As Washington Kastles’ star Venus Williams was introduced in her lineup last week in Philadelphia, the crowd erupted with cheers, making it feel as if she never left her former team.
Entering her 10th season of Mylan World TeamTennis, Williams last played for the Freedoms for four seasons starting back in 2006, where she helped her team win the coveted King Trophy title in 2006. Since then, she has been apart of the Kastles roster since 2010 but Philadelphia fans still appreciate her time in their city.
“I’ve had a lot of great memories here,” Williams said after taking part in a pre-match USTA/Mylan WTT PlayDay kids clinic. “I’ve been coming here since 1997 (for a former Philadelphia WTA tournament and Mylan WTT), so I’m not going to lose my way here. I feel at home still.”
In 2013, the former world No. 1 and 22-time major champion was sidelined when she had a lower-back injury that would cause her to miss the Mylan WTT season. It didn’t stop her involvement and love for Mylan WTT, however, as she and Austin Aces star Andy Roddick joined the ownership group in May 2013.
“It’s been a while not having played last year. The team competition brings me back. I love being a Kastle. I loved being a Freedom as well. I enjoy playing that role, being on a team. It’s like something I haven’t experienced before as a tennis player. I enjoy that pressure.”
Before Williams hit the court in Philadelphia, she made her successful Mylan WTT return on the Kastles’ home court, where she and former world No. 1 Martina Hingis teamed up in doubles for the first time ever. The two were former rivals early in their careers, as they battled 21 times and shared a combined 37 Grand Slam titles.
“It was really great (playing with Hingis). I think our relationship has a much different dynamic from when we first started. I think we always respected each other and always liked each other, but there was this intense competition as well between us. It was nice to be on the same side.”
The Philadelphia match would be much different, when Williams would go up against Taylor Townsend, an 18-year-old rising American. Townsend, who played for Sacramento last season, replaced Vicky Duval in the Freedoms’ lineup this season, after Duval was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Townsend would be up for the challenge and occasion against Williams. At the age of six, Townsend believed she would be better than the Williams sisters, and beating Venus at the Pavilion for the Freedoms would be an opportunity to start to build her own resume.
“I always said I was going to be better than the Williams sisters,” Townsend said. “I didn’t know how or when it was going to happen, or when I was going to get there, but I just said it and I believed it.”
Townsend has a long road to compiling the phenomenal career accomplishments of either Venus or Serena, but time and a willingness to learn are both on her side. Before her match, Townsend practiced her serve with Freedoms Head Coach Josh Cohen and Freedoms Owner Billie Jean King, who praised Townsend on her service placement and telling her to execute it during her match.
As Williams and Townsend both took the court, Townsend stuck to her game plan, moving Williams off the court with her booming serve and hitting winners across the court.
Townsend would race off to a quick 3-0 lead against Williams, before Williams would be subbed for teammate Anastasia Rodionova. The result was the same as Townsend would finish the set with a 5-0 win, losing just three points the whole set.
Williams knew she would be up against a tough task, but praised Townsend and is hopeful her future is bright.
“I think Taylor is an extremely talented player,” Williams said. “I think the future is bright for her and all she needs is time just to get the experience and learn how to win the matches.”
Williams and the Kastles would go on to lose the match to the Freedoms 22-15 in Overtime, but there will hopefully be many more battles between the American legend and the young challenger aiming for similar success.