By Jae-Ha Kim
Denver Post
July 6, 2010
Venus Williams isn’t content with a slew of tennis trophies. She also is an entrepreneur and author. In her recently published book “Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession,” Williams interviews powerhouses such as Bill Clinton, Vera Wang and Denzel Washington and asks them to discuss how their background in sports helped them excel in their chosen professions. The 30-year-old Floridian also offers her insights.
Here, the tennis star chats about her favorite destinations and what restaurant she always turns to when she craves a juicy rib eye steak.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. I don’t have many opportunities to vacation, due to my tournament schedule, but a place that I loved visiting and where I would really enjoy taking another vacation is Thailand. It is very peaceful and relaxing. The people are so friendly and beautiful! From the hustle and bustle of Bangkok to the beaches in Phuket, I love going there. The food is incredible as well. Seafood, curry — you name it. I indulge in all different types of food when I am there.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. When I have time off, I rarely leave the area around my home for a weekend getaway. However, the area where I live — from West Palm Beach down to Miami — has so much to do that I would highly recommend it as a place to visit. Some great places to check out are the Kravitz Center for the Performing Arts for a show, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, which is a cool spot and the Jonathan Dickinson State Park, which has beautiful scenery.
Q. What is your favorite hotel?
A. The Hotel Plaza Athenee in New York City. I stay there a lot when I am in New York and also during the U.S. Open. It provides a place to get away from the action so I can relax. They have a fantastic Niçoise salad that I love as well.
Q. What are your favorite restaurants?
A. My favorite restaurant that I can find all over (the country) is Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. My mouth starts to water when I think about their rib eye. It is the best steak in the world in my opinion! Abroad, my favorite restaurant is Francoise, a French restaurant in Melbourne. I look forward to it every year when I am playing at the Australian Open. I also like Little Moir’s Food Shack in Jupiter, Fla., for amazing seafood and Barton G in Miami is an incredible dining experience.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. Most of the time when I am traveling, it is for a tennis tournament. So I always have my tennis bag filled with rackets and shoes. I always have books with me, since we have a lot of down time. I never forget my iPod and computer. I often work on designs for my clothing line, EleVen, and also different projects for my design firm, V-Starr Interiors, when I am traveling.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. Palm Beach Gardens, my home sweet home. I love Los Angeles and spend multiple weeks there every year. Rome is magnificent. I look forward to the Italian Open every spring. The tournament is played at the tennis stadium in the historic Foro Italico sports complex. Melbourne is a blast and every year when I go there in January it presents the dawn of a new tennis season. Hong Kong has a unique and wonderful culture. I love exploring new things every time.
© 2010 JAE-HA KIM
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