Wow - tons of protection for Serena at this tournament

[special700]

Tennis: Unprecedented security for Serena Williams in Auckland

Serena Williams is being protected by an unprecedented level of security during her time in Auckland.

She will be accompanied by security guards around the clock - even when she is at her hotel - and a bigger team when she is making public appearances.

The security team will be in place 24 hours a day, for the duration of her stay.

Williams, who has won 22 grand slam singles titles and is regarded by many tennis experts as the greatest female player of all time, touched down in Auckland earlier today.

She was rushed through the airport terminal - only taking a few questions from a large waiting media pack - and taken straight to her central city Auckland hotel.

Williams is one of the biggest sporting names on the planet, with a profile that transcends sport. The 35-year-old was the second highest earning sportswoman in the world last year, and has huge endorsement deals with several major companies.

In terms of status, Williams is the biggest sporting star to visit New Zealand since Tiger Woods in the early 2000s, and the organisers are taking no chances.

"We take it very seriously," said ASB Classic tournament director Karl Budge.

"[For Serena] it is easily the biggest level of security we have had for a player before. You do everything you can; our head of security is ex-SAS and we sent our senior management team for a dedicated security briefing to the United States earlier this year."

The level of security was noticeable from the minute Williams touched down in Auckland.

She was escorted to her transport by two security guards - who strong armed any media who tried to get too close out of the way - before being whisked off to her hotel. Williams is staying at a different accommodation to the rest of the field, although sister Venus is understood to be at the same hotel.

Serena later had a two hour practice in the early afternoon, with a security guard stationed metres away for the entire session while two others watched over centre court.

"Auckland is a pretty relaxed venue but there are still precautions that need to be taken," said Budge.

"And that is what we will be doing."​


Michael Burgess

Michael Burgess is a sports writer for the Herald on Sunday.


- NZ Herald

 

[special700]

Serena Williams pulls out of only public appearance in Auckland

10:01 AM Friday Dec 30, 2016

Serena Williams has pulled out of her only public appearance in Auckland today as news of her engagement spreads like wildfire around the globe.

The world tennis No. 1 was to have taken part in a "novel and fun media opportunity" run by sponsors Gatorade this afternoon at the Merton Road Tennis Centre in Glen Innes.

But shortly after news broke that Williams had announced her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, Gatorade advised media that "we have just had news through from Serena's team that she has had to regretfully withdraw from this sponsor opportunity".

serenascreena2_620x310.jpg

"We have been informed that Serena has been unable to practice for the last three days in USA and accordingly she does not have sufficient time to obligate to this promotion as her main priority is to prepare and practice today.

"Serena and her team were quite excited about the promotion, but her priority is to ensure she is as well prepared as possible for the tournament."

Williams would have likely faced a media circus at the promotion with questions about her engagement certain to have dominated.

 

[special700]

Serena Williams mania already in full swing in New Zealand video

DAVID LONG

Last updated 15:14, December 30 2016


So much for those snarky comments about whether Serena Williams would actually turn up for the ASB Classic.

The world No 2, who has 22 Grand Slam singles titles to her name arrived in Auckland early on Friday morning, on the same flight from Houston as her good friend Caroline Wozniacki and they were followed a few hours later by Venus Williams.

Ever since it was announced a couple of months ago that Serena would be coming to New Zealand for the first time for the 2017 ASB Classic, there have been plenty of people who doubted whether she really would come.

But she has and she wasted little time between landing and hitting the courts for two hours from midday.

Oh, and she even managing to squeeze in announcing her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian during that time too.

During her time on court she was put through her paces by her entourage, working on a number of shots as well has fine tuning that big serve she has.

A media event organised through one of her sponsors later in the afternoon was canned and she's only given three one-line answers to journalists on her first day in New Zealand.

Those were given as she made the short walk from the Auckland Airport arrival gates to a car waiting outside.

It was fairly mundane stuff, where she said it was because of Venus that she decided to start the new season in Auckland.

"It was all Venus, so we should just thank Venus when she arrives," Serena said.

Venus has become a regular visitor to the Classic, enjoying the friendly nature of the tournament. She'd often been asked if she'll persuade Serena to come and the younger sister said Venus had told her nothing but good things about it.

"She told me it was great and that I should come and I always listen to my big sister."

At the age of 35 and having achieved everything possible in tennis and she's at the stage where she wants to experience new cities.

"It's always fun to go places you've never been and I'm excited to be here."

Wozniacki walked alongside Serena through the airport terminal and seemed amused and pleased that the media scrum weren't interested in her.

So much for being world No 1 for 67 weeks.

Some time later Venus' flight from Los Angeles touched down.

She was considerably more relaxed as she headed to her car, chatting with fans and hugging tournament volunteers that she's got to know over the past few years.

Walking and talking at a slower pace than Serena, Venus confirmed that she had talked up playing in New Zealand to Serena.

"I did, I've been telling her and she's been drinking the Kool-Aid," Venus said.

While this is Serena's first trip to Auckland, it will be the fourth time Venus has played the Classic and she says she's loved making this an annual event.

"Really the welcome that we get and how everyone appreciates what we do," she said when asked why she keeps coming back.

"We really do try to entertain when we're out here, fighting our hearts out.

"It's all good stuff, all of the time here."

At 12pm Serena was on Centre Court at the ASB Tennis Arena and an hour later Venus was on court five quietly working away on her own preparations for next week.

Once Ana Ivanovic announced her retirement, this became the tournament of the big three, but so far it's all been about just the one player really.

 

[kskate2]

When Venus won this tournament a couple of years ago, during the award ceremony she stated she would be back the next year and she would try to get Serena to come with her. It's nice to see them both participating in this tournament as we don't know how much longer it will happen.

 

[tossip]

maybe the security is increased especially after the hacking....neverknow who is behind the hacking..

 

[special700]

maybe the security is increased especially after the hacking....neverknow who is behind the hacking..

What do you mean..."neverknow who is behind the hackin" are you Donald Trump? We all know it's the Russians they even hacked into the sisters medical records to try to start a scandal about doping just because Maria was caught. Of course they found nothing because Venus and Serena are honest players.

 

[tossip]

maybe the security is increased especially after the hacking....neverknow who is behind the hacking..

What do you mean..."neverknow who is behind the hackin" are you Donald Trump? We all know it's the Russians they even hacked into the sisters medical records to try to start a scandal about doping just because Maria was caught. Of course they found nothing because Venus and Serena are honest players.

maybe Serena knows something that we dont...remember when Regis Philbin mentioned that Serena was nearly stabbed by a tennis fan in Paris and he mentioned he heard it from a security who worked for him who used to work for Serena....

 

[special700]

maybe the security is increased especially after the hacking....neverknow who is behind the hacking..

What do you mean..."neverknow who is behind the hackin" are you Donald Trump? We all know it's the Russians they even hacked into the sisters medical records to try to start a scandal about doping just because Maria was caught. Of course they found nothing because Venus and Serena are honest players.

maybe Serena knows something that we dont...remember when Regis Philbin mentioned that Serena was nearly stabbed by a tennis fan in Paris and he mentioned he heard it from a security who worked for him who used to work for Serena....

Don't know where you get your information from, but I never read or heard that gossip you are trying to put out there.

 

[tossip]

What do you mean..."neverknow who is behind the hackin" are you Donald Trump? We all know it's the Russians they even hacked into the sisters medical records to try to start a scandal about doping just because Maria was caught. Of course they found nothing because Venus and Serena are honest players.

maybe Serena knows something that we dont...remember when Regis Philbin mentioned that Serena was nearly stabbed by a tennis fan in Paris and he mentioned he heard it from a security who worked for him who used to work for Serena....

Don't know where you get your information from, but I never read or heard that gossip you are trying to put out there.

:ras:yes Regis Philbin talked about it many years ago when he was on Regis and Kelly...he was talking about his security detail....well we know you chew on sour grapes all day long Sir.

 

[Kieran]

maybe Serena knows something that we dont...remember when Regis Philbin mentioned that Serena was nearly stabbed by a tennis fan in Paris and he mentioned he heard it from a security who worked for him who used to work for Serena....

Don't know where you get your information from, but I never read or heard that gossip you are trying to put out there.

:ras:yes Regis Philbin talked about it many years ago when he was on Regis and Kelly...he was talking about his security detail....well we know you chew on sour grapes all day long Sir.

Just the most primitive two-fingered stab at Google failed to bring up anything remotely resembling this attack. Maybe it was when she thought the drug-testers were knife men and hid in her panic room?

 

[tossip]

Don't know where you get your information from, but I never read or heard that gossip you are trying to put out there.

:ras:yes Regis Philbin talked about it many years ago when he was on Regis and Kelly...he was talking about his security detail....well we know you chew on sour grapes all day long Sir.

Just the most primitive two-fingered stab at Google failed to bring up anything remotely resembling this attack. Maybe it was when she thought the drug-testers were knife men and hid in her panic room?

yes because your hands are greasy from yesterday s pizza...:lolz:...this was mentioned in passing by Regis yeah in 05 or 06...the incident happened when she went to play in Paris after winning AO05..

 

[kskate2]

Well all those security guards will be out of work now. Serena goes down to Brengle in R2. :cover

 

[Kieran]

:ras:yes Regis Philbin talked about it many years ago when he was on Regis and Kelly...he was talking about his security detail....well we know you chew on sour grapes all day long Sir.

Just the most primitive two-fingered stab at Google failed to bring up anything remotely resembling this attack. Maybe it was when she thought the drug-testers were knife men and hid in her panic room?

yes because your hands are greasy from yesterday s pizza...:lolz:...this was mentioned in passing by Regis yeah in 05 or 06...the incident happened when she went to play in Paris after winning AO05..

So the panic room incident - verifiable, by the way - was a different fear of attack than the knife incident - which isn't verified anywhere? Maybe them dope testers are just so much bigger a threat to her, eh? :snicker

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I do remember an incident in California somewhere where someone tried to steal Serena's purse or cell phone and she chased him out or something like that. Is this what is being referred mistakenly as the knife attack.

 

[Kieran]

I do remember an incident in California somewhere where someone tried to steal Serena's purse or cell phone and she chased him out or something like that. Is this what is being referred mistakenly as the knife attack.

It's about 6000 miles away from Paris, and 10 years later than 2005, but in the world of logic that infests Serena addicts, it could just be the same incident! :laydownlaughing

 

[Kieran]

By the way, I wasn't jabbing that at you, GSM, but at the almost quasi-religious sanctimonious offensive sorties of some Serena junkies...

 

[tossip]

By the way, I wasn't jabbing that at you, GSM, but at the almost quasi-religious sanctimonious offensive sorties of some Serena junkies...

if you were two yrs old in 05 then you obviously dont know...i bet you are a fourteen yr old boy..cover

 

[special700]

Just the most primitive two-fingered stab at Google failed to bring up anything remotely resembling this attack. Maybe it was when she thought the drug-testers were knife men and hid in her panic room?

yes because your hands are greasy from yesterday s pizza...:lolz:...this was mentioned in passing by Regis yeah in 05 or 06...the incident happened when she went to play in Paris after winning AO05..

So the panic room incident - verifiable, by the way - was a different fear of attack than the knife incident - which isn't verified anywhere? Maybe them dope testers are just so much bigger a threat to her, eh? :snicker

No - but they sure are a threat to the doper Maria....:laydownlaughing

 

[special700]

I do remember an incident in California somewhere where someone tried to steal Serena's purse or cell phone and she chased him out or something like that. Is this what is being referred mistakenly as the knife attack.

No that is something different about the phone. I believe that was when she was having lunch with her now future husband to be when the phone was stolen and she chased after the person who stole it.

 

[special700]

I do remember an incident in California somewhere where someone tried to steal Serena's purse or cell phone and she chased him out or something like that. Is this what is being referred mistakenly as the knife attack.

It's about 6000 miles away from Paris, and 10 years later than 2005, but in the world of logic that infests Serena addicts, it could just be the same incident! :laydownlaughing

YOu are more infested with Serena than her fans. so stop your crap and talk about you fav. the doper maria.