The Williams sisters are two professional American tennis players: Venus Williams born 1980, seven-time Grand Slam title winner (singles), and Serena Williams born 1981, fifteen-time Grand Slam title winner (singles), both of whom were coached from an early age by their parents Richard Williams and Oracene Price. There is a noted professional rivalry between them – between the 2001 US Open and the 2009 Wimbledon tournaments, they have met in eight Grand Slam singles finals. They remain very close, often watching each other’s matches in support, even after one of them has been knocked out of a tournament.
Both sisters have had the honor of being ranked by the Women’s Tennis Association at the World No. 1 position. In 2002, after the French Open, Venus Williams and Serena Williams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. During the 2010 French Open, they became the co-world no.1 players in women’s doubles, in addition to holding the top two positions in singles tennis as well.
Both players have won four gold medals at the Summer Olympics Games, one each in singles and three in doubles – which all they won together, than most of any tennis players.
A month ago, Nigerians woke up to a paid advert on Super Sports(A paid cable Television ) announcing their impending visit to the country. Not a few Nigerians believed that the sisters’ visit would become a reality. A few days to their arrival, there was an aggressive campaign that the visit was indeed real. As regards this, the organisers responsible for bringing the two sisters to Nigeria: Chain Reactions Nigeria sent out request to editors of some media houses asking that they put down names of correspondents and photojournalists that would represent their media houses.
A day to their arrival, accredited journalists were asked to pick their press tags from the office of the organizers. SportingLife’s STELLA BAMAWO captured some of the activities of the Williams’ sisters: Excerpts:
Day 1
Venus and Serena arrive Nigeria:
All the journalists who were at the airport to receive the sisters were shocked when it was announced by the organisers about ten minutes to the arrival of the sisters that Serena, the most controversial of the two sisters would be arriving late. Many had expected to capture Serena for their cover page as she was the most daring and most prosperous of the Williams sisters. Though there were delays before anyone could catch a glimpse of Venus who had to conclude all protocols at the airport.
Venus, who seemed shy of the large crowd that swarmed around her, kept quiet all through as she was fiercely protected by the security personnel attached to her at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. Venus who came aboard Delta airlines on Tuesday afternoon to the warm embrace of her fans was however chauffeur-driven in a E350 Black Mercedes Benz to the Federal Palace Hotel, Vicoria Island Lagos where she would be lodged for four days. Her sister, Serena came aboard a Turkish airline at about 9.30pm, just a few journalists were on ground to welcome her. The two sisters alongside their mother, Oracene Price and their personal assistants, passed their first night in Nigeria.
Day 2
We’re not Nigerians-Williams sisters:
As early as 7am on Wednesday, many journalists were gathered at the Federal Palace Hotel, to accompany the Williams sister for their visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola. The sisters were received at the Government House Marina around 8am by the Governor who commended them for taking the innitiative to support the women empowerment programme. By 10.30 am, the Williams’ sisters arrived for a press conference. Present at the Press Conference was top dignitaries amongst whom was Chief Omolade Okoya-Thomas who was given the honour to give a welcome speech to the sisters. In his speech, Chief Okoya-Thomas commended the sisters whom he claimed he had been following their success and failures at major tournaments. Most especially, he recognised their mother whom he congratulated for producing such successful children. He said: “Having produced these two kids that have produced so many medals, if I were you, I will die. But really you will not die yet, you will live long the celeberate more success with your children.”
The 77-year old philanthropist jokingly told the Williams sisters that henceforth he hopes they would recognise him each time he waves to them at subsequent competitions as he was indeed one of their best fans. Sponsors from the Nigeria Breweries Limited(NBL) and Procter and Gamble makers of Always also gave a welcoming speech. The marketing Manager of NBC, presented the two sisters with the popular Ankara fabric sewn into a jacket. The two sisters were delighted when they were given the gifts as they tried opening the package.
A ten-year old journalist opened the floor for the interactive session with the media at the venue when she was given an opportunity to ask the two sisters some questions. Serena who answered question fielded by the girl commended the girl for her wise questions as she claimed that with her age, she would not have been able to ask such questions.
However, the most controversial question for the day was when Serena was asked if she had a family tie in Nigeria as there were rumors that her family had an origin in Badagry, Lagos. The belief that she could have a Nigerian blood flowing owing to the fact that her late half-sister Yetunde Price bears a Nigerian name.
All the smiles disappeared as she was set to answer the question. Serena poured cold water on all claims that the two American tennis stars may have an origin in Nigeria. According to Serena who wore a somber mood immediately after the question was thrown at her, stated: “No, we are not Nigerians. The name was given to her out of the blues by my mum.”
It could be recalled that Yetunde Hawanya Tara Price was the elder half-sister and personal assistant to leading tennis players Venus and Serena Williams. At the time of her death, she was 31 years old, the eldest of Oracene Price’s five daughters, mother of three children, a registered nurse and owner of a beauty salon.
Serena however enthused on her first link with Nigeria some years back when her plane had touched down in Lagos for some minutes. Serena claimed she had been excited to have stepped her feet on the Nigerian soil.
The two sisters are however happy to be in Nigeria as they pledge to support the development of tennis in the country. They also throw their weight behind ‘Breaking The Mould’’ (BTM) campaign, a women’s empowerment initiative programme which according to the organisers is inspiring mechanism to help women at various life stages to embark on a journey of self-belief so that they can know that indeed they can achieve anything once they set their hearts to it.
At the interactive session the Williams sisters hinted that they plan to play doubles at the 2016 Rio Games for a chance to win their fourth gold medal.They are excited about competing in Rio de Janeiro, even though the games are four years away.”It’s our main goal,” Serena Williams said. “We were talking … about how we can’t wait to get to Rio. And obviously, bearing that we’re both healthy, that’s our goal to be there.”
Venus and Serena teamed to win 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and won Olympic gold in doubles in 2000, 2008 and 2012. This year, the sisters beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4 at the London Games.On Sunday, Serena beat top-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4 to win the WTA Championships final in Istanbul.
Tennis session at Ikoyi Club: The tennis sisters rounded their second day in Nigeria with a tennis clinic with the Kids of mmebers of the Ikoyi club. The stand was filled as many came to watch serena and Venus play with the kids. Parents jostle to snap pictures of their kids who played with Venus and Serena just as The kids were at their best as they tried to match strokes from both sisters. After the clinic, serena and Williams took pictures with the delighted kids.
Day 3:
Fans to pay N1m a table to dine with Venus, Serena
Today, the Williams’ sisters will visit selected schools in Ikoyi while organisers claim that about 400 tables have been set aside for a gala night. To dine with the Williams sisters’ the SportingLife gathered that the organisers had placed a price tag of one million naira for a table of eight people. Four hundred tables are expected to be filled up as their are claims that there is a mad rush for tables in order to spend the night with the Williams’ sisters.
Day 4:
Exhibition match
The Williams sisters have promised their teeming fans in the country that they should play a keenly contested match between them. The sisters, accompanied by their mother Oracene Price, will play an exhibition match against each other Friday in Nigeria’s largest city of Lagos.
