Venus wants the gold racket more than a Grand Slam
TeamWTA Photo
By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 17 2005
Venus Williams said she would prefer to win the diamond racket more than winning a Grand Slam at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp. If she wins the tournament this year it would be for the third time in five years and she can take the racket back to the USA.
“If I win
the racket I will keep it for life for sure but I have plans. I am not going to
reveal my plans but I have plans. But there are still four matches to go”,
Venus Williams said about the possibility to win the one million Euro racket.
The racket is a 275-carat diamond and holds 1.702 cut diamonds they are
incorporated in 18-carat gold. The trophy weighs approximately 4 kilos.
“I might
play with it for finals and stuff, if I could choose I would choose the racket
over winning a Grand Slam title. There are always other Grand Slams but there
is only one racket”.
“The racket
gets more beautiful every time and I am the closest to win it. I just love
playing here, for the racket, for the sold out crowd there was the first couple
of times. But a lot had to do with Kim and Justine playing here as well. I
don’t think it was all my effort. I just have great memories here”.

“What have
I been doing lately, well I was home and went to the fashion week a couple of
times. Visiting L.A. and off course training everyday. I feel very good. I am a
strong girl. No injuries, I am fine now and everyday my game is getting
better”.
“The
hardest part for me coming back was that I never was really well, I had never
the opportunity to improve my game. After the US Open I started not being
injured and then I had the chance to get better. For me the hardest part was
that I wasn’t well”.
“It would
have been more efficient to stay home and not go to Wimbledon and prepare and
be ready. But I was too eager, I wanted to play too much. I would stay home now
but it's too late but it's ok”.
“I want to do something here in Antwerp. It's easy to shop. I want to culturally experience something. I want to know something and feel something. No not the Zoo. Do they keep the animals outside here in this weather, I will come back in the summer to see that”.
