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SPORTSWednesday 15 July 2015
Venus Williams says Serena has “big opportunity”
JAKE LLOYD Venus Williams speaks during a media availability before a team tennis match between the ful of topics, including the
Associated Press Washington Kastles and the Austin Aces, Tuesday, July 14, 2015 in Washington. controversy during the
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ve- weekend involving a New
nus Williams spoke for ev- Associated Press York Times story about
eryone in women’s tennis women’s tennis players
when a young girl asked Serena, 33, is seeking to be- all four majors in the same second career “Serena and body image.
her, “How is it playing come the first woman since year. With her 21st major Slam” of four majors in a “When it comes down to
against your sister?” Steffi Graf in 1988 — and victory at Wimbledon on row. it, the only person that can
Williams responded: “Never just the fourth ever — to win Saturday, she claimed her Venus touched on a hand- understand what it’s like to
easy, never easy.” be a professional athlete is
Speaking at a news confer- a professional athlete, how
ence before playing for the much you put into it — or
Washington Kastles in World maybe someone that’s
TeamTennis, the 35-year- played sports at a high lev-
old seven-time major el who’s really given their
champion and former No. heart and soul,” she said.
1 recognized the “big op- “Otherwise it’s hard to walk
portunity” her sister Serena in someone’s shoes.”
has to complete the calen- Venus has no plans to slow
dar Grand Slam at the U.S. down anytime soon. An-
Open in September. swering a question about
“I think they’re good,” Ve- equal pay for female ath-
nus said of Serena’s chanc- letes, she said she would
es, “but it’s not just like she love to work on it “but I’m
went out there and people knee-deep in my own ca-
gave her the matches (at reer, neck-deep really.
Wimbledon) — she earned “I’m really looking forward
it. She earned every single to the U.S. Open Series and
match, every single point, just playing even better
so I’m sure that it won’t be and (to) continue rising.”q
easy to win the Open.”
