GA0509_40_InClub.qxp:GAxxFoodSmarts 4/22/09 1:26 PM Page 40
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InTheClub
GA:What’sthemostimportantpartof
yourtraining?
Venus Rising
VW:Youhavetokeepyourselfcondi-
tioned.Ifyouaren’tfastoutthere,you
won’tbeabletogettotheshotsyou
Tennis icon Venus Williams
needto—matchescanlastalongtime.
Youalsoneedtogooveryourstrokes
brings her trademark intensity
enoughtofeelconfidentinthem.
to her off-court training and
GA:What’sthebestpartabouthaving
commercial pursuits.
yoursisterplayingwithyouonthetour?
VW:Justgettingtosharealltheseexperi-
BY ERIC BUTTERMAN
enceswithher.We’rejustgreatfriends
andlaughtogetherallthetime.
GA:You’vebecomeinvolvedindesign.
Canyoutakethatasseriouslyastennis?
VW:I’vealwayshadalotofthingsthat
Iliketodo,especiallydesign.I’veeven
spenttimeindesignschoolforafewyears
…Igetveryintoit.WilsonLeatherhad
medesignbags,andthatwasalotoffun.
It’sachallengetotryandthinkofwhatI’d
likeandthengettothefinalproduct.
GA:Youhaveaninteriordesignfirm
calledVStarr.Doyouliterallygoto
aclient’shouse?
VW:Idefinitelydo.I’llgooverthere
withmydesignsandsitwiththemto
tryandthinkofwhatthey’llreallylove.
GA:What’ssomethingelseaboutyou
thatpeoplemightnotknow?
VW:Ijustliketohavefun.I’venever
TRAILBLAZINGTENNISACEVENUSWILLIAMSWENTFROMPRODIGYTOPRO thoughtit’shealthyjusttoplaytennis
asateenager,eventuallyascendingtoNo.1intheworldwhilerackingup41career andhavenothingelse…WhenIwas
titles,includingfiveWimbledonwins.VenusandhersisterSerenahavebecome akidmyparentswouldsay,“OK,let’s
tennislegends,redefiningtheexpectationsofAfrican-Americansinasportwhere gotothepark.”Theywantedtomake
theyhavebeentraditionallyunderrepresented.Now28yearsold,Venusisbranching sureIwashappyandenjoyingmylife.
outintodesign.
GA:Yourdadhasbeentalkedaboutas
GA:Doyoustillhavethesamecompetitivefirethatyoudidasateenager? goingtoofarinhisinvolvementwithyou
VW:IwanttowineverytournamentIplayin.It’simportantformetoknowthat andyoursister.Isthatafaircriticism?
Ididmybest.There’salwayssomethingtoworkat.EvenwhenIwin,I’malways VW:Icouldn’thavesucceededwithout
lookingatwhatIcandobetter.Youneverwanttobeatyourselfoutthere. him…Hejustalwaysmakesmefeel
Images
goodaboutmyselfandcheersmeon.
ty
GA:Itwasrumoredinthepastthatyouandyoursistergotintoargumentswithplayers Youhavetostaypositive,butsometimes
Get
ella/
onthetour.Anytruthtoit? youcomehomefromtheroadafteran
E
str
VW:IthinkthetalkofmeandSerenahavingtroublewithotherplayersisjusta upsettinglossandit’stough.Hejust
edo
‘90sthing—oldnewsandblownoutofproportiontobeginwith.Iwanttofocus tellsme,“You’rethebest.”Confidence,
Alfr
t
o:
ongoodthingsandmoveforward. that’swhathegivesme.a73
Pho
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