EXCLUSIVE
THE SCOOP: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Need a decorator? Call Venus Williams
Splitsville for Hingis and Garcia
WTA year-end format may change

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

While sister Serena has organized LA digs to hang her hat when in Tinsel Town auditioning for acting parts, Venus Williams is not being left behind in the pursuing an additional career department. During this past week at the Home Depot Championships, Venus alluded to some exciting off court pursuits she's been working on, but didn't give much of a hint as to what was on her mind.

Nevertheless, a few tennisreporters.net sources have spilled the beans, telling us that the 22-year-old Venus is set to launch V Starr Interiors, an interior design company here in Palm Beach County, later this week. The hope is that V Starr Interiors, of which Venus is the CEO, will attract a high-end clientele with high-end homes in need of redecorating in the ritzy Palm Beach community.

Venus, who has spent time at the Ft. Lauderdale Art Institute the past few years, mostly pursuing courses in fashion design towards an associate degree, has obviously decided to switch gears into interior design. But there is no doubt that she is taking this venture very seriously and is very hands-on in organizing her company.

In fact, it was Venus who contacted magazines such as the upscale glossy Florida Design and Florida International, and arrived solo to meetings to arrange advertising contracts for her new business. Venus is certainly not sparing any expense as her first ad in Florida Design, which will go to print next week, will be a full page spread.

Splitsville for Hingis and Garcia
Apparently, golf and tennis didn't go together like a horse and carriage for Martina Hingis and Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia, who ended their courtship last month. While dating, it wasn't surprising to see Hingis walking the links, carefully watching her beau swinging the club in tournaments. And Garcia often in attendance at the tennis, most recently journeying to the US Open to see Hingis in action.

For Hingis, who ended her season a number of weeks ago after not performing up to par following ankle surgery earlier in the year, the romantic split could only be adding extra frustration for the Swiss. At the moment she's trying to decide if she'll be in the right frame of mind to return to the court in 2003.

Romance, however, is still blooming for Jelena Dokic, who had boyfriend, Formula 1 race car driver Enrique Bernoldi, sitting courtside, cheering her on at the Home Depot Championships in LA.

WTA year-end format may change
Word is that the WTA Tour is considering a format change for their year-end championships in 2003. Currently, the Top 16 players come together in a straight knockout competition as they did this past week with Kim Clijsters reigning supreme over No. 1 Serena Williams in the final.

The WTA might switch to a round-robin format with eight or 12 players, similar to what the men do for the year-end Tennis Masters Cup, underway in Shanghai this week.