TDF Talks to Arina Rodionova About World Team Tennis, Martina Hingis, and Sunglasses

WASHINGTON--Owner's Mark Ein's unparalleled determination to have his World Team Tennis team succeed has made the Washington Kastles into a seemingly unstoppable juggernaut. 

Both Venus and Serena Williams play selected matches for the team, and multiple Grand Slam doubles champions Leander Paes and Rennae Stubbs prove add a level of experience that no other team can match.

Currently at 15-0, the Kastles are in the World Team Tennis finals Sunday in Charleston, and only one win away from becoming the first team to finish the regular season and playoffs undefeated.  Only one other team has finished the regular season undefeated in WTT history (the Newport Beach Dukes in 1994).

After finishing the 2010 season at a disappointing 8-6, the Kastles made only one change to their lineup for the 2011 season, adding Russian-Australian Arina Rodionova to the team.  Rodionova, whose older sister Anastasia has blazed a trail for her in both singles in doubles, has more than held her own on the stacked Kastles team, and was named the WTT Rookie of the Year for 2011.

Rodionova, who has been dubbed "Hot Rod" by fans, clearly has enjoyed every minute of her time playing for the Kastles.  But then again, who wouldn't like playing for a winning team in sold out stadiums?

Late in the World Team Tennis regular season, I chatted with Arina about topics ranging from her teammates, her opponent and idol Martina Hingis, and the ever growing Australian affinity for sunglasses.

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TDF: What made you decide to play World Team Tennis?

Arina Rodionova: Well, I heard a lot of good things about it from my friends who had played it already. I heard it's really a lot of fun, plus it's a good experience because they have, like, marquee players.

TDF: Which friends of yours had played World Team Tennis before?

Arina Rodionova: First of all, my sister. She played for a couple years. Then it was Dmitry Tursunov, him too. And some other girls I can't remember now.

TDF: I saw that Alla Kudryavtseva tweeted at you that she wanted to play World Team Tennis now because of how much fun you were having...

Arina Rodionova: Yeah, never played it, but yeah, she's like one of my best friends.

TDF: Have you enjoyed it so far, is it what you expected it to be?

Arina Rodionova: Yeah, it's been even better I think. It's been even better, I think. I think I have a great team. And now, since I've traveled a bit to some other cities, I see that we have the best stadium, the best supporters. The atmosphere of the team is unbelievable.

TDF: You got to play against Martina Hingis on Tuesday, who I heard was one of your idols growing up?

Arina Rodionova: My main idol, yeah. It was unbelievable, it was a great experience. It was great fun, and she's a great champion. Even though she is retired, she played unbelievable.

TDF: She apparently was asked by Roger Federer if she would come back to play mixed doubles at the Olympics for Switzerland--having just played her, do you think she's good enough to do that?

Arina Rodionova: Yes. If she will practice a bit--she doesn't even need to practice, actually. She'll still be better than most of the girls. Do you know what she said to him, if she's coming back or not for the Olympics?

TDF: She said she hasn't decided yet, so hopefully she does.

Arina Rodionova: Yeah, definitely.

TDF: You had the Williams sisters on the Kastles at the beginning, which meant you didn't get to play as much at the start, but you also got to play alongside them. What was that like for you?

Arina Rodionova: They're actually really nice, we had a lot of fun together. Dancing with Serena, on the court, off the court, and chatting with them. They're great girls, so it was great.

TDF: You also have an older sister, Anastasia, who is in tennis. How does it help you to have an older sister who's been through what you're going through?

Arina Rodionova: It's great to have her, she's helping me a lot with everything. She's seven years older, so she's more experienced, obviously, and we are very close. She's actually coming here on Monday to watch, so that should be good.

TDF: Your sister is known for having a pretty fiery personality on court when she plays--do you think you're the same way?

Arina Rodionova: Well, that's for people to decide, I don't know. We are similar, but we are not the same, obviously.

TDF: Your coach over there, Murphy Jensen [who had just walked into the area we were sitting in], also has an older sibling, a brother, who he played with a lot. What's that been like working with him?

Arina Rodionova: Well...(laughs). I mean, look at him (laughs) [Murphy darts in and out of doors while talking animatedly on his cell phone wearing a big floppy hat, and sunglasses]. That says it all, his hat (laughs). He's a great person, he's a lot of fun, and he keeps the team together. He's helping all of us, and he brings a really fun atmopshere into the team, which is great.

TDF: You've had a lot of success in doubles in your career, winning a bunch of small tournaments and making it into some big draws. You have these two great doubles players here in Rennae Stubbs and Leander Paes--what sort of things have they been helping you with.

Arina Rodionova: Yeah, they've both been helping me a lot, giving me some advice. That's why I said I think I have the best team, because they are such experienced players who've won so many grand slams. So it's an honor to be on the same team with them, because they are unbelievable champions.

TDF: You were playing really well before this World Team Tennis season started, with a great week in Birmingham where you qualified and then beat Virginie Razzano and Kaia Kanepi, both huge wins. Do you feel like you're getting better and ready to make a big move in singles?

Arina Rodionova: Yeah, for the beginning of the year, like first half of the year, I was injured. On the grass I started to feel better. I just feel good on grass, I think it's the surface which I prefer. And yeah, I just played pretty well.

TDF: I know they play a fair amount on grass in Australia, where I know you play a lot of tournaments and spend a lot of time...

Arina Rodionova: Yeah, I live there.

TDF: Are you trying to join their federation like your sister has?

Arina Rodionova: Yeah, I've applied with documents for residency now, so they're working on it. We'll see how it goes.

TDF: I actually was looking at this list of every match you've ever played, that I printed off [hold up my ridiculously thick stack of paper with all her pro-level results]

Arina Rodionova: Oh wow, that's great (laughs).

TDF: I saw that in early 2010, you played a challenger in Barrie, Australia, and you won singles and doubles in that $25k.

Arina Rodionova: Oh yeah, yeah.

TDF: Your results that week were amazing. You beat Jarmila Groth in the final, 6-1, 6-0.

Arina Rodionova: I played really well, and unfortunately I got injured right after that tournament. I had a few problems, so...I had a really good preseason, played Australian Open really well. It was just a bit unlucky, since I started the season so well, but then injuries.

TDF: If your health stays good, how far do you think you can go in tennis.

Arina Rodionova: I hope pretty far (laughs). We'll see.

TDF: One last question, about your sunglasses. They seem like a pretty Australian thing in tennis; Stubbs plays with them, your sister plays with them, Sam Stosur plays with them, Bernard Tomic, and so on. Is that a big Australian thing, you think, playing with sunglasses?

Arina Rodionova: No...I'm working with Oakley, for three or four years. Well, I started to play with them in Australia, because the sun is really bright there, and I liked them, so now it's tough for me to play without them.

[Murphy Jensen comes up and asks to borrow a pen from me. I oblige.]

TDF: Any goals you have for the rest of the year?

Arina Rodionova: Just to enjoy myself, and to play as good as I can.  That's all I can do.

Watch Arina Rodionova and the rest of the Washington Kastles play for the World Team Tennis title in Charleston 5 p.m. Sunday, live on Tennis Channel.