Serena Williams behaving like a grown-up as she turns 30

Serena Williams turns 30 Monday. Although she recently received plenty of attention for her childish behavior during the U.S. Open final, Williams will have a chance to show her grown-up side in her new role as international goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

The organization announced the appointment last week, saying Williams' status will help promote UNICEF's mission to provide a quality education for vulnerable children through the Schools for Africa and the upcoming Schools for Asia initiatives.

Williams said the new role would give her an opportunity to work on children's issues, which have always been important to her.

"I believe all children deserve the chance to make something of their lives," said Williams, who started playing tennis at age 4 while living with her family in Compton. "I am committed to helping UNICEF provide a quality education to children to help them build a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities."

Williams joins a list of UNICEF ambassadors from the past and present that includes soccer star David Beckham and figure skater Kim Yuna. The 13-time Grand Slam winner first worked with UNICEF in 2006, when she visited Ghana on a health campaign.

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-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Serena Williams. Credit: Geoff Robins / AFP/Getty Images

U.S. Open: Venus Williams withdraws with viral illness

 

Venus Williams, who won the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001 and was a semifinalist last year, withdraw from this year's tournament about an hour before her scheduled second-round match Wednesday against Germany's Sabine Lisicki, citing an unspecified viral illness.

Lisicki, 21, who was a semifinalist at Wimbledon, was expected to give Williams an interesting test. Instead Williams will see her ranking drop to outside the top 100. Before the U.S. Open Williams hadn't played a match since her fourth-round loss at Wimbledon, citing a viral illness, and she has played in only four tournament in the last 12 months because of an assortment of injuries.

Williams, 31, won her 60th U.S. Open match Monday night on Arthur Ashe Stadium, in straight sets over Russian Vesna Dolonts, Williams, until this year, had reached at least the fourth round here every time she has played and is a six-time semifinalist.

Williams has won seven major titles in her career and, after winning here Monday night, she spoke of her eagerness to get back to playing. She said she would have played in a $50,000 challenger event if that's all that had been available.

She also spoke of her summer-long illness, calling it "energy-sucking," though when asked directly, Williams would not name the illness. It had not kept her from making sponsor appearances or designing her black, white and pink dress for her first-round appearance.

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-- Diane Pucin in New York

Photo: Venus Williams. Credit: Eduardo Munoz / Reuters.