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Tennis champions Venus Williams and Martina Hingis played doubles for the first time ever together yesterday for the Washington Kastles in front of a sold-out crowd at the Smith Center at George Washington University. But before they teamed up on the court, Williams and Hingis discussed their tennis legacies and their fashion design careers at Comcast NBCUniversal's Venus Williams Tennis Legends Luncheon.
Both players have their own fashion lines: Williams is behind the activewear brand EleVen, while Hingis designs a tennis collection for Tonic Lifestyle Apparel. "You get to wear what you like to wear. You make your own designs. I have a designer who is doing everything, then I go there, I like to change the color, I like to change the shape," Hingis explained. And even though Williams is a legend on the tennis court, she said that with her interior design and fashion businesses, she had to start at the bottom like everyone else:
"No one's going to give anything to you. In both of my businesses, I definitely started at the bottom, and it's a lot of work. And it's made me appreciative of tennis. The best part about tennis is I don't remember starting at the bottom. I don't remember having to learn to play, I started so young. I don't remember that struggle. Tennis teaches you not to be afraid of any hard work, and you don't really take no for an answer."
Click here for the schedule to see Williams, Hingis, and the Washington Kastles in their brand-new home indoors — air conditioned! —at the Smith Center, offering luxe options like Celebrity Cruises VIP Dream Seats complete with a gourmet three-course dinner and an open bar.
· Washington Kastles [Official Site]
· EleVen [Official Site]
· Tonic [Official Site]