivals, the New York Sportimes, on opening night, Williams and the Kastles would tie the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest winning streak ever by a major U.S. pro sports team. But if history is any indication, win No. 33 in a row won't come easy for the Kastles.

That's because Washington and New York have played some of the most dramatic nail-biters in the league since the Kastles' inaugural 2008 season. Six matches between the teams have ended in a Supertiebreaker, including three during the Kastles' current unbeaten run. Washington saved a combined 10 match points to sweep the Sportimes in those matches.

Coach Jensen is sure to have Williams, Paes, Reynolds and Rodionova ready for a battle as New York tries to end an eight-match skid against Washington. The Sportimes' secret weapon could be savvy veteran Kveta Peschke, a former World No. 1 doubles player who nearly upset the Kastles single-handedly in last year's Eastern Conference Championship match. Filling in as a substitute, Peschke picked up 5-2 wins in women's and mixed doubles.

Venus Williams returns to Washington July 8-9.

TUE. 7/9 vs. BOSTON LOBSTE RS TICKETS: $35-60

A win the night before against New York would set Washington up for a history-making match against the Boston Lobsters. If the Kastles defeat both the Lobsters and the Sportimes, they would stand alone in the record books with the greatest winning streak in major U.S. pro sports history.

Besides winning 32 consecutive matches overall, Washington is also 14-0 all-time at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf and 10-0 when Williams is in the lineup. She will be leading the Kastles for the second straight night in front of what's expected to be a capacity crowd.

In their last two DC meetings with Boston, the Kastles have eaten up the Lobsters from the first serve. Williams and the Kastles took a 15-2 halftime lead en route to a 20-11 victory over Boston in 2012, while Serena Williams swept three sets in a 25-10 Kastles rout in 2011. First Lady Michelle Obama attended both of those matches, and with so much on the line July 9th, there's no telling who will show up in the stands. Don't wait to secure your seats; click here to purchase them right now!

THUS. 7/11 vs. SPRINGFIELD LASERS TICKETS: $45-85

Former World No. 1 and US Open champion Andy Roddick will lead an extremely talented Springfield Lasers team into Kastles Stadium for what -- on paper -- appears to be Washington's most difficult match of 2013. Joining Roddick are 7th-ranked men's doubles player Jean-Julien Rojer, two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Vania King, former Top 20 player Alisa Kleybanova and 2007 WTT Finals MVP Rik De Voest.

A much-anticipated singles showdown awaits between Roddick and Reynolds, who are among the greatest closers in tennis. Before leaving the ATP World Tour last September, Roddick was a perfect 12-0 with the opportunity to clinch a tie for the U.S. Davis Cup team. His countryman Reynolds has been called upon to play the final set 19 times during Washington's 32-match winning streak, and the Kastles haven't lost yet.

Roddick could steal some support from fans accustomed to rooting on Reynolds at Kastles Stadium. That's because the powerful server went 30-6 with three titles at DC's Citi Open, where he routinely played to sold-out crowds. His debut at Kastles Stadium should be no different, so you'll want to get your tickets today before it's too late.

Andy Roddick leads the Springfield Lasers against the Kastles on July 11th.

WED. 7/17 vs. SPRINGFIELD LASERS TICKETS: $15-35

Following five nights on the road, the Kastles return to DC for a rematch with the Lasers, and this time they will be bringing the newly-minted Hall-of-Famer Hingis with them! Four times a visitor to Kastles Stadium, Hingis will make her much-anticipated home debut for Washington on July 17th following two seasons with the New York Sportimes and another with the New York Buzz.

A master at mixing spins and slices to push her opponents around the court, Hingis will present problems for King and Kleybanova. The Swiss led the league the last two seasons in women's singles winning percentage with a 20-4 record, defeating 13 players currently ranked in the WTA Top 200.

Though the Lasers won't have Roddick around for Round 2 against the Kastles, a difficult men's singles match still awaits Reynolds. Springfield's De Voest is 5-0 lifetime against Reynolds in ATP matches and defeated him 5-3 at Kastles Stadium in 2011. Can Reynolds break through for his first win against the wily South African?

SAT. 7/20 vs. NEW YORK SPORTIMES TICKETS: $15-35

Bring the kids to USTA/Family Night at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf, when the pre-match activities will feature interactive games, tennis clinics and fun for the entire family. On court, it will be a family feud of sorts when the new Kastle Hingis goes head-to-head for the first time with her former team, the Sportimes.

Filling the Swiss' shoes in singles this season is Anna-Lena Groenefeld, whom the Sportimes acquired in an offseason trade with the Orange County Breakers. Though they have never met in WTT play, Hingis defeated Groenefeld 6-0, 7-5 at a 2006 WTA tournament in Zurich.

In men's play, New York brings back longtime Sportimes Robert Kendrick and Jesse Witten. That bodes well for Washington's dynamic doubles team of Reynolds and Paes, who have defeated Kendrick and Witten in all five of their previous WTT meetings.

Martina Hingis plays home matches July 17-24.

MON. 7/22 vs. PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS TICKETS: $15-35

The Philadelphia Freedoms haven't qualified for the WTT Playoffs since 2007, a year before the Kastles came into existence. But the 2013 Freedoms have postseason-caliber talent, with a rising American star and a pair of team tennis veterans solidifying Coach Josh Cohen's lineup.

Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion Liezel Huber returns to WTT play with Philadelphia after earning 2011 WTT Female MVP honors with the St. Louis Aces. She's joined by Sam Groth, who helped the Kansas City Explorers win the 2010 WTT title and blasted a world-record 163 mile-per-hour serve last spring.

Also new to the Freedoms' roster is 19-year-old Jessica Pegula, who rose to a career-high ranking of No. 126 this week. Have the Freedoms improved enough to upset the Kastles' star-studded lineup of Hingis, Paes, Reynolds and Rodionova? Find out on July 22nd.

WED. 7/24 vs. BOSTON LOBSTERS TICKETS: $15-35

The Lobsters will be relieved to come to Kastles Stadium and not find a Williams sister waiting for them. But Hingis won't make matters much easier for Boston, and with playoff positioning likely to be on the line, the Kastles will be poised to cap the regular season strongly.

Former Boston mainstays Jan-Michael Gambill and Irina Falconi are not playing this season, replaced by Amir Weintraub and Jill Craybas respectively. Another Lobster newcomer is doubles specialist Paola Suarez, winner of eight Grand Slam women's doubles titles.

Suarez is one of 11 World TeamTennis players to have been ranked No. 1 in the world in singles, doubles or both disciplines. Seven of the eight teams boast at least one former or current World No. 1, led by the Kastles' Hingis, Williams and Paes.

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP & MYLAN WTT FINALS

The Eastern and Western Conference teams that finish the regular season with the best records will host their respective conference championship matches on July 25, with the Eastern Conference champion hosting the Mylan WTT Finals on July 28.

That means that Kastles Stadium at The Wharf could play host to the Eastern Conference Championship match and the Finals, which would make for a total of nine matches on the Southwest Waterfront this summer.

SEASON TICKET INFORMATION

Kastles season ticket holders will have first access to 2013 playoff tickets should Washington qualify and host matches. Season tickets remain the best option for fans to secure the most in-demand tickets at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf.

For as little as $150, you could have your choice of seats to all seven Kastles home matches during the 2013 regular season, along with a package of perks exclusive for season ticket holders.

Depending on the type of box or season tickets, you could receive opportunities to play tennis with Coach Jensen and the team, invitations to exclusive Kastles social events and pre-match hospitality access.

A very small supply of Premier Courtside Boxes and Kastles Boxes, and one VIP Dinner Table, are also on sale, providing fans with multi-course dinners and the closest views at Kastles Stadium. Visit WashingtonKastles.com or call the Kastles at 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647) for more information and to place your season ticket order today!

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