WTT 2013: Kastles tie pro sports record with 33rd straight victory

After playing for New York last season, Martina Hingis made her debut for the Washington Kastles on July 8. (photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

July 8, 2013, Kastles Stadium at The Wharf, Washington, D.C. – By beating the New York Sportimes 23-15 in their first match of the season, the Washington Kastles kept alive their winning streak to 33, tying the NBA’s 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers for the most consecutive victories in professional sports history.  The Kastles last lost to the Boston Lobsters on July 22, 2010.

Debuting for the Kastles were the world No. 22 Kevin Anderson and the soon-to-be inducted Tennis Hall of Famer, Martina Hingis, who contributed to the victory by winning 19 of the total 23 games won by the Kastles.  (Venus Williams, who had expected to headline the team in sister Serena’s absence from World Team Tennis play this season, was out with the same back injury that forced her to skip Wimbledon.)

During the pre-match press conference, Coach Murphy Jensen responded to a question posed by Meniscus Magazine about the new players on his team.

“Kevin Anderson…top 20 in the world, massive serve, massive game,” Jensen said of the South African who played last season for the Sacramento Capitals, runners-up to the Kastles in the championship match.  “Martina Hingis – she’s always secretly wanted to play for the Kastles and she has an opportunity to be part of history which is huge.”

Of Venus Williams, Jensen said, “I’m sad not to have an opportunity to see Venus play tonight, but at the same time she’s here supporting this team and she’s going to help me out on the coaching, hopefully,” to which Williams smiled at a laughing press corps.

Among the sold-out crowd for the Kastles’ 33^rd consecutive victory were First Lady Michelle Obama, former Washington Redskins running back John Riggins, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, and Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray.

Photos: Washington Kastles 23, New York Sportimes 15
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine

Video: Pre-match press conference with Venus Williams, Murphy Jensen and Mark Ein of the Washington Kastles
video by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine