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WTT Washington Kastles

Kastles Competing in Rome this Week

May 12, 2016 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Kastles Competing for Italian Open Title This Week

With the French Open right around the corner, the Washington Kastles are in action in Rome this week with hope of a strong finish to the remainder of the clay court season.

The Kastles still fighting for a title at the major Italian tournament are Bob and Mike Bryan and Martina Hingis. You won't want to miss them playing and make sure to follow the Kastles on Facebook and Twitter for the latest!

The Bryans are into the quarterfinals after receiving a first round bye as the No.5 seeds and defeating fellow Kastles member Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson, a member of the Orange County Breakers, in the second round.

The Bryans beat Querrey in a tough three-setter, winning 4-6, 6-3, 13-11. To win, they survived three match points against their compatriots. Querrey had three match points against his future Kastles teammates at 9-8, 10-9 and 11-10 in the Match Tie-break before the Bryans swept the final three points and won the match. For more on this thrilling Kastles vs Kastles match, check out the full article here and don't forget the Bryans and Querrey will all be playing for the Kastles in the home opener on August 1st.

The Bryans will face strong competition in the next round when they play Bruno Soares and former No.1 ranked doubles player Jamie Murray. Soares and Murray are rising stars in the doubles world and won the Australian Open already in 2016.

The Bryans have been a force to be reckoned with on clay so far this year. In fact, Bob and Mike (who recently celebrated their 38th birthday), won their 110th and 111th titles on clay on the ATP Tour at Houston and Barcelona, respectively. The Bryans have won the Rome title three times in their illustrious career.

In the first round on Monday, Querrey and Johnson defeated Daniel Nestor, a member of the 2016 Springfield Lasers, and Radek Stepanek. The Americans beat the veteran players 6-3, 6-3. To clinch the match, Querrey and Johnson won 80% of first serve points as well as 50% of 1st serve return points.

In Madrid last week, the Bryans fell in the quarterfinals, losing to the top seeded team from France, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, in a close 3-6, 7-6, 10-8 battle as the No.5 seeds. In the prior round, the Bryans beat Lukasz Kubot and Marcin Matkowski 7-5, 2-6, 10-8.

World No.1 doubles player Martina Hingis and partner Sania Mirza also have a strong shot at taking the Rome title in the coming week. Hingis and Mirza played well to advance to the Championship match in Madrid last week.They are seeking their 5th doubles title of 2016.

In Rome, they're into the quarterfinals after they defeated Su-Wei Hsieh and Oksana Kalashnikova in the second round on Wednesday with a 6-3, 6-3 win. Next, they face the American duo, Raquel Atawo (formerly a Kastle as Raquel Kops-Jones) and Abigail Spears. Hingis and Mirza are 3-0 lifetime versus their quarterfinal opponents with their latest win coming at last year's Tour finals.

In the Madrid final, the No.1 team lost to Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic of France 6-4, 6-4. Garcia and Mladenovic have been formidable foes beating Mirza and Hingis in the past, including in the Stuttgart finals about three weeks ago in April.

In the first set of the Madrid final, Hingis and Mirza went down immediately by 3-0 before fighting back to get to 3-3. However, the pair from France ended up breaking back twice to go ahead 5-4 and served for the set.

Garcia and Mladenovic broke to start the second set and served out the match up 5-4 to clinch the title from the world's top team. Here's a recap of that match from the WTA's website.

En route to the finals, Hingis and Mirza enjoyed a string of solid wins. In the semis, they beat American Vania King and Alla Kudryavtseva of the 2016 Orange County Breakers 6-0, 6-2. In the quarters, they took out the No.6 seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 6-3, 6-2.

In other action around the world, Kastles captain and veteran Leander Paes played in Dusan and won his first tournament of the year and first with his partner Sam Groth. Paes and Groth won over Thai twins Sanchai Ratiwatana and Sonchat Ratiwatana 4-6, 6-1, 10-7.

Coach Murphy Enjoyed a Weekend in D.C. Filled With Tennis Clinics

"When you think positive you are positive" - Murphy Jensen

"Two most important things you need on the tennis court are great attitude and great effort" - Murphy Jensen

Last weekend, the Kastles three-time WTT Coach of the Year, Murphy Jensen, served up some fun at local tennis clubs throughout the DMV area. Participants had the opportunity to hit with Jensen through King of the Court games, serving contests, one-on-one support, and much more. Participants of all ages, ranging from 2 to 70 years old, had a chance to share the court with the always energetic Jensen.

These clinics help create a bond in the tennis community. It's not only a chance to learn from a Grand Slam winning tennis professional, but also a fun experience for all levels of tennis enthusiasts.

Thank you to all of the tennis clubs for having us and putting on a great event for your club members! We hope to see you all again at our matches!

Did you miss out on playing with Murphy Jensen this weekend? Don't worry, he'll be back in June! Contact your local tennis coordinator to set up a time and date with us, kelly@washingtonkastles.com or call us at 202-4-TENNIS(483-6647).

Buy Your Tickets for the 2016 Kastles Season today!

Bryans, Hingis, Querrey, Fish to Play Epic Home Opener on August 1

See the Stars at Smith Center with Season Tickets Starting at $150

Be a part of the Kastles' Dynasty as the team aims to defend their 2015 title and claim an unprecedented 6th straight World TeamTennis Championship and 7th overall in the last 8 seasons. With a star-studded line up for 2016, including the Bryan Brothers, Mardy Fish and our returning superior veterans Martina Hinigs, Leander Paes, Sam Querrey, Anastasia Rodionova and Madison Brengle!

Becoming a Washington Kastles season ticket holder is your ticket to the best seats at Kastles Stadium at the GW Smith Center and the same seats throughout the season, in addition to exclusive year round perks only available to Kastles season ticket holders. Each ticket package includes invitations to our annual Season Ticket Holders' Tennis Clinics conducted my Coach Murphy Jensen and/or Kastles players, Social Events such as the annual season kickoff party, and much more. With a wide variety of options to choose from, seating plans are available starting at $150 for all 6 home matches for Grandstand seats up to our VIP Dream Seats, the most unique viewing experience on the Washington sports scene offering a sideline 4-seat dinner table that includes a three-course, waiter-served dinner and open bar, season passes to our VIP hospitality lounge and a VIP season parking pass.

Other premium seating options include our Kastles Baseline Experience offering, which is the closest vantage point in all of tennis only a few feet behind the baseline, our 4-seat Premier Courtside Boxes which line both sidelines of Kastles court, our Kastles Baseline Club with spectacular views directly over the baseline and our 4-seat Kastles Boxes. All of these premium seating options include in-seat food & beverage service from our stadium concessions and pre-match VIP Hospitality.

Lastly, our Courtside Chairback seats offer one of the best values in the region at $375 for a season plan located on the north sideline in the lower bowl of Kastles Stadium at the GW Smith Center close to the action.

Excitement is building as the season approaches and many of the premium seating options have limited availability so you should act fast to secure your seats to witness the Kastles' historic run at a 6th straight WTT title.

For more information on available season plans, click here or call 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647).

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