WTT 2012: Venus extends Kastles’ streak, receives Olympic sendoff

When Serena Williams had to pull out of her World Team Tennis (WTT) appearance on July 22 – the culprit, following consecutive wins at Wimbledon and the Bank of the West Classic, was a sore back – it was older sister Venus who saved the day, returning for an encore performance in Washington, D.C.

Venus, just hours away from catching a flight to London for the Olympic Games, won both her doubles and singles matches to help the Washington Kastles win their 26th straight team match, 25-8, against the Kansas City Explorers. Teaming with Anastasia Rodionova of Australia, Williams defeated Chanel Simmonds and Tetiana Luzhanska, 5-1, then defeated Simmonds by the same score in her singles match. Immediately afterward, Williams was treated to an on-court ceremony with Kastles teammates and fellow Olympians Rodionova (Australia) and Leander Paes (India) before boarding an evening flight to London.

The Kastles’ win came a day after they came back to beat the New York Sportimes in Albany in dramatic fashion. With Washington down six games going into the final singles match, Williams defeated Martina Hingis, then saved four match points against the Swiss player in overtime to defeat New York, 20-18.

With the two victories, the Kastles have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the WTT Finals, which take place in Charleston, S.C., from Sept. 14-16.

Photo Gallery: Kastles 25, Explorers 8
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine