There is more to Venus Williams than meets the eye.If you look at her and see merely a great tennis player, then you aren't seeing the whole picture.
Venus Williams is among the most famous athletes in the world. A five-time Wimbledon singles champion. Seven-time Grand Slam tournament singles winner and, with younger sister Serena, a nine-time Grand Slam tournament doubles champion.
Just past her 29th birthday, the Lynwood native is as compelling on the court as she is in the board rooms where the business of tennis is conducted and its policies are shaped.
But ask her to name the other professional athletes she admires and she'll double-fault.
"I'm the worst with sports. I don't know anything outside of tennis," she said, laughing.
She might not know a race car driver from a bowler at tonight's ESPY awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, but everyone will know who she is: One of the most powerful servers and baseliners the game has seen, driven to be the best since she and Serena learned the game from their father, Richard, on Compton's municipal courts.
She took little consolation that the Wimbledon title stayed in the family July 4 when Serena beat her, 7-6 (3), 6-2. "I still want to win. Especially that title," she said Tuesday during a visit to The Times' offices.
"I like winning that one. I'm used to winning that one."
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