Serena Williams and Venus Williams will become neighbors rather than roommates, with some of the U.S. Open champion's $4 million winnings going towards construction of her own Florida home.
"I’m building a house," Williams said to the press the day after her victory in New York.
“It was very helpful that I won because I hadn’t been winning and I was thinking, ‘Let’s shrink it, let’s get rid of these rooms, no master suite here.’"
The Williams sisters have shared a house in Florida for much of their careers, but will now be in their own homes on the same street. Serena also has an apartment in Paris and a residence in Los Angeles.
“I am finally moving away from my sister after 34 or 35 years by the time it’s done,” Williams said. “It’s a good time. I figure that will be my new life. Of course we will live down the street from one another. It will be a new start. I will have a lot of memories from my home. I’m kind of scared, but I’m growing up.
“I’m really excited about it. I have this really cool pool idea. I’ve worked with a wonderful architect in San Francisco because I didn’t want it to be a typical Florida house. I want it to look like the south of France meets northern Italy. I want it to look more European.
“Venus is doing something totally different. She is going really modern. You can really see our personalities through the houses. I just wanted something really fresh: A little trophy area, a nice garden and I have a purse room. I have a bag problem so I decided to go with that. I have a karaoke room too.”
Williams has earned more than $60 million in prize money during her career, almost twice more than any other WTA player.