By Moses J. Newson | SACOBSERVER.COM WIRE SERVICES

(NNPA) - Venus and Serena Williams are now the faces of U.S. women’s tennis.

Serena is ranked No. 1 in the world and Venus is No. 6, according to the standings released March 23 by the Women’s Tennis Association, which organizes the WTA tour.

The next highest ranked U.S. top 100 women, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 24, of Phoenix, Ariz., was at No. 37, and Jill Craybas, 34, of Huntington Beach, CA, at No. 85.

Although the Williams sisters now work with trainers, they are still coached by their father, Richard Williams, and mother, Oracene Price. The two worldwide stars started their careers as youngsters on the public courts of Compton, Calif., and almost no one, except possibly their father, envisioned they would reach the heights they have. They reside now in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

After having skipped the recent tourney in Indian Wells as they have since 2001 when the Williamses were targets of harsh fan booing, Venus and Serena are scheduled to compete in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, starting March 25.

In January when Serena, 27, won her fourth Australia Open, she became the top female money winner in any athletic competition. In winning the semi-final match her on-court earnings of $22,753,575 pushed her past golfer Annika Sorenstam who made $22,573,192 on the courses, the previous record.

Serena’s on-court winnings topped $23.5 million after she and Venus, 28, won the Australia Open doubles Jan. 30 and Serena took the singles title on Jan. 31, her 10th grand slam win.

Before their triumphs in Australia Richard Williams had announced that each of his daughters had won over $22 million on the courts and each had accumulated more than $100 million when income from their businesses and promotional endeavors was counted.

After Australia, Venus defeated Serena in the Dubai semi-finals, giving her a 10-9 edge in their face-to-face tour meetings. It was Venus’ 40th singles title and pushed her career winnings to $22,465,918. Serena’s Dubai loss left her having earned $23,628,104. She had 33 singles titles.

Venus scored her 41st singles title in Acapulco, Mexico, before returning to the United States to appear in the BNP Paribas Showndown for the Billie Jean King Cup in Madison Square Gardens. King, one of women tennis’ most famous and admired icons, has long been a strong supporter of the Williams sisters.

The 12,000 fans and noted personalities, including program participant former president Bill Clinton, braved snowy weather to witness that event.

Serena outlasted travel-weary Venus, 6-4, 6-3 for the $400,000 top prize.

The Williams sisters are far from being the top women winners of titles (11 are ahead of Venus with Martina Navratilova leading at 167) but tennis pays much better these days.

As a member of the WTA players council Venus, in the pattern set by King, has been an outspoken crusader for equal pay for men and women on the tours. Neither of the Williams sisters is contemplating retirement. Venus turned pro Oct. 31, 1994, Serena in September 1995.

Overall, they have had outstanding careers. Serena has won the Australian Open four times, Roland Garros once, Wimbledon twice and the U.S. Open three times. Venus has won Wimbledon five times, the U.S. Open twice and the 2000 Olympics. They’ve won a dozen or so doubles titles including three at Wimbledon, two at the Olympics, three Australia Opens and the U.S. Open.

Regarding the Williamses’ continued refusal to return to Indian Wells, current tour chief executive Larry Scott says he has “spent many hours talking to both Venus and Serena and their families” in an effort to understand their perspective.

The sisters have avoided suspensions and point losses for skipping Indian Wells despite rules to encourage top stars to play designated meets, by agreeing to take on assigned promotional chores.

The 2001 fan booing apparently grew out of Venus pulling out of a semi-final match against Serena shortly before playtime due to an injury.

Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and a U.S. Tennis Association board member termed the fans’ conduct “inexcusable.” Journalist Ralph Wiley termed the spectacle “a loud, continuous, mean-spirited, shameless exhibition of booing, an outpouring of ill will unprecedented…” in polite U.S. tennis circles.

Serena dropped the first set then soldiered on to win the match. When she accepted her winner’s check, Serena told the fans: “You guys were a little tough on me today. I want to thank those who supported me, and if you didn’t, I love you anyway.”

Then she blew them a kiss. And the sisters haven’t been back to Indian Wells.

Moses J. Newson is an NNPA special correspondent.