WTT Washington Kastles

Queen of the Kastles

Published on June 15, 2013 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


It was an innocent question.

During an interview for an On Tap Magazine cover story, Kastles newcomer Anastasia Rodionova was asked last June if the team could go 16-0 all over again.

Washington made history in 2011 with the first undefeated finish in World TeamTennis history. To suggest that the Kastles had another perfect season in them sounded crazy at the time.

"It's been done only once in 36 years; I think it would be really difficult to do it again," Rodionova answered. "Pretty much impossible."

That was before Rodionova won a winner-take-all set against the World No. 65 in Springfield, served out overtime against Sacramento and emerged as the league's top-rated mixed doubles player.

Rodionova's contributions, along with those of her teammates, propelled Washington to a second consecutive perfect season.

Pretty much impossible was possible all along.

"We were not really focusing -- at least at the beginning -- on going 16-0 or winning 32 matches in a row," said Rodionova. "We played as best as we could every time we went out there and played as a team."

Rodionova, who is ranked 30th in the world in doubles, knows plenty about playing as a team. Raised in Russia before becoming an Australian citizen in 2009, Rodionova counts former Kastles Rennae Stubbs of Australia and Nadia Petrova of Russia among the 100 different women she's teamed with on tour.

That doesn't include partners from her previous WTT stints with the Sacramento Capitals in 2004 and Newport Beach Breakers in 2005 and 2006. In both her seasons as a Breaker, Rodionova wound up a runner-up in the WTT Finals.

"When you win the championship, it's definitely different," said Rodionova. "I was in the final twice and, definitely when you win, it's a completely different experience."

It was a summer of firsts for Rodionova in 2012. She played five women's doubles sets for the Kastles with future Hall-of-Famer Venus Williams .

Williams playing doubles with someone other than her sister isn't something you see every day. But she and Rodionova showed great chemistry, especially in their pivotal 5-1 win during the WTT Finals.

"She's a great athlete and an unbelievable tennis player," said Rodionova, who reforms her partnership with Williams July 8-10. "It was interesting and exciting... You don't get those opportunities very often and I was very happy to be on the same side as her."

Kastles fans won't soon forget how Williams saved four match points against the New York Sportimes, then clinched Washington's third WTT title in a tiebreaker.

But equally important to keeping the Kastles' winning streak alive were a pair of clutch performances by Rodionova.

The Kastles were tied with the Springfield Lasers 15-15 on the road in the second match of the season before Rodionova rallied Washington with a 5-3 final-set singles win over fellow Olympian Timea Babos.

Rodionova converted on her lone chance to break the 65th-ranked Babos early in the set. Then, serving with a 3-2 lead, the Kastle showed steely nerves by saving three straight break points en route to the critical victory.

One week later at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf, Rodionova brought fans to their feet with a remarkable rally in the second half.

Washington trailed Sacramento 13-11 at halftime before the first-year Kastle won women's singles 5-0 to put the home team ahead 16-13. Though the Capitals went on to win the final set and force overtime, it was Rodionova who put the match away by serving it out in dramatic fashion after Sacramento saved five match points.

"I just try not to think about the big picture and try to be in every point," said Rodionova. "That's what team tennis is about. Every point counts in the end. You just go out there and fight."

Rodionova's never-say-die attitude against Sacramento won over the Kastles Stadium crowd, which cheered her final service winner as Leander Paes lifted her off her feet.

She's eager to bring back that loving feeling this summer. Having played pro tournaments in 45 different countries, all while switching nationalities herself, Rodionova hasn't had much of a home-court advantage throughout her career.

That is, until she came to DC.

"When you get to play seven matches in Washington, it feels like home," said Rodionova. "Kastles fans are the best fans in World TeamTennis. When you're down, you feel the people still supporting you, giving you a lot of energy. You know that you're not playing only for yourself and your teammates, you're also playing for the whole stadium."

With the Kastles' recent acquisition of reigning WTT Female MVP Martina Hingis, questions about a potential third perfect season are bound to arise.

But if the Kastles have proven anything during their unbeaten run, it's that they do their answering on the court.

"We win as a team and we lose as a team," Rodionova said, "and I think we really like not losing."

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