COMPTON, Calif. (AP) Venus and Serena Williams have returned to their childhood California hometown for the first time since their half-sister was killed there in 2003 to have tennis courts dedicated in their honor.
The sisters were greeted by cheers when they arrived Saturday at Lueders Park, not far from their former home in the violence-plagued city of Compton located 17 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
Banners hung in the four corners of the two newly refurbished courts proclaiming them the Venus & Serena Williams Court of Champions.
Serena says driving to Compton from the Los Angeles airport “brought back so many memories.” Venus says it’s been “surreal” coming home to where they first learned to play tennis under the tutelage of their father, Richard, who didn’t attend. The sisters were accompanied by their mother, Oracene Price.
