Williams sisters kickoff exhibition tour
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-18 09:51

The tour also serves to help promote the game to a surprisingly large tennis playing population in the region, United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest Section executive director Bill Leong said.

The northwest is first per capita in playing population, he said.

"I think it really energizing the people and really builds a fan base for us," Leong said. "We were excited to get the call to jump right in there and help anyway we can. It was a no-brainer."

While at the elementary school, the Williams sisters were treated to a lengthy tumbling exhibition from the school's extracurricular group, They were extremely impressed.

They also held a question and answer session with students, posed for a handful of pictures, signed a few autographs, and participated in an impromptu tennis match with a local television personality, featuring an oversized ball and tennis rackets.

When asked by a student what they do when not playing, the pair connected with the kids, Venus saying she enjoys sleeping late and watching SpongeBob SquarePants.

"I love Jimmy Newtron," Serena added.

"We would like to see the tour evolve and go to different cities ... going to markets we've never been. And bringing entertainment to it as well," Venus said. "That's what I'd like to see it evolve to."