May 20, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Georgetown University head tennis coach Gordie Ernst is not one to sit still. Since the end of the Hoya men's and women's tennis season, Ernst is often found giving lessons at the McDonough Tennis Complex on the Hilltop. The second year coach will also run five weeks of tennis camps during the summer on the same courts. With a loaded summer schedule Ernst has added another role to his already busy schedule.

Ernst has already begun to donating his time to aid the Washington Kastles, D.C.'s newest pro sports team, as they make their debut in World Team Tennis.

The Kastles made headlines in late April by signing Serena Williams as the organization's first marquee player and will begin its inaugural season in July, with the first home match on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. Ernst hopes his time spent as an ambassador for the team in the community can help make it a successful beginning.

"Washington D.C. is a tennis town," Ernst said. "You have so many players like Donald Dell and Richy Reneberg who have chosen to make D.C. their home, as well as the students to senators who enjoy the game. Having the Washington Kastles here and adding such marquee talent as Serena Williams will only enhance the tennis environment."

The idea for World Team Tennis originated with co-founders Billie Jean King and Larry King in 1962 and made its initial debut in 1974. Since then the ideas has been recreated several times leading to the current World Team Tennis league that started in 2003.

With home matches to be played in the heart of D.C., the Kastles will welcome notable names such as John McEnroe and Anna Kournikova in their first season.