WTT Washington Kastles

Anderson to Face Wimbledon Champion Murray

Published on June 29, 2014 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


When Kevin Anderson won 10 of the last 11 games to eliminate World No. 15 Fabio Fognini at Wimbledon on Friday, he had completed his greatest Grand Slam victory.

For now.

On Monday, Anderson has a Centre Court date with defending champion Andy Murray, and an upset would earn the second-year Kastle his first berth in a major quarterfinal.

Tune in to ESPN on Monday morning for live coverage of Anderson vs. Murray in the second match after 8 am D.C. time. Anderson's meeting with Murray can also be seen on ESPN3.com, which will air live streams of five Kastles matches this season.

Defeating Murray at Wimbledon will be a tall task for the 6-foot-8 Anderson. The third-seeded Brit has won 15 straight sets and 16 consecutive matches at the All England Club, capturing the Wimbledon title in 2013 and Olympic gold medal in 2012.

With the hopes of a home nation riding on his shoulders, Murray has reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals or better six years in a row. He'll need to overcome Anderson to keep his impressive run going.

The 20th-seeded Anderson is 1-1 against Murray, falling 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 at the 2010 Australian Open, then returning the favor 6-3, 6-1 at the 2011 Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Before beating Fognini in five sets on Friday, Anderson's best win at a major was over World No. 16 Milos Raonic at the 2013 French Open.

The South African brings his big game back to Washington for the first two Kastles home matches July 9-10. Tickets start at only $8, so don't miss an amazing chance to see one of Wimbledon's 16 best players for yourself.

Anderson was nearly joined in the singles fourth round by another Kastles player.

In a clash of former champions on Friday, No. 6 seed Petra Kvitova edged No. 30 seed Venus Williams by the slimmest of margins 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-5.

Venus and Kvitova played at an extraordinarily high level and put on a powerful display of serving, combining for only three break point opportunities.

Leading 7-5, 5-4, Venus reached 15-30 on the 2011 Wimbledon champion's serve. Two points from losing, however, Kvitova hit three straight unreturnable serves to hold.

The Czech won the second set in a tiebreaker, then broke Venus for the first time in the final game of the match, clinching victory after two hours and 30 minutes when the Kastle netted a backhand.

While Venus was disappointed, she can take solace in the fact that she was back at the same championship level that won her five Wimbledon titles. Venus is also one of four Washington players still alive in the doubles draws at Wimbledon.

She and sister Serena Williams will be in second-round action on Monday. Visit the WashingtonKastles.com Kastle Tracker for links to live streaming and scoring as the Williams sisters seek their sixth Wimbledon doubles title. The Kastle Tracker also includes links to full-match replays of all Kastles singles matches so far at Wimbledon.

As Anderson did against Fognini, Kastles captain Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek rallied from two-sets-to-one down to reach the second week of Wimbledon. The reigning US Open champions overcame Santiago Gonzalez and Scott Lipsky 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 in the second round on Saturday.

In the first round, Paes and Stepanek beat 2013 Kastles substitute Rajeev Ram and Mariusz Fyrstenberg 6-2, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4.

Third-year Kastle Anastasia Rodionova is one win away from her third Wimbledon women's doubles quarterfinal appearance. Rodionova and 2013 Kastles substitute Alla Kudryavtseva defeated Madison Keys and Alison Riske 6-2, 6-2 on Friday after easing past Yanina Wickmayer and Shuai Zhang 6-1, 6-3 on Thursday.

Rodionova, Paes and Martina Hingis are all through to the second round of mixed doubles. Rodionova and Mikhail Elgin eliminated British wild cards Heather Watson and Ross Hutchins 6-1, 1-6, 9-7 on Court 1 Friday.

Paes and Hingis each received first-round byes and play their mixed doubles openers on Monday. Four years after winning Wimbledon, Paes and Cara Black will face Eric Butorac of the Boston Lobsters and Timea Babos. Hingis and third-ranked men's doubles player Bruno Soares will debut against Zhang and Nicholas Monroe.

During the first week of Wimbledon, we awarded '47 Brand Kastles hats to 12 Kastles Twitter followers -- one for each of the Kastles' victories.

With five Kastles still competing at Wimbledon this week, the hats just keep on coming.

To win one yourself, simply follow the Kastles on Twitter and retweet the posts we make immediately after each Kastles win. Kevin Anderson has retweeted us. Murphy Jensen has retweeted us. So what are you waiting for?

Once-in-a-Lifetime KASTLES Special Experiences

Play, Interview or Photograph a Kastle During 2014 Season!

Interested in hitting with a Kastles player or experiencing a match like never before?

Purchase a Washington Kastles Special Experience, offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for our fans to get closer to the action. You could hit with Martina Hingis at Kastles Stadium, interview Venus Williams after a match, photograph Leander Paes from the photo pit, or high-five Bobby Reynolds in the kids tunnel.

A very limited number of Premier Courtside Box seats for individual matches are also available all season.

If you're interested in purchasing a Special Experience, or if you have any questions at all, please call John Coleman in the Kastles office at 202-654-7047.

Premier Courtside Box Seats for a Match

You and three guests could enjoy exclusive VIP Box Seats at a Kastles match this season. Box seats are not sold via Ticketmaster.com and very few are still available for each match in 2014.

Premier Courtside Boxes are the closest sideline seats to the court, bringing you only feet from the fast-paced Kastles action. You'll never have to leave your great view thanks to in-seat food and beverage service.

Along with your premium tickets, you will receive a VIP parking pass, entry to the VIP hospitality lounge and a pre-match photo with Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds or Anastasia Rodionova .

* July 16 and 22: $850 per match

* July 9, 10, 13, 14 and 21: $450 per match

Hit with a Washington Kastle

You've seen them complete back-to-back perfect seasons, capture four Mylan World TeamTennis championships and win 34 matches in a row. Now's your chance to play tennis with the Washington Kastles.

The Kastles are offering personal hitting sessions for up to four people with a member of our historic team. You and three friends could exchange groundstrokes with the likes of Martina Hingis, Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds, Anastasia Rodionova or Coach Murphy Jensen .

Imagine getting tennis tips from a Grand Slam champion: You may make like the Kastles and go on an incredible winning streak of your own. These once-in-a-lifetime opportunities are EXTREMELY limited, so you'll want to act now.

* Hit with Martina Hingis: $5,000 per hour

* Hit with Leander Paes: $3,000 per hour

* Hit with Bobby Reynolds: $2,000 per hour

* Hit with Anastasia Rodionova: $1,000 per hour

* Hit with Coach Murphy Jensen: $1,000 per hour

Reporter for a Match

Ever wish you had held on to that childhood dream and become a sportswriter? Dream come true!

As the Washington Kastles Reporter for a Match, you will join professional journalists on press row and update the Kastles Twitter pages throughout the evening. Leander Paes just hit an amazing volley? Tweet it! Bobby Reynolds bring the crowd to its feet? Let our online fans know!

Following the match, you'll have the opportunity to interview the Kastles for a story that will be published on WashingtonKastles.com and in the team's E-Blast, which is sent to more than 7,500 of the Kastles most loyal fans.

* July 16 and 22: $2,000 per match (Space is very limited!)

* July 9, 10, 13, 14 and 21: $1,000 per match

Photographer for a Match

If writing's not your thing, but you've always had an eye for taking great pictures, then cozy up in the Kastles' photo pit for the best view you've ever had at a sporting event. You'll soak in the excitement and emotions of the defending Mylan WTT champions from on court at Kastles Stadium at the Smith Center.

Snapping shots of Venus Williams, Martina Hingis and Sloane Stephens becomes a whole lot easier when you're sitting a few feet from the net. It's just you, your camera and some of the greatest players in the world.

Hit us with your best shots and we'll share them with the rest of the world via the Kastles website, Facebook, Twitter and E-Blast.

* July 16 and 22: $2,000 per match (Space is very limited!)

* July 9, 10, 13, 14 and 21: $1,000 per match

High-five and get a family portrait with a Kastles player before a match in 2014.

For the perfect family night at a match, this add-on to your tickets will ensure that your kids never forget the night they saw the Washington Kastles.

Take to the court at Kastles Stadium at the Smith Center before the match and have your photo taken with Leander Paes, Bobby Reynolds or Anastasia Rodionova.

Then, with mom and dad looking on, 1-2 kids from your party will be participants in the Kastles' kids tunnel. As the home and visiting players are being introduced, they will high-five a select group children as they sprint onto the court. Your kids could be among the rare few to slap hands with Kevin Anderson, Sloane Stephens and the core Kastles team.

* Photo + 1 Kid in Tunnel: $200 (Space is very limited July 16 and 22!)

* Photo + 2 Kids in Tunnel: $250 (Space is very limited July 16 and 22!)

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World TeamTennis Stories from June 29, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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