Black Tennis Pros

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Richard Williams grinned slyly recently when asked to discuss the offseason training of his daughters, Serena and Venus, the Nos. 2 and 6 seeds at the Australian Open, which begins Monday (Sunday night ET) in Melbourne.

"We don't do a lot of training," Williams says, after stifling an attack of the giggles. "We try to start a good regimen of training about 13-14 days before the Australian. Even then, they won't train every day because I believe you need a healthy mind, as much as you need a healthy body to guide you through it."

Williams says his daughters, the only siblings to be ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the Open era, spent the offseason pursuing other interests, something he's always encouraged them to do.

"Venus is crazy about her design work, and Serena finished a TV movie and just got back from (Africa) a venture she was on," Richard says. " I wanted them to understand that there's life beyond the baseline, and it's good to work on that life while you're young, so when your tennis career is over, you just transition to something you've been working on all the time."

The Williams sisters pursued college degrees while competing on the women's tour. Despite a less-than laser-like focus on their tennis careers, Williams believes that his daughters again will become Nos. 1 and 2 in the world. This time, he says, Venus, not Serena, will finish the year at the top.

"I told Venus that she's only 594 points from No. 1, and if she wins the Australian Open, she can take No. 1," he says. "Right now, Venus is the best mover on the tour, and that's why I think she can win the Australian Open, be No. 1 again. The only one that can stand in her way is Serena, if her ankle is OK. And Serena needs a little more patience."

Though often criticized for decisions he's made throughout their training and development, Williams says he has no regrets about the path he chose for his daughters, who continue to rely on him and his former wife, Oracene, to guide their careers. In her 14-year career Venus Williams has won 39 singles titles, including seven majors (five Wimbledons and two U.S Opens), earned nearly $22 million in prize money and an estimated four times that amount in endorsements. In 13 years, Serena Williams has 32 singles titles, including nine majors (three Australian Opens, one French Open, two Wimbledons and three U.S. Opens), earned about $22 million and an estimated four times that amount in endorsements.

"I wouldn't let them get by without an education," Richard says. "The thing I realized that if you're out there playing a tennis tournament every week, you don't get to even know yourself. And if you don't know yourself, you can go out there and be hurt on the court and don't know how to pull back. You might keep running like a wild horse until you fall dead. I was not going to let them go out there and kill themselves because I think you should think about longevity, even if you don't play a long time."

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Round 1

Venus Williams, USA vs. Angelique Kerber, GER

Serena Williams, USA vs. Meng Yuan, CHN


MEN'S SINGLES

Round 1

Gael Monfils, FRA vs. Martin Vassallo Arguello, ARG

James Blake, USA vs. Qualifier

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA vs. Juan Monaco, ARG

Just when I'm getting all sucked into the Jo-Wilfried Tsonga mania for the 2009 Australian Open, check this out:

SYDNEY, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Last year’s Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could miss next week’s tournament after a back injury forced him out of the Sydney International on Thursday.

The Frenchman twice needed treatment to his lower back during his quarter-final win over Simone Bolelli on Wednesday and then pulled out of his semi-final against Jarkko Nieminen on Thursday after the problem deteriorated overnight.

“I decided this afternoon because the pain, it’s too much, I cannot play,” Tsonga told a news conference. “I saw my physio a lot yesterday. I saw the physio from the ATP. I saw the doctor and they told me it’s difficult to play like that.

Tsonga, seeded fifth for the Australian Open next week, has been troubled by back problems in the past and was unsure whether he would be able to take his place in the first grand slam of the year, starting in Melbourne on Monday.

“I hope it will not affect me for the Australian Open but I don’t know” he said. “I had a problem with my disc a long time ago and sometimes it happens.

“I just have to wait and come back on the court when I feel better. I can’t do anything for the next two days. I will stay maybe in my bed and hope I will be better.”

Tsonga, 22, was one favourites to win the Australian Open after beating Rafael Nadal to reach last year’s final, which he lost to Novak Djokovic, and winning the Paris Masters in November.

American Serena Williams couldn't seem to keep up the powerful momentum she had been building in the Australian Open Series Medibank International. After her elongated quarterfinal match against Caroline Wozniacki, there just wasn't much left in the tank

World no. 12 Russian Elena Dementieva was up to the challenge and engaged Serena in a number of power rallies that at least made some of the match worthy of watching. Dementieva defeated Serena 6-3, 6-1. Ouuuuuch.

"I gave it away more than anything. I made a lot of errors and made her look like a champ, really. I just pretty much gave her the match," said Serena.

"It was good to have a few matches under my belt getting ready for Melbourne." I feel like I'm going play a lot better than what I did this week. My main goal, obviously, is to go to Melbourne and do the best that I can do."

'What I Want for You — and Every Child
in America'

By President-elect Barack Obama

Publication Date: 01/14/2009


Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.


Love, Dad