WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Charity Classic Tonight

Published on July 24, 2018 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


WASHINGTON - The final week of home matches will be superstar central for the six-time champions of World TeamTennis presented by GEICO, as Kastles legend Venus Williams will play back-to-back nights on Wednesday and Thursday, July 25 & 26 at Kastles Stadium. Following Williams in the regular season finale on July 28 will be Naomi Osaka, one of the fastest rising stars in women's tennis. The Kastles enter the second week of their home schedule in second place with a record of 5-2 and stand a half game behind Billie Jean King's 5-1 Philadelphia Freedoms.

Osaka stunned the tennis world and became an overnight sensation earlier this year by winning the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, defeating Maria Sharapova in the first round, followed by a long list of WTA champions, including Agnieszka Radwanska, world #5 Karolina Pliskova, and Simona Halep, before besting world #14 Daria Kasatkina in the final, 6-3, 6-2.

By doing so, Osaka became the third unseeded champion to win Indian Wells, following Serena Williams (1999) and Kim Clijsters (2005). A week later, the Indian Wells champ put the breaks on Serena Williams, defeating the all-time great and fellow Kastles veteran in the first round of the Miami Open, again by a score of 6-3, 6-2.

But Osaka will have a tough act to follow. On Wednesday and Thursday, Kastles Stadium will once again be graced by the legendary Venus Williams. The 23-time Grand Slam champion and 14th-ranked played in the world, will headline back-to-back matches against the San Diego Aviators and Springfield Lasers. The Kastles superstar is no stranger to DC sports fans. She will be returning to the nation's capital for her seventh season, but this will be the first time Williams plays two nights at Kastles Stadium.

Williams will hold press conferences before the match at 5:45 pm at Kastles Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday.

Tonight, Kastles Stadium will play host to the 6th annual Washington Kastles Charity Classic, which can now be livestreamed at WTT.TV This bi-partisan event brings together members of the government, national media personalities, celebrities, Washington Kastles players and other notables for a night of tennis and fun with the sole purpose of giving back to the community. As always, 100 percent of the ticket proceeds from the match will go to worthwhile charities, including the USTA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Unites States Tennis Association. Brett Haber of The Tennis Channel will serve as the Chair Umpire and award-winning tennis writer Ben Rothenberg will host the livestream broadcast.

"It's going to be an exciting sprint to the finish," said owner Mark Ein. "Every time Venus comes to town it's a treat; having her here for two nights in a row will go down in Kastles history. Hopefully she's able to help us into position to make the playoffs and Naomi can clinch the spot in our finale on Saturday."

Each home match will be held at Kastles Stadium at the Charles E. Smith Center in Foggy Bottom, located on 22nd Street between F and G Streets NW. Match play starts at 7:00 p.m. (except Saturday the 28th, which will start at 5:00 p.m.) Doors to Kastles Stadium open at 5:15 p.m. The media entrance is located at the bottom of the stairs on the corner of 22nd and G Streets NW. The media parking garage is the G Street Parking Garage, which can be accessed on 20th street between G and F streets NW; free garage exit passes will be handed out at the media check-in desk.

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