Williamses Seek a New Challenge

“You’ve got to keep busy,” Venus Williams was saying, resting after her fourth-round singles victory at the Australian Open.

As if it wasn’t enough that the 17-year-old was still playing in singles, doubles and mixed doubles here, she and her sister, Serena, were out drumming up matches against men.

The Williams sisters often drop by the ATP Tour offices and “visit,” as Venus says. Serena, the younger and feistier of the two, got the idea that she’d like to hone her game with a practice match against someone on the men’s tour.

She picked Francisco Clavet, a likable Spaniard ranked No. 32. Venus decided that she, too, would like to play. Sitting nearby was Karsten Braasch, a young German ranked No. 203. Like Clavet, he was out of the tournament. Braasch volunteered to face Venus.

“Serena doesn’t like to lose, so she’s going to go at it,” Venus said.

The sisters scheduled courts with the tournament office, getting time on the outside courts Sunday afternoon.

Word got around, and interest in the two teenagers being what it is, the matches were quickly staffed with player/linesmen and print, radio and television journalists.

Rain came to wash the play away and the matches were scratched. Clavet caught a plane to Madrid. Braasch may not be able to make it. No matter. Other guys want to play. Rescheduling might be a problem, because both women continue to play in the tournament and rain continues to disrupt play on the outer courts.

The sisters lost Monday in the third round of women’s doubles, but Venus is still alive in mixed doubles.

While Serena is only half kidding when she says she wants to play on both the ATP and WTA tours, Venus wants only the superior competition.

“Well, they wanted to bet money but we don’t have any money,” Williams said. “So I think the stakes are pride, and maybe one ATP Tour point.”