Serena Williams demonstrates her skill in Hong Kong
Sat Sep 14, 9:44 AM ET

HONG KONG - U.S. Open champion Serena Williams thrilled Hong Kong tennis fans Saturday by wearing her audacious "Pink Panther" and black "cat-suit" outfits in an hour-long exhibition event.

In what was dubbed the "Serena Williams Live" show, the world's top player showed off both her sartorial and tennis styles in a demonstration against leading men and women players from Hong Kong.

Macau gambling tycoon Dr Stanley Ho and top Hong Kong sports official Timothy Fok also made surprise appearances on court and traded shots with Williams.

Her skintight cat-suit and Pink Panther outfit caused a stir at the recent U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows, New York.

"I was four when I first started playing tennis," Williams told a young fan while answering questions at Hong Kong's Victoria Park tennis court.

Serena's mother Oracene Williams, who was traveling with her daughter, advised Hong Kong parents who want to raise young tennis stars: "First make sure that your children love the sport."

The American ace leaves Sunday for Tokyo, where she will take part in the Princess Cup next week.

She beat her sister Venus in the final of the U.S. Open last week, and won the French Open and Wimbledon titles earlier this year.

Williams overcomes rough start to win Toyota Princess Cup

By JIM ARMSTRONG
Associated Press Writer
September 22, 2002

TOKYO (AP) -- Serena Williams rebounded from a shaky start and beat Kim Clijsters 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to win the Toyota Princess Cup on Sunday.

Williams, the world's No. 1 player and the tournament's top seed, captured her seventh title of the year and improved to 5-0 against Clijsters, the No. 3 seed.

``I feel great,'' Williams said. ``It was a great final and I don't think the tennis could have been any better than it was today.

``Nobody can win every game. Kim played a very good first set and I knew I just had to pick up my game in the second set. I told myself 'If you don't start playing better, you're going to lose.' ''

Clijsters jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first set, taking advantage of a series of unforced errors by Williams, who couldn't find her rhythm.

Williams, who beat sister Venus earlier this month to win the U.S. Open, picked up the pace in the second set. She broke Clijsters serve to go up 5-3 and then served out to win the set and never looked back.

``I was just trying to find a way to get back into the match,'' said Clijsters. ``Just when you have a break point or something, she serves an ace and that's what makes her such a great champion.''

The start of the match was delayed 20 minutes when organizers closed the retractable roof at Ariake Colosseum because of rain. After the second game of the first set, there was another delay when the floodlights at the multipurpose arena went out.