Kids learning to play tennis in the city of South Fulton had a special visitor today at summer camp: legend Venus Williams.
Williams surprised students at the South Fulton Tennis Center Monday afternoon.
"I love to be out here with the kids and the kids enjoy it too. It keeps me motiviated Hopefully we see some future stars come out of this," she said.
"It was like the best thing ever," camper Ranan Givhan told Channel 2 anchor Wendy Corona.
Williams is in the town for BB&T Atlanta Open, where she played in an exhibition match Sunday.
"Atlanta is a tennis town. I don't get here too often, but when I do, I try to do as much as I can," Williams said.
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Corona was there for Williams' visit as it put a spotlight on funding new city courts. There are 24 courts at the tennis center and renovating them would cost about $600,000, according to the city.
Leaders hope the visit from Williams could help show why it's important.
"It only solidifies that this is a facility that is up and coming and has the attention of many," District 3 Councilwoman Helen Willis said.
Hundreds of kids use the court daily and the city is in the running for a $300,000 grant from the U.S Tennis Association. Willis hope to have construction on the courts started within a year.
Of course, that is good news for Givhan and other players who aspire to be tennis stars like Williams.
"I want to get a college degree, playing tennis, so my parents don't have to pay and I can make it easier for their lives," Givhan said.
Cox Media Group
