Black Tennis Pros

HOLLYWOOD, CA. (February 24, 2009) – Top world ranked tennis player Serena Williams – who just came off winning her 10^th Grand Slam Singles Title at the 2009 Australian Open - teamed up with Gatorade G2 today at Hollywood’s famed Roosevelt Hotel to select who will appear alongside her in a new national “Everyday Athletes” ad campaign for the Gatorade G2 low-calorie sports drink. Emceed by Access Hollywood host and upcoming Dancing with the Stars competitor, Nancy O’Dell, The G2 Everyday Athlete Search featured five semi-finalists –all named Serena – who traveled to the event from around the country to discuss their personal stories of how sports and exercise have helped them overcome a challenge or allowed them to reach and accomplish a significant, personal goal.

A casting panel consisting of Serena Williams, and representatives from Shape Magazine and Gatorade G2 selected winner Serena Cuevas, 23, from San Diego, Calif. based on Cuevas’ story of growing up with a passion to dance that was sidetracked by a horrific car accident at the age of 17. She was told by the doctors she may never dance again. With determination and passion, Cuevas recovered and went on to compete in national and international salsa competitions, as well as establish her own dance company - Deseo Dance Company – in San Diego.

Cuevas will appear with Serena Williams in the national ad campaign beginning this spring that will help draw attention to the Gatorade brand’s broadened definition of what it means to be an athlete. If your body is moving, Gatorade considers you an athlete. In addition to Serena Williams, G2 is also unveiling three more “everyday athlete” ads, featuring the NBA’s Kevin Garnett, WNBA’s Candace Parker, and Gold Medal Beach Volleyball star Kerri Walsh with their “everyday athlete” counterparts. Others are invited to share their own “everyday athlete” stories at missionG.com, the new sports and entertainment portal for Gatorade.

“Whether you are Serena Williams or Serena Cuevas, we all have it within us to achieve our dreams and goals, thanks to sports, exercise and being active,” said Sarah Robb O’Hagan, chief marketing officer for Gatorade. “This G2 campaign invites more consumers to see themselves as athletes while motivating them to be the best they can be.”

In recent weeks, Gatorade has launched a comprehensive marketing campaign designed to appeal to a broader range of athletes and beyond the traditional sidelines. The G2 Everyday Athlete Search, part of the new G campaign, is a call to action for all active people, not only to think about Gatorade in new and exciting ways, but also to search for compelling ways they can challenge themselves to achieve while promoting the low-calorie benefit of the beverage with a tagline of “Less Calories for More Athletes.”

Along with winner Cuevas, the other semi-finalists who traveled to Hollywood to meet with Serena include Serena Marrero, 47, Tillson, New York; Serena Lehman, 27, Seattle, Wash.; Serena Orgel, 34, Brooklyn, New York; and Serena Martinez, 38, Ventura, Calif.

For more information on the low-calorie G2 beverages, visit Gatorade.com. To view the G2 Everyday Athlete Campaign, visit missionG.com.

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You've heard all about her Grand Slam titles and friendly competition with her sister Serena, but there's a whole other side to Venus Williams. In the August issue of Shape, she reveals who, and what, inspires her most. In the process, Venus reveals the tools she uses every day to stay on top of her game.


As the Shape photo shoot is being set up Venus, 28, and her sister (and housemate) Serena, 26, stand with their arms draped around each other, laughing conspiratorially. After years of watching them compete on the court, seeing how close they are—not to mention witnessing the two giggling like schoolgirls over text messages—makes it clear there's much more to the Williams sisters than just tennis. As Serena leaves for practice, Venus sits down to discuss where she is in her life and how she got there.

To kickoff Venus' list, she recommends you practice and practice more! It's the key to confidence, says Venus. "You have to practice to develop your talents-and learn to enjoy putting the effort in," she explains. She doesn't just practice on the court; her gym routine keeps her in the winner's circle.

As far as motivation goes, Venus tells us who has inspired her the most. It's Serena, no question. "Without her, I couldn't have achieved anything. She's helped me believe in myself." Serena loves to give Venus little sayings to remember, such as, 'If you take your opportunities, more opportunities will come.' "That got me through one final at Wimbledon," recalls Venus. "It was a ridiculously difficult match and I was behind until the last three minutes. I kept saying that line over and over in my head: 'If I take the opportunities on the court, more will come.' I was also thinking, 'I want to be like Serena; I want to win like Serena.' And I did."

Check out the August issue of Shape for Venus' workout . Do it two or three times a week and you'll notice a stronger core and a boost in your performance in and out of the gym!

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