'I wouldn't be tempted'

Impressed by Annika, Serena still won't play men

Serena Williams has defeated her older sister, Venus, in four consecutive Grand Slams. Alex Livesey/Getty Images

PARIS (AP) -- Serena Williams was impressed by Annika Sorenstam's foray onto the PGA Tour. The No. 1 women's tennis player has no desire to play against men, though.

"I think she did great," Williams said Sunday. "I really wanted her to do even better. But I think she did really, really well."

Williams, who begins defense of her French Open title Monday, added that Sorenstam proved "she can hang up there. It's cool she was able to do that."

Williams has been as dominant on the WTA Tour as Sorenstam is on the LPGA Tour, winning tennis' last four Grand Slam tournaments and opening 2003 with 21 consecutive match victories.

At the Colonial tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, this week, Sorenstam became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event in 58 years. The Swede had creditable rounds of 71-74 but missed the cut.

Williams won't entertain thoughts of trying something similar.

"I'm here to play female tennis," she said. "I've never been involved in men's tennis."

Asked how she thought she would do if tempted to play against men, Williams smiled and delivered a quick response: "I wouldn't be tempted."

This year is the 30th anniversary of the original "Battle of the Sexes" on a tennis court. On Sept. 20, 1973, Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in an exhibition in Houston, bringing more exposure to women's sports.

 

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