WTT Washington Kastles

Venus Will Substitute for Serena on Sunday

July 20, 2012 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release


Venus Williams will return to Washington with the World TeamTennis champion Washington Kastles this Sunday, July 22, replacing sister Serena Williams in the match against the Kansas City Explorers.

Serena withdrew from Sunday's match to further rest her back in advance of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, which begin July 28.

"After winning Wimbledon and Stanford (the Bank of the West Classic on July 15), I need to rest my back," Serena said. "Fortunately, my sister and Kastles' teammate Venus has agreed to sub in for me. I'm disappointed that I won't be able to see my D.C. fans and join my team during its historic streak, but can't wait to go for gold in London."

Venus Williams helped lead the Kastles to a 20-11 win over the Boston Lobsters on Monday at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf. The Venus-led victory over Boston gave the Kastles their 22nd straight win, which surpassed the NFL undefeated mark of 21 games, set by the 2003-04 New England Patriots. Earlier this season, the Kastles exceeded the NHL record of 17 wins, held by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Immediately after Sunday's match, the three-time gold medalist Venus will fly to London for the 2012 Olympic Games. Two other Kastles players -- team captain Leander Paes and Anastasia Rodionova -- will also participate at the Olympics.

"I am so excited to return to Kastles Stadium and help my team keep the winning streak alive," said Venus. "And I can't think of a more fitting place than D.C., our nation's capital, to play my last match before representing Team USA in London."

Though tickets to Sunday's match featuring Venus Williams are sold out on Ticketmaster.com, a select group of box seats are available by calling the Kastles at 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647).

Breakers at Kastles Preview - 7 pm - Tickets Available

Orange County Breakers (3-4) at Washington Kastles (7-0)

Friday, July 20, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: Ticketmaster.com, Stadium Box Office

Live Streaming: WashingtonKastles.com

Real-Time Analysis: Facebook, Twitter

All-Time: Kastles lead Breakers 4-1.

Last Meeting: Kastles def. Breakers 22-18 on July 9, 2012 (Away)

The Washington Kastles' record-setting winning streak could reach 24 matches when they meet the Orange County Breakers for the second time this season.

The Kastles and Breakers played in the World TeamTennis season opener on July 9th with Leander Paes and Bobby Reynolds sweeping the men's events to lead Washington to a 22-18 win.

While Washington sits atop the Eastern Conference, Orange County is battling Sacramento for the regular season Western Conference crown.

The Breakers field a pair of former college stars on the rise in the professional ranks: four-time singles and four-time doubles All-American John-Patrick Smith (Tennessee) and 2011 NCAA singles champion Jana Juricova (California).

Tonight's match will feature the Kastles' debut of Edina Gallovits-Hall, who has been ranked in the Top 70 in singles and doubles on the WTA Tour. With Arina Rodionova still recovering from a left wrist injury, Gallovits-Hall will team with Anastasia Rodionova in women's doubles against the Breakers.

Be sure to arrive early to tonight's match for the chance to meet Hall-of-Famer and 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Chris Evert, who will be signing autographs on the promenade along the waterfront beginning at 6:30 pm.

Some tickets to tonight's match are still available, but going fast. Purchase them now at Ticketmaster.com to avoid the lines at the Stadium Box Office.

If you can't make it to Kastles Stadium at The Wharf tonight, follow live streaming of the Kastles vs. Breakers on WashingtonKastles.com.

WEATHER ALERT

In the event of rain, all efforts will be made to play the match at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf. Summer rain typically doesn't last long, so once it stops, the Kastles' stadium crew dries the court for the start or resumption of play.

In the event that some or all of the match cannot be played outdoors, it will be moved to an indoor court five minutes away at the East Potomac Tennis Center at Hains Point (1090 Ohio Drive, Washington, DC 20024). An announcement of the court change will be made over the PA system to fans at the stadium and on the Kastles' Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Kastles have not played any part of a home match indoors since 2010, but when they do, it is an exciting and energetic experience for fans who are sitting on the court only feet away from the players. Seating at East Potomac Tennis Center is on a first-come, first-served basis.

PROJECTED MATCH-UPS

MS: Bobby Reynolds (WAS) vs. John-Patrick Smith (OCB)

WS: Anastasia Rodionova (WAS) vs. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (OCB)

MD: Reynolds/Leander Paes (WAS) vs. Smith/Travis Parrott (OCB)

WD: An. Rodionova/Edina Gallovits-Hall (WAS) vs. Groenefeld/Jana Juricova (OCB)

MXD: Paes/An. Rodionova (WAS) vs. Parrott/Groenefeld (OCB)

Bobby Reynolds will be meeting John-Patrick Smith for the third time since July 4.

(Photo by Fred Mullane/Camerawork USA)

SET BY SET

Men's Singles

Reynolds and Smith have met twice since July 4th, with the Kastles' closer avenging an ATP Challenger loss to the Breaker in the WTT opener. Reynolds saved three set points in his 5-4(4) victory over Smith on July 9th, which clinched the Kastles' season-opening win in Orange County. Smith is a left-handed player who can bash the ball as easily as he can take pace off of it. Now that he's gotten a feel for Smith's unorthodox style, expect Reynolds to show more confidence in tonight's men's singles set.

Women's Singles

First-year Kastle Anastasia Rodionova has made great strides since losing to Anna-Lena Groenefeld of the Breakers on July 9th. On Wednesday, her 5-0 singles win and clutch serving in mixed doubles were keys to the Kastles' overtime win, earning her the nickname 'Super Nova.' Groenefeld, on the other hand, has lost four of her last five singles sets for the Breakers. Expect Rodionova to come out firing following her breakout performance against the Capitals.

Men's Doubles

Aside from a hiccup against the Springfield Lasers, Reynolds and Paes have picked apart every pair of players that they've met this season. That includes Smith and Travis Parrott, who conceded an early break to the Kastles and never recovered in a 5-3 loss during the teams' first meeting. Parrott earned two wins over Reynolds and Paes as a member of the New York Sportimes last season, so if he's on, he and Smith could be dangerous.

Women's Doubles

The Breakers' Lindsay Davenport will not be playing tonight, which is good news for Anastasia Rodionova and the brand-new Kastle Gallovits-Hall in women's doubles. A former World No. 1 in doubles, Davenport provided Orange County with versatile play from the baseline and front-court. The makeshift team of Groenefeld and 2011 NCAA singles champion Juricova did manage to defeat Sacramento in their first set together. Will Anastasia Rodionova and Gallovits-Hall experience the same success in their debut?

Mixed Doubles

Davenport's absence inserts Groenefeld into the mixed doubles set for Orange County. She and her partner Parrott share bragging rights over the Kastles' Paes. Each Breaker defeated Paes in a 2009 Grand Slam mixed doubles final: Groenefeld at Wimbledon (with Sacramento's Mark Knowles) and Parrott at the US Open (with Boston's Carly Gullickson-Eagle). But Paes is 6-1 in mixed doubles this season. Matches from three years ago have long been forgotten.

KEY FOR THE KASTLES - CAN'T SLOW DOWN

The Kastles needed six match points to defeat a superb Sacramento Capitals team on Wednesday in overtime.

A letdown in intensity tonight would be costly considering the talent the Orange County possesses.

The Breakers are in the race for the Western Conference regular season title, and will be motivated to make up for their four-game loss to Washington in the first match of the season.

In that match, Washington lost the women's singles and women's doubles sets, but Anastasia Rodionova has been on fire as of late. With her playing the way she did against the Capitals, it's hard to envision an upset by Orange County tonight.



World TeamTennis Stories from July 20, 2012


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