Venus Williams/Serena Williams vs David Witt/Sasha Bajin 7-6(4)
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Venus to Play Florida Ballenisles Exhibition Friday; Withdraws from WTA
Auckland
December 21, 2011 09:02 AM
BallenIsles Country Club member residents Venus and Serena Williams will face
off on the stadium court of the club's new state-of-the-art Sports Complex on
Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 at 3 p.m. The mixed doubles exhibition from 3-4:30 p.m.
will pair Venus with her hitting partner David Witt against Serena and her
hitting partner Sasha Bajin.
"Venus and Serena's fiery competitiveness on the court is matched only by how
incredibly close they are off-court which is probably why they're also the
No. 1-ranked doubles pair," Exhibition Director and BallenIsles Tennis
Director Trish Faulkner said.
Both events are complimentary to members and their guests with voluntary
donations to benefit the charity Project Aspiration
(www.projectaspiration.com), a customized mobile learning center designed to
travel to communities throughout Palm Beach County, delivering educational
service where needed. The mobile learning center bus, equipped with 19
Satellite Internet-Ready Learning Stations complete with computers, flat
panel monitors and a flat panel 47' Instructor Monitor, will be on display
throughout the afternoon at BallenIsles.
"Serena and I are looking forward to playing against each other on the
stadium court in an event that will entertain members and benefit such a
worthy cause," Venus said.
At the same time this week the elder Williams sister withdrew from the WTA
event in Auckland, which would have been her 2012 debut and her first
appearance since withdrawing from the 2011 US Open and announcing she had
been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome.
"After playing a number of recent exhibition matches, Williams told her agent
Carlos Fleming she was not ready to play in Auckland," a statement on the
tournament's website said.
Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic disease where white blood cells attack
moisture-producing glands and can cause dysfunction of organs and body
systems. Williams said she was hoping to play a full 2012 schedule, and has
changed her diet to deal with the fatigue produced by the disease.
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Serena and Venus Williams hope exhibition is a prelude of a good season ahead
Posted: 6:48 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, 2011
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Any other time and any other speaker, the closing
remarks might have been dismissed.
A tennis exhibition having just concluded, Venus Williams was thanking the
fans –- her BallenIsles neighbors -- when the most poignant remark of Friday
afternoon came over her wireless microphone.
"We're so grateful for everything we have – our health and our families,"
she said.
No doubt most in attendance knew exactly what she meant. Not only did her
sister, Serena, endure a rocky year that included foot injuries and a
pulmonary embolism, but Venus is returning to the tour having been diagnosed
with Sjogren's syndrome, in which the immune system attacks glands that
create tears and saliva, causing dry eyes and mouth. There is no cure.
"This last six months have been a learning curve for me, in terms of learning
about Sjogren's and how it makes me feel, and what I can do," Venus said
before the doubles exhibition.
Although she added, "I'm coming along well," the true measuring stick won't
happen until both she and her sister step on the court next month for the
Australian Open. Sjogren's (pronounced SHOH-grins) causes fatigue and joint
pain for many sufferers.
"It's definitely a big concern," Venus said. "But at the end of the day, it's
important to know what I'm dealing with. "
Complicating matters is that many conventional treatments, such as steroids,
are off-limits for professional athletes - doubly so for a player who has
announced her intention to seek another Olympic doubles championship with
Serena when the London 2012 Games commence.
"My main goal is to be healthy for the Olympics," Venus said. "It's an
athlete's dream come true, just to compete there, and I'm really looking
forward to representing not only the U.S., but Palm Beach Gardens."
A new year also couldn't come soon enough for Serena, who shares an upbeat
outlook on health issues.
"I'm definitely feeling 100 percent, which is good," Serena said. "Last year,
I didn't play Australia. I didn't travel. This is good for me."
Merely a flicker of those competitive fires has been satisfied by watching
Miami Dolphins games. The sisters own a minority share in the club.
"It's a growing team," said Serena, adding she watches every game, on TV or
in person. "We're already making good moves. We played a little better later
in the year and that's good."
Venus claimed she had no role in the firing of coach Tony Sparano.
"They don't let me make the coaching choices," she said, "because then, it
would really be bad."
Knowing Serena's spotty track record when it comes to dealing with officials,
organizers assigned Ira Peskowitz, a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy, as
chair umpire to maintain order on the court. Peskowitz immediately laid down
the law by issuing Serena's partner, Sasha Bajin, a ticket for serving too
fast.
The antics were to benefit Project Aspiration, a mobile learning center
serving Palm Beach County with 19 Internet-ready learning stations and
computers. Fittingly, the sisters took the court having both wrapped up
papers for college courses they're taking.
Who won the match ("for the BallenIsles Championship," Serena declared) is
open to interpretation. Venus and hitting partner David Witt took an early
lead on Serena's team before the crowd got what it really came for. The
sisters played the final few games together, against the guys, and closed out
the set by winning the tiebreaker 7-4.