Washington Kastles Sign Serena Williams as Marquee Player

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Washington Kastles announced today that eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams will play for the newly formed team during the 2008 World TeamTennis Pro League season.

This will be the first time Serena has ever played professionally in D.C. She will play one home match and three away matches for the Washington Kastles and is expected to play both singles and doubles. Each team will play 14 matches during the WTT's 2008 season, which runs July 3-23 with the WTT Championship Weekend set for July 24-27 in Roseville, Calif.

The Washington Kastles, owned by a group led by venture capitalist, entrepreneur and Washington native Mark Ein, will play their home matches at a Washington, D.C. location soon be announced.

"WTT is all about the fans having a great time and cheering their team to victory. Drafting Serena Williams is our commitment to Washington tennis fans that we're going to have a great first season - not only great fun to watch, but also our commitment to showcase great tennis and to win!" said Ein, owner of the Washington Kastles. "With her ties to the Washington area, we look forward to welcoming Serena to our community and are really energized about the quality of tennis and entertainment that we're bringing to Washington this summer."

During the three-week season, the Kastles will play in the Eastern Conference along with theBoston Lobsters (Boston, Mass.), New York Buzz (Schenectady, N.Y.), New York Sportimes (Mamaroneck, N.Y.),Philadelphia Freedoms (Philadelphia, Pa.), and Delaware Smash (Wilmington, Del.). The Kastles will fill out their four-player lineup when they draft sixth out of 11 teams at the WTT Roster Player Draft on April 1 inMiami.

World TeamTennis, co-founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King, features several generations of tennis pros competing in a co-ed pro league in communities throughout the U.S. each summer. This is the first Washington, D.C.-based team in the league's 33-year history.

Washington-area tennis enthusiasts can get more information at www.washingtonkastles.com or 202-4TENNIS (202-483-6647). Tickets are scheduled to go on sale in early March.

SOURCE Washington Kastles

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Tags: National, Sports, district of columbia

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