Venus Williams Returns Tonight at 7 PM in Important Playoff Run Match

Published on July 25, 2018 under World TeamTennis (WTT)
Washington Kastles News Release

Tonight, the Washington Kastles play the San Diego Aviators in a heated showdown for one of the two spots in the WTT playoffs. The Aviators previously beat the Kastles in their first match of the season in DC, but this time around the Kastles will have former world #1 Venus Williams in the lineup. DC fans will get an unparalleled look at the tennis legend, as she seeks to advance the Kastles to their seventh championship final.

Williams previously helped the Kastles win four WTT titles between 2011 and 2015, and in the 2012 championship, was awarded Finals MVP for winning a deciding tiebreak over Coco Vandeweghe in the last set. Williams has repeatedly described the 2012 final as one of the highlights of her career. Tonight, she will play her first of two matches for Washington this season. She returns tomorrow night to face the Springfield Lasers at 7PM.

Venus will play all three events!

In singles, Williams will be the overwhelming favorite against #138th ranked Naomi Broady. The star Aviator was able to score a win over Madison Brengle in an off night for the Kastles stalwart last week, but Venus is one of the greatest tennis players in the history of the game. She has won 49 WTA singles titles and 22 in doubles and also owns a combined total of 23 Grand Slam singles, doubles, and mixed titles.

In women's doubles, Venus will pair up with Wimbledon mixed doubles champion and current world #19 Nicole Melichar to face Broady and Anna-Lena Groenefeld. The Aviators have recently improved in this event, moving into second place in the league standings behind the Freedoms' Taylor Townsend and Raquel Atawo.

Finally, Williams will combine with Robert Lindstedt to take on Groenefeld and Marcin Matkowski, who just surpassed the New York Empire as the league leaders in mixed doubles, after their win over the Breakers earlier this week.

On the men's side, Kastles #1 Draft Pick Tennys Sandgren will look to score a big win in his home debut at Kastles Stadium. He played his first match for Washington against the Empire in New York Monday night, losing a close set to Mardy Fish after having three set point but bounced back for a strong doubles set. Against the Aviators, Sandgren will face Marcus Willis, who has been hot this season. He's currently the league leader in men's singles with a .605 winning percentage and managed to score a rare win over Frances Tiafoe on his home court in DC.

Fortunately for Kastles fans, Sandgren has had a great ATP season. The Tennessee All-American reached his first major quarterfinal at the Australian Open, where he upset top-10 players Stan Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem, and advanced to his first ATP final in Houston. Look for this singles clash to be one of the highlights of the evening.

Sandgren will pair up with Lindstedt against Willis and Matkowski, also the league leaders in men's doubles. Sandgren and Lindstedt will be tough competition for the pair, especially after their first set together against the Empire. The Kastles were able to hold strong with huge serves to extend the Kastles' lead to 5 games with their 5-4(3) set. Willis and Matkowski have been dominant throughout the league this season. To date, they've compiled a .579 winning percentage with 33-24 games won-lost for San Diego and upset Mike Bryan and a combination of Bob Bryan and Frances Tiafoe in their last visit to DC.

Be here to see the action LIVE! Get your tickets NOW!

SET-BY-SET-PROJECTIONS

MXD - R. Lindstedt/V. Williams (WAS) vs. A. Groenefeld/M. Matkowski (SD)

WD - V. Williams/N. Melichar (WAS) vs. N. Broady/A. Groenefeld (SD)

MD - R. Lindstedt/T. Sandgren (WAS) vs. M. Matkowski/M. Willis (SD)

MS - T. Sandgren (WAS) vs. M. Willis (SD)

WS - V. Williams (WAS) vs. N. Broady (SD)

Tennys Sandgren makes his Kastles Stadium debut tonight (Camerawork USA)	Venus Williams with the Washington Kastles (Willis Bretz)	The Stripes came out on top this year to take the Kastles Cup (Kevin Koski)
Former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) hits an over the head, behind the back volley in his first set performance (Willis Bretz)	Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein paired up with Tennys Sandgren to take down Coach Murphy and Robert Lindstedt (Kevin Koski)	Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) shocked the crowd in the battle of the Congressmen when he switched hands mid-point to hit a lefty forehand (Kevin Koski)
CNN's Michelle Kosinki got the once in a lifetime chance of playing with a Wimbledon Champion (Richard Kessler)	Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WVA) and Former Sen. John Breaux went head-to-head with Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS) (Richard Kessler)	CNN's David Gregory had an incredible performance last night to help seal the Stripes' win (Willis Bretz)

World TeamTennis Stories from July 25, 2018

• New York Empire Drop Two Tiebreakers En Route to 25-17 (EP) Loss to Springfield Lasers - New York Empire
• Venus Williams Returns Tonight at 7 PM in Important Playoff Run Match - Washington Kastles
• Venus Williams Joins Washington Kastles in DC Tonight - Washington Kastles

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