Papa preaches Williams sisters to retire

Papa preaches Williams sisters to retire
Sandra Harwitt

Miami, March 29: Venus Williams is discussing the possibility of retiring after being advised by her father and mentor Richard to take the rest of the year off because of tendinitis in her wrists.

Speaking by telephone on Tuesday from his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Richard Williams said he had advised his daughter to take a break from the sport until at least January next year.

``I'm also talking to Venus about totally retiring and doing it now,'' he said. ``I told Venus to go back to school and not waste her talent to learn. She is only 19-years-old and can afford to take the time at least temporarily. She has agreed to listen to my suggestion seriously.''

Williams said too many athletes who had emerged from the ghetto like his daughters Venus and Serena had eventually lose their fortunes because of a lack of knowledge and education. Venus has not played on the Tour since reaching the semi-finals of the year-end Chase Championships last November.

The world's third-ranked player is taking classes in fashion design at an art school in Ft Lauderdale. According to her father, she has a particular interest in designing clothes for women and children.

Williams said he believed his daughter should also concentrate on the business aspect of running a successful enterprise. ``She loves what she's doing now,'' he said. ``Athletes just never stop and examine where you are, who you are, and what they are doing. There's a lot of other things to life than just playing tennis.''

``Naturally, she would miss what she's been doing her whole life, but I told her that (John) McEnroe and (Steffi) Graf had to eventually give tennis up, too.''

Richard Williams said he had given similar advice to daughter Serena, the US Open champion.

At this week's Miami Open, Serena fell in three sets to Jennifer Capriati in a fourth-round match during which her father said she had played with a neck injury. ``Serena might be taking a break sooner than you would think,'' he said. ``I told them to forget a lot about tennis and think to the extent of doing more with their lives.''

``I said to them: `Stop and use your heads'.'' (Reuters)