Washington Kastles
Encyclopedia
The Washington Kastles, a professional tennis
team based in Washington, D.C.
, are a franchise of the World TeamTennis
Pro League and the 2009 WTT Champions. The Kastles entered the World TeamTennis
League in 2008 and are owned by Mark Ein. The team is named for Kastle Systems, a security company. The Kastles captured the 2009 King Trophy by defeating Springfield in the WTT Championship on Sunday, July 26, 2009 in Washington, DC.
, Coach - 2011 Coach of the Year Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Rennae Stubbs
Leander Paes
, 2011 Male MVP Arina Rodionova
, 2011 Female Rookie of the Year Bobby Reynolds
, 2010 Male Rookie of the Year
, located on the Southwest Waterfront at 800 Water Street SW, Washington DC 20024. The team played in the new facility in July 2011, and is located near the L'Enfant Plaza (Yellow/Orange/Blue/Green) and Waterfront Metro (Green) stops. Capacity is 2,600.
Evidently the move agreed with the Kastles as they finished the regular season with a 14-0 record, only the second team in the 36 year history of World Team Tennis to have an undefeated season.
, to play doubles in the US Open in 1996 and 2002. In 2005, Blake retired from professional singles.
Following Blake's departure, Murphy Jensen
was named the new head coach for the 2009 Season. Jensen is a former French Open doubles winner with brother Luke
, and hosts a show on The Tennis Channel
.
Jensen was named 2011 Coach of Year as the head coach of the Kastles.
2011 WTT Finals
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
team based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, are a franchise of the World TeamTennis
World TeamTennis
World TeamTennis is a coed professional tennis league played with a unique team format in the United States. Each match consists of five sets. Each set features a different configuration . Coaches, before the match, decide the order in which the sets will be played...
Pro League and the 2009 WTT Champions. The Kastles entered the World TeamTennis
World TeamTennis
World TeamTennis is a coed professional tennis league played with a unique team format in the United States. Each match consists of five sets. Each set features a different configuration . Coaches, before the match, decide the order in which the sets will be played...
League in 2008 and are owned by Mark Ein. The team is named for Kastle Systems, a security company. The Kastles captured the 2009 King Trophy by defeating Springfield in the WTT Championship on Sunday, July 26, 2009 in Washington, DC.
Current squad
Murphy JensenMurphy Jensen
Murphy Jensen is an American professional tennis player from Ludington, Michigan, and currently the coach of the Washington Kastles of World TeamTennis. His elder brother is former professional tennis player Luke Jensen...
, Coach - 2011 Coach of the Year Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs is an Australian tennis player. She has won several Grand Slam doubles titles and represented Australia at four successive Olympic Games; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008....
Leander Paes
Leander Paes
Leander Adrian Paes, pronounced pās, is an Indian professional tennis player who currently features in the doubles events in the ATP tour and the Davis Cup tournament...
, 2011 Male MVP Arina Rodionova
Arina Rodionova
Arina Rodionova is a Russian tennis player. The sister of Russian-born Australian tennis player Anastasia Rodionova, she won 2007 Australian Open in girls' doubles, partnering with Evgeniya Rodina. In 2010, Rodionova reached her first WTA Tour doubles final partnering with her sister, at 2010...
, 2011 Female Rookie of the Year Bobby Reynolds
Bobby Reynolds
----Robert "Bobby" Thomas Reynolds in Cape Cod, Massachusetts) is an American professional tennis player who resides in Acworth, Georgia.-Professional career:...
, 2010 Male Rookie of the Year
Stadium
From 2008 to 2010, the team played its home matches at Kastles Stadium, a temporary outdoor stadium erected each summer in a parking lot on the site of the former Washington Convention Center. In 2011, the team announced its move to the new Kastles Stadium at The WharfKastles Stadium at The Wharf
The Kastles Stadium at The Wharf is a tennis stadium on the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, D.C. Built in 2011, the stadium is the home venue for the Washington Kastles tennis team. The stadium was opened on June 14, 2011, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Billie Jean King, Ilana...
, located on the Southwest Waterfront at 800 Water Street SW, Washington DC 20024. The team played in the new facility in July 2011, and is located near the L'Enfant Plaza (Yellow/Orange/Blue/Green) and Waterfront Metro (Green) stops. Capacity is 2,600.
Evidently the move agreed with the Kastles as they finished the regular season with a 14-0 record, only the second team in the 36 year history of World Team Tennis to have an undefeated season.
Head coach
Thomas Blake was named head coach of the Washington Kastles in June 2008. Blake became a professional tennis player in 1996. He partnered with his brother, James BlakeJames Blake
James Riley Blake is an American professional tennis player. Blake is known for his speed and powerful, flat forehand. As of August 2011, Blake is ranked no. 63 among active male players with 24 career finals appearances...
, to play doubles in the US Open in 1996 and 2002. In 2005, Blake retired from professional singles.
Following Blake's departure, Murphy Jensen
Murphy Jensen
Murphy Jensen is an American professional tennis player from Ludington, Michigan, and currently the coach of the Washington Kastles of World TeamTennis. His elder brother is former professional tennis player Luke Jensen...
was named the new head coach for the 2009 Season. Jensen is a former French Open doubles winner with brother Luke
Luke Jensen
Luke Jensen is a former professional male tennis player from the United States. He attended University of Southern California from 1986–87 and earned singles All-American honors both years . He is now the head coach of the women's tennis team at Syracuse University...
, and hosts a show on The Tennis Channel
The Tennis Channel
Tennis Channel is an American speciality channel with programming devoted to the game of tennis. Founded in 2003, the network is owned by a group of investors including sports marketing firm IMG. Well known tennis professionals Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi are two of the many investors in this...
.
Jensen was named 2011 Coach of Year as the head coach of the Kastles.
2011 Record Season
The Washington Kastles became the first team in the 36-year history of World Team Tennis to finish the season with a perfect 16-0 record. Only one other team has posted a 14-0 record, the 1994 Newport Beach Dukes who lost in the first round of the finals. Washington became the first DC based sports team to post an undefeated regular season and win the championship at the same time.Ambassador Program
The Washington Kastles started an Ambassador Program for local clubs, organizations and individuals. Ambassadors receive ticket discounts, formal recognition, and the ability to participate in weekly Kastles conference calls.Inaugural season match results
- July 4 - Philadelphia Freedoms: 23-19 win
- July 5 - Delaware SmashDelaware SmashThe Delaware Smash was a World TeamTennis club based in Wilmington, Delaware. Home matches for the club were played at the DuPont Country Club in 1998 and 2000 to 2003, the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center in 1999, and then at courts near AstraZeneca headquarters before returning to...
: 21-19 win
- July 8 - hosted Boston LobstersBoston LobstersThe Boston Lobsters are New England's World TeamTennis pro league tennis team based in Middleton, Massachusetts.The Boston Lobsters pro tennis team originally joined the WTT league in 1974 and competed until 1978...
: 22-19 loss
- July 9 - New York BuzzNew York BuzzThe New York Buzz was a professional tennis team competing in World Team Tennis. The team was based in Albany, New York, and played home matches at SUNY Albany's SEFCU Arena, previously playing at the Washington Avenue Armory. Earlier, the team played at Schenectady's Central Park. They competed in...
: 22-21 loss
- July 10 - New York SportimesNew York SportimesThe New York Sportimes is one of nine teams currently competing in World TeamTennis . Since 2010, the team has been based at Sportime Randall's Island, New York, and plays its home matches at Sportime Stadium...
: 21-20 loss
- July 11 - hosted New York Buzz: 22-21 win
- July 13 - Newport Beach BreakersNewport Beach BreakersThe Newport Beach Breakers are a World TeamTennis franchise operated by the Hoag Hospital Foundation. They play in Breakers Stadium at the Newport Beach Country Club. The Breakers won the World TeamTennis championship in 2004....
: 18-16 win
- July 15 - hosted New York Sportimes: 18-17 win
- July 17 - hosted Sacramento CapitalsSacramento CapitalsThe Sacramento Capitals are a team in World Team Tennis.The Capitals have won six championships, including four straight from 1997 to 2000. The other titles came in 2002 and 2007....
: 20-15 loss
- July 18 - Boston Lobsters: 23-14 loss
- July 19 - Kansas City ExplorersKansas City ExplorersThe Kansas City Explorers is a World TeamTennis team that play at the Barney Allis Plaza in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA. The team also played in Kemper Arena from 1993 until 2001.-Championships:...
: 24-13 loss
- July 20 - hosted Philadelphia Freedoms: 23-19 loss
- July 22 - hosted Delaware Smash: 20-16 loss
- July 23 - hosted St. Louis AcesSt. Louis AcesThe St. Louis Aces are a professional tennis team in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. They entered the World TeamTennis League in 1994, and won their only WTT Championship title two years later. The Aces play their home matches at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park...
: 22-17 win
2011 Season Results
- July 5 - hosted Kansas City Explorers: 21-18 win
- July 6 - Philadelphia Freedoms: 19-18 win
- July 7 - hosted Boston LobstersBoston LobstersThe Boston Lobsters are New England's World TeamTennis pro league tennis team based in Middleton, Massachusetts.The Boston Lobsters pro tennis team originally joined the WTT league in 1974 and competed until 1978...
: 25-10 win
- July 8 - Springfield LasersSpringfield LasersThe Springfield Lasers are a World TeamTennis franchise. The franchise was purchased and donated to the city of Springfield, Missouri by the Cooper family in 1996. They play their home matches at Mediacom Stadium in the Cooper Tennis Complex.-History:...
: 23-20 win
- July 9 - Sacramento CapitalsSacramento CapitalsThe Sacramento Capitals are a team in World Team Tennis.The Capitals have won six championships, including four straight from 1997 to 2000. The other titles came in 2002 and 2007....
: 21-16 win
- July 11 Newport Beach BreakersNewport Beach BreakersThe Newport Beach Breakers are a World TeamTennis franchise operated by the Hoag Hospital Foundation. They play in Breakers Stadium at the Newport Beach Country Club. The Breakers won the World TeamTennis championship in 2004....
: 21-13 win
- July 12 hosted New York SportimesNew York SportimesThe New York Sportimes is one of nine teams currently competing in World TeamTennis . Since 2010, the team has been based at Sportime Randall's Island, New York, and plays its home matches at Sportime Stadium...
: 20-19 win (Super Tiebreak)
- July 14 hosted Springfield LasersSpringfield LasersThe Springfield Lasers are a World TeamTennis franchise. The franchise was purchased and donated to the city of Springfield, Missouri by the Cooper family in 1996. They play their home matches at Mediacom Stadium in the Cooper Tennis Complex.-History:...
: 21-20 win (Last Event Tiebreak)
- July 15 hosted St. Louis AcesSt. Louis AcesThe St. Louis Aces are a professional tennis team in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. They entered the World TeamTennis League in 1994, and won their only WTT Championship title two years later. The Aces play their home matches at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park...
: 21-20 win (Super Tiebreak)
- July 16 Boston LobstersBoston LobstersThe Boston Lobsters are New England's World TeamTennis pro league tennis team based in Middleton, Massachusetts.The Boston Lobsters pro tennis team originally joined the WTT league in 1974 and competed until 1978...
: 25-18 win
- July 18 hosted Sacramento CapitalsSacramento CapitalsThe Sacramento Capitals are a team in World Team Tennis.The Capitals have won six championships, including four straight from 1997 to 2000. The other titles came in 2002 and 2007....
: 25-14 win
- July 19 New York SportimesNew York SportimesThe New York Sportimes is one of nine teams currently competing in World TeamTennis . Since 2010, the team has been based at Sportime Randall's Island, New York, and plays its home matches at Sportime Stadium...
(Albany): 21-20 win (Super Tiebreak)
- July 20 New York SportimesNew York SportimesThe New York Sportimes is one of nine teams currently competing in World TeamTennis . Since 2010, the team has been based at Sportime Randall's Island, New York, and plays its home matches at Sportime Stadium...
: 23-15 win
- July 21 hosted Philadelphia Freedoms: 25-11 win
2011 Post Season Results - Family Circle Tennis Center, Charleston, SC
Eastern Conference Finals- July 22 hosted Boston LobstersBoston LobstersThe Boston Lobsters are New England's World TeamTennis pro league tennis team based in Middleton, Massachusetts.The Boston Lobsters pro tennis team originally joined the WTT league in 1974 and competed until 1978...
: 23-15 win
2011 WTT Finals
- July 24 hosted St. Louis AcesSt. Louis AcesThe St. Louis Aces are a professional tennis team in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. They entered the World TeamTennis League in 1994, and won their only WTT Championship title two years later. The Aces play their home matches at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in Forest Park...
: 23-19 win