Serena Williams vs Venus Williams 7-6(4) 6-4
Justin Gimelstob vs Andy Roddick 8-6


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DELRAY BEACH, Fla.--(BW SportsWire)--March 29, 2001

Live Coverage of The JPMorgan Chase Tennis Challenge Featuring the

Williams Sisters Airs Saturday, April 7, at 2 p.m. (ET)

EXCLUSIVELY on Sunshine Network in Florida

Headline makers and tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams take center
court next Saturday on Sunshine Network as the state's leading regional
sports network presents EXCLUSIVE, LIVE coverage in Florida of the Williams
sisters in exhibition action from Delray Beach, FL.

Sunshine Network will air both the singles match, featuring the Williams
sisters, and their mixed doubles match against Luke and Murphy Jensen on
Saturday, April 7, at 2 p.m. in the JPMorgan Chase Tennis Challenge.

The Challenge is a one-day event held at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. The
JPMorgan Chase Tennis Challenge benefits the OWL Foundation, which seeks to
provide at-risk youth with equal access to remedial educational assistance.

Sunshine Network is the event's exclusive television outlet in Florida and
will provide live coverage to more than 5.3 million homes via cable and
satellite. Sunshine Network is the state's leading television provider of
Florida-based sporting events and programs.

Calling all the action courtside for the singles match will be Luke Jensen,
one half of the popular Jensen brothers doubles team alongside analyst Lori
McNeil. McNeil will also be the color analyst for the mixed doubles match
with the play-by-play announcer TBA at press time.


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Venus-serena For Charity
April 4, 2001|By CHARLES BRICKER Staff Writer

DELRAY BEACH — This time, without fail, Venus and Serena Williams are taking
the court to face each other, though it won't be for prize money.

This one is to help educate poverty-level children in South Florida.

On Saturday at the Delray Beach Tennis Center, the Williams sisters will play
best-of-three sets (the third set, if needed, would be a lengthened tiebreak)
to help raise money for their mother's new learning foundation.

The program begins at 12:30 with rising star Andy Roddick of Boca Raton
playing another ATP Tour competitor, probably Justin Gimelstob of Delray
Beach.

Gimelstob is playing this week in Calabasas, Calif., and promised to appear
if he was eliminated from the tournament by the weekend.

Roddick, ranked No. 88, has been resting his right hand since he began
feeling a weakness in it during the Ericsson Open. His mother, Blanche, said
Tuesday that they believe Roddick had a minor case of carpal tunnel syndrome
from using his computer too long between matches.

He's expected to be fully fit by Saturday.

After the sisters' match, they'll play mixed doubles with Luke and Murphy
Jensen, the 1993 French Open champions who do promotions at tennis events.

"As a past educator, I see so many young kids falling through the cracks.
What we find today are kids graduating without knowing their multiplication
tables or fractions -- not unless it's done with a computer," Oracene
Williams said. "That's a step back in education. Education comes from knowing
what you have in your head.

"My goal is to give us some leverage to help those kids. These are our kids.
I know there are working mothers and fathers out there. That's where we step
in. Everyone has to become a part of this. It's not just giving back, but
doing what you should be doing -- helping one another to be better."

Mrs. Williams created OWL -- the Oracene Williams Learning foundation. This
will be its first major promotion.

Venus, three days after winning the Ericsson, and Serena attended the press
briefing at the tennis center.

"We've always believed in education. That's why we're so interested in doing
this for our mom," Serena said. "We're excited because it helps kids that
didn't have the opportunities that Venus and I were blessed to have."

The day of tennis begins at 9 a.m. with an adult clinic, followed by a
two-hour session for children, who will be given a clinic and a T-shirt and
offered a chance to watch the matches for $5. They must be accompanied by an
adult.

Tickets range from $25 to $100. More information about the event or tickets
can be obtained by calling 1-561-394-9190 or Ticketmaster.

The Delray Beach Tennis Center is on Atlantic Avenue, about a mile west of
the beach.

Charles Bricker can be reached at [e-mail].


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Serena Tops Venus, But Everyone Wins
April 8, 2001|By CHARLES BRICKER Staff Writer

DELRAY BEACH — Facing her third match point, Venus Williams hesitated before
serving to little sister Serena in a charity exhibition on Saturday, then
smiled across the net, as if to say, "Been there, defended that."

Venus won the point, making a lot of people at the Delray Beach Tennis Center
recall the eight match points she fought off in the Ericsson Open final one
week earlier in beating Jennifer Capriati.

But she couldn't hold off her sister on the fourth. Serena slammed a first
serve into Venus's body that left her off-balance just enough to force a
return into the net and Serena had the win 7-5, 6-4.

That brought an end to the sixth, and most unofficial, public match between
the famous Palm Beach Gardens sisters.

"There was no tension, no nerves," Venus said. "The other matches were for
ranking points and prize money. This one was for Mom."

Playing before an audience of about 3,000 on a warm, windy afternoon, the
sisters were the highlight of the first J.P. Morgan Chase Tennis Challenge to
benefit the Oracene Williams Learning Foundation for children in need of
education assistance.

Although no firm numbers were disclosed, a spokeswoman for Chase said they
exceeded the goal of bringing in $50,000 at the inaugural event.

The exhibition got help from Boca Raton's Andy Roddick, Delray Beach's Justin
Gimelstob and the Jensen brothers, Luke and Murphy -- all of whom took part
in the exhibition.

"It was a great cause. It meant a lot for our family," said Serena, who
played in her trademark fuchsia colored dress and shoes.

It was a long afternoon of tennis -- perhaps too long for many that had come
not because they were tennis fans but because they wanted too see the sisters
play each other or support Oracene Williams' pet project to help children who
have educational needs.

"This was the first professional match I've seen," said Michael Brown of
Riviera Beach as he exited the grounds. "I just wanted to see Venus and
Serena. I really respect what they've done and their athletic ability." He
wasn't sure he'd be attending another tennis event soon.

The sisters played some great points and a lot of bad points. This wasn't
going to be mistaken for a Grand Slam final. But then one or the other would
hit a big serve or crushing return and the audience would revive.

For much of the match, they seemed deadly serious about their tennis. Things
lightened up considerably near the end. As Venus trotted to the net to shake
hands after the final point, she suddenly turned away, as if to shun the
congratulations, leaving Serena doubled over with laughter.

When they finished giggling, they embraced.

Roddick and Gimelstob, who played a pro set won by Gimelstob 8-6, appeared to
have much more fun. At one point, Gimelstob got his racket down on a zinger
of a serve just below his beltline that might have ended their match early.
They laughed on court about the near-miss.

In five previous public matches, Venus had won four times, including the 1999
Lipton final and the 2000 Wimbledon semifinal.

This time, despite the final score, everyone won.

Charles Bricker can be reached at [e-mail].