The Washington Kastles have had a busy winter for a professional tennis team. They recently acquired the services of Venus Williams to bolster a squad that already had won last year's WTT championship, and traded for the first pick in the WTT draft (with which they chose American Bobby Reynolds). Now, we know exactly when we will get to see both Williams Sisters take the court at Kastles Stadium.
Washington Kastles Announce 2010 Schedule
Both Williams Sisters to Play for Kastles This Summer
The Washington Kastles -- defending World Tennis Team champions, mind you -- announced a big move today: both Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, will play for D.C.'s WTT outfit this summer. "The historic opportunity to have both Serena and Venus on our team is a thrill, both for the success of our team and for our fans, whose support has been so integral to our success," said team owner Mark Ein. World number one Serena, who has been a Kastles mainstay since 2008, will be joined by fifth-ranked Venus, who will call Kastles Stadium home after a trade with Philadelphia.
Kastles Capture WTT Championship
It's sadly not often that a Washington team wins a championship, so you might as well get down. A large collection of tennis aficionados did just that on Sunday night, after witnessing the Kastles overcome a late charge by the Springfield Lasers to win the WTT title and the King Trophy, 23-20. Since the WTT experience at its core is a jovial one, attendees were already in a good mood despite the sweltering heat and humidity. The victory for the home team had fans chanting in unison and leaping up and down.
You Cannot Be Serious: Kastles Drop a Controversial One
The Washington Kastles tennis match last night against the New York Sportimes was surprisingly not sold out, but did come with everything you would expect from a match featuring John McEnroe.
Serena Leads Kastles to 5 in a Row
When the number of matches a team is scheduled to play at home over the course of an entire season numbers only seven, and among those, only one will include said team's "star player," it's tough not to be cynical about exactly what purpose that star is filling. Are D.C. fans really supposed to feel a connection to Wimbledon champion Serena Williams, or is she just being offered up as added enticement to buy tickets?
Kastles Fall to Aces, Sink to 0-4
Most of the excitement, such as it was, about last night's poorly-attended match between the Washington Kastles and St. Louis Aces vanished when the main attraction, former star Anna Kournikova, was sidelined by a wrist injury. Or, at least, that would be true if the WTT was really about tennis, which it is not. Party tennis is right: the tour is obviously more entertainment than sport, focused on giving away T-shirts and Chipotle gift certificates and other such fun. Fans looking for an authentic tennis experience are advised, as always, to wait until next month's Legg Mason Classic.
Kastles Tennis Set to Return to CityCenterDC
The Washington Kastles, D.C.'s one-year-old team in the World TeamTennis (WTT) league, announced their 2009 schedule today. The Kastles are set to host seven home matches this summer, along with the 2009 Advanta WTT Championship Finals in July. Team star Serena Williams will play in one home appearance, and throughout the season visiting star players Venus Williams, Anna Kournikova and John McEnroe will also play here in Washington.
Kastles Falter in Loss to Smash
The Washington Kastles fell to Delaware's only professional sports team, the Smash, last night at Kastles Stadium at CityCenter DC in a final score of 20-16. Kastles players repeatedly failed to execute on a number of crucial game points which left the match close up until the final set, when Sacha Jones ultimately crumbled during an intense women's singles match-up with strong 18-year-old Smash player Madison Brengle.
Furious Comeback Lifts Kastles Over McEnroe, Sportimes
The Washington Kastles rallied from an early deficit Tuesday night to defeat the visiting New York Sportimes and tennis legend John McEnroe in front of a capacity crowd at Kastles Stadium at CityCenter DC. The women's doubles team of Mashona Washington and Sacha Jones won their match 5 games to 1 to set up a super-tiebreaker to decide the match, which they won 7-5.
Washington Kastles Pinched by Boston
Regrettably, the Washington Kastles, the city's new World TeamTennis franchise, did not solicit our help in choosing their team name. Apparently wanting to make things right, the team is asking the public to suggest a name for one of their slightly creepy mascots, a dopey-eyed, cap-sporting tennis ball (the other one, a guy in a knight costume, is presumably, uh, Mr. Kastle? Sir Kastle?). The lucky person whose name is chosen will receive two free tickets to the Kastles' July 15 game against John McEnroe and the New York Sportimes. Go, DCists, enter now and enter often: have your entry sent by this Friday, July 11, at 6 p.m. Let us know what name you think should win. We are counting on you, commentariat.

