World Team Tennis is a unique co-ed league of professional tennis players created in part by Billie Jean King over 35 years ago. The Sacramento Capitals have been one of the most successful teams in league history winning six championships. Teams consist of two men, two women and a "marquee player". The marquee player is a past or present tennis professional who is well known and plays a limited number of matches.
Last night Lou and I attended our third World Team Tennis match to cheer on our Capitals. The focus is on fun & enjoyment rather than super serious competition. Loud music is played between points and cheering is encouraged rather than the stodgy, "Quiet, please," constantly uttered at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open.
The first sellout in Capitals history was achieved due to the visiting team's marquee player, Serena Williams! The makeshift arena holds 2500 spectactors so regardless of where you sit, you are up close & personal to the game and the players.
![]() |
| Serena interacting with the crowd prior to the match. Lou took all of these photos. |
![]() |
| Lou zoomed in on Serena as she posed with a group of local children. |
The match consists of five sets - one each of mixed doubles, women's doubles, men's doubles, men's singles & women's singles. There is a real party atmosphere to the event for players & spectators.
![]() |
| Serena getting down with her teammates to the blaring sounds of Queen's "We Will Rock You". |
In the mixed doubles and women's doubles sets, Serena really didn't play well missing a lot of shots and looking average at best. BUT when the women's singles began, if was as if she flipped a switch and the real Serena came alive! Her serve was incredible, her ground shots were twice as fast as her opponent and she looked every bit the champion.
Our poor Capital girl, Yasmin Schnack, was completely overmatched. Lou commented that it hardly seemed fair. We cheered if she won a point & she didn't come close to winning a game. Serena beat her 5-0 (sets are only to 5 games in World Team Tennis). That display alone was worth the price of admission!
![]() |
| Serena ready for her partner to receive serve in mixed doubles. |
![]() |
| The women's singles set between Serena Williams & Yasmin Schnack. |
In the end, Serena's team was too much for the Capitals and they lost the overall match. For me, seeing Serena play from such a close vantage point was the highlight of the evening. In past years, we've seen Andre Agassi, who was a bit past his prime, & Anna Kournakova, whose claim to fame was being a beautiful Russian tennis player, but Serena Williams impressed me the most. It was an entertaining way to spend an evening!
