MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Serena Williams has turned her punishment into a charitable opportunity by launching an online auction of her personal clothing and memorabilia in order to raise $92,000 for Haiti earthquake victims, as well as schools and charities.
The target equals Williams total fine for her profanity-laced outburst at a lineswoman during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September.
``The purpose of the mission is to turn a negative into a positive by educating and helping women, men and children so that they have a fighting chance,'' Williams writes on the Web site of her charity, the Serena Williams Foundation.
Williams' eBay auction began Monday with items including an autographed pair of sneakers that she wore in her championship run at the Australian Open last year, her 2008 Olympic team dress and a Phoenix Suns jersey signed by Steve Nash.
She announced the auction in December, shortly after she was fined a record $82,500 by the Grand Slam tournament for her profanity-laced outburst at a lineswoman during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September. She also paid a $10,000 penalty to the U.S. Tennis Association.
Williams said the idea for the auction came after the International Tennis Federation denied her request to donate some of her fine to charity.
The auction will run for 92 days, with new items up for sale each week.
The proceeds were originally designated for schools in the United States and Africa, but Williams decided last week to direct some of the money to victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake.
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MELBOURNE PARK REVAMP: Major upgrades to Melbourne Park - including adding a retractable roof to a third arena - will begin this year and ensure that the Australian Open remains at its present site until at least 2036, Victoria state officials said Monday.
Margaret Court Arena will get 1,500 new seats and a retractable roof similar to those on Rod Laver and Hisense arenas, making the Australian site the only Grand Slam to boast three covered courts.
``This will allow Melbourne to run the most weatherproof Grand Slam event in the world,'' Victoria Premier John Brumby said.
The $336 million first stage of the redevelopment also includes 21 new courts, upgrades to the main two arenas, and additional parking.
``Importantly, it locks in the Open until at least 2036,'' state Sports Minister James Merlino said.
Work on the first stage of the project will begin in April and take about five years to complete.
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ZAGAT GUIDE: Venus Williams shops at Harrods. Maria Sharapova prefers the boutiques of Paris and New York. And when it comes to dining, many of the world's top women tennis players suggest trying Nobu restaurants and their delectable black cod with miso.
Life as a tennis player involves considerable travel - and eating and shopping - around the world. So Zagat, the global dining guide, teamed up with the organizers of the women's tennis tour to make a guide that taps into the players' preferences.
``Zagat - Best of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour,'' has sections on 24 of the cities where tournaments are played. The 2010 guide is the third annual edition and includes three new cities: Montreal, San Diego and Warsaw.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams recommends the curries at upscale Thai restaurant Blue Elephant in Paris. In New York she goes for brunch at Soho hotspot Mercer Kitchen.
Thanks to Nobu's branches around the world, the players can get their fill of spicy tuna rolls and the signature cod dish in London, New York, Tokyo, Miami and Melbourne. Among the regulars are Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchova and 2008 French Open winner Ana Ivanovic.
``Nobu. What else needs to be said?'' Williams notes in the London category, adding that Wimbledon's timing allows her to shop at Harrods during the summer sales.
Most of the players don't seem too preoccupied with bargain shopping.
In Paris, France's Tatiana Golovin shops for bags at Fendi, jeans at Diesel and ``loves the styles'' at pricey lingerie shop La Perla.
``If you're looking for an evening dress, you can always find something gorgeous here,'' Elena Dementieva, the Beijing Olympic gold medalist, says of Versace in Paris.
French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova goes for Gucci.
I like to go to Gucci anywhere in the world,'' she says.You can never go wrong with Gucci.''
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GETTING BORED: Oracene Price is apparently getting tired of traveling the world to watch her daughters, Venus and Serena Williams, play tennis.
Price, a regular spectator behind dark sunglasses in the players' box at major tournaments, reportedly told Australian Tennis Magazine that she hates flying and was starting to find the whole thing boring.
It used to be I looked forward to get away from L.A. but now it's getting dull, to be perfectly honest,'' Price said in comments published in Tuesday's Herald Sun newspaper.I've had enough. It's the same old, same old.''
Price, who co-coaches the sisters with their father Richard Williams, also revealed her secret for sitting through the many hours of matches.
I go to sleep,'' she was quoted saying.That's why I wear the sunglasses, sitting there waiting until it's over.''