America’s Gold Medal Tennis Star!

America’s Gold Medal Tennis Star!

America's Gold Medal Tennis Star!

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What a great year for Serena Williams. After injuries, surgeries and life-threatening illness, you just can’t keep the gal down. In this year’s Summer Olympics she slammed her way not only to another gold medal but also a career Golden Slam in singles, becoming only the second woman to achieve the honor. With four gold medals and 29 Grand Slam titles, most consider her to be the best female player in the world right now.

Serena and her sister Venus are not alone among big-time athletes in their choice of where to live. The Jupiter, Florida area seems to be a strong draw for major sports figures. Some of their nearby neighbors include Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Ernie Els. While many athletes choose Florida for the climate to work on their games, no state income tax might also have something to do with their choice.

Serena and Venus built their house without a single tennis court in Palm Beach Gardens’ BallenIsles neighborhood ten years ago. Maybe they wanted "home" to be a place to escape the rigors of their profession where they could, for short periods, get away from it all. But that meant practicing on courts wherever they could find them and it was terribly inconvenient. When the BallenIsles Country Club built their new sports complex, 19 of the 22 courts were clay, making it easier on the knees of the members, but the club added two Har-Tru courts just for Venus and Serena. They even went an extra step using colors to match the courts where they compete and built them so the sisters would have morning practice shade.

In 2010, the girls changed their minds and decided they wanted to practice at home. They made application for approval for a large expansion, so now they have a huge new addition and their own tennis court, just a few steps past the gated entry. Hopefully they’ll run over to the BallenIsles sports complex occasionally for a few sets to show appreciation for how the members honored them with the special courts!

If these gals aren’t busy enough, they also are business entrepreneurs. Serena has a nail technician’s license and a line of beauty products and Venus is becoming a well-known decorator! Guess the fact that Serena has already made $35 million still doesn’t change the old adage that a girl has to have something to fall back on!

Source: www.jeffrealty.com