Venus Has 3 Tourney Stops

Venus Williams, the 14-year-old who made her professional tennis debut last October, will play three tournaments on the WTA Tour this year.

She will play the Acura Classic in Manhattan Beach, Calif., Aug. 7-13; the Canadian Open in Toronto Aug. 14-20; and the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland, Calif., Oct. 30-Nov. 5.

She requested and received wildcard entries into the three tournaments.

In Oakland last year, the 6-foot-2 tennis prodigy defeated Shaun Stafford before losing to reigning U.S. Open champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in three sets. Although she has appeared at exhibitions and clinics, that has been her only sanctioned tournament appearance in nearly four years.

By turning pro last year, Williams beat the WTA Tour’s new age eligibility rule limiting the number of tournaments in which an underage girl may play. But her father has imposed a limit.