GrandSlammed
Mar 6th, 2002, 02:37 AM
No Boycott This Year: Serena
To Play in Family Circle Cup
http://images.sportsline.com/u/tennis/photos/2002/week6/serena2.jpg
.c The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 5) -- Serena Williams, who withdrew from the Family Circle Cup two years ago to honor the NAACP's boycott of South Carolina for flying the Confederate flag, has told officials she'll play in this year's tournament.
Williams will join defending champion Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova in the clay-court event April 15-21 the Family Circle Tennis Center.
"Serena Williams is a remarkable tennis player and has accomplished so much in her young career so far,'' said Frankie Whelan, Family Circle executive director. "What is equally important, Serena serves as such a positive role model to young children who dream of success not only in sports but in their everyday lives.''
Two years ago, Williams was one of the first to commit to the tournament. But she became the biggest sports name to back the economic sanctions by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to force the removal of the Confederate flag from atop the Statehouse dome.
Williams, 18 at the time, said not playing in South Carolina "was based on a much deeper issue and one that I feel strongly about.''
The South Carolina Legislature agreed to a compromise that removed the flag and put a similar one up at the Confederate Soldier Monument on Statehouse grounds in July 2000.
The NAACP has continued its economic sanctions, wanting the flag removed from the grounds altogether. Last year, the group picketed outside the Tennis Center during the Family Circle. Williams didn't play in last year's event.
AP-NY-03-05-02 1808EST
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Produced by SportsLine
To Play in Family Circle Cup
http://images.sportsline.com/u/tennis/photos/2002/week6/serena2.jpg
.c The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 5) -- Serena Williams, who withdrew from the Family Circle Cup two years ago to honor the NAACP's boycott of South Carolina for flying the Confederate flag, has told officials she'll play in this year's tournament.
Williams will join defending champion Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova in the clay-court event April 15-21 the Family Circle Tennis Center.
"Serena Williams is a remarkable tennis player and has accomplished so much in her young career so far,'' said Frankie Whelan, Family Circle executive director. "What is equally important, Serena serves as such a positive role model to young children who dream of success not only in sports but in their everyday lives.''
Two years ago, Williams was one of the first to commit to the tournament. But she became the biggest sports name to back the economic sanctions by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to force the removal of the Confederate flag from atop the Statehouse dome.
Williams, 18 at the time, said not playing in South Carolina "was based on a much deeper issue and one that I feel strongly about.''
The South Carolina Legislature agreed to a compromise that removed the flag and put a similar one up at the Confederate Soldier Monument on Statehouse grounds in July 2000.
The NAACP has continued its economic sanctions, wanting the flag removed from the grounds altogether. Last year, the group picketed outside the Tennis Center during the Family Circle. Williams didn't play in last year's event.
AP-NY-03-05-02 1808EST
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Produced by SportsLine