{blackbabes} Venus counting on experience for US Open boost

NEW YORK (AFP) - Venus Williams has not played a tournament since Wimbledon because of a left knee sprain, but the 30-year-old American is counting on lessons from her 16-year career to pull her through at the US Open.

US third seed Williams is a seven-time Grand Slam champion, taking five Wimbledon crowns and the 2000 and 2001 US Open titles. But she has not reached the Flushing Meadows final in eight years and lost in last year's fourth round.

"I feel good. I have played so many matches in my career, I feel like I can bank on experience," Williams said Saturday. "I'm hitting pretty good shots. I should be more rested because I haven't played so much lately."

Williams said that her workouts have gone well and that even though she has not played since losing a Wimbledon quarter-finals to 82nd-ranked Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria she has made progress.

"Just got in the gym, stay strong, do everything I could that way," she said. "I didn't have the ideal preparation but mentally I'm ready to play without having playing matches."

The former world number one, who opens against Italy's Roberta Vinci, is skipping doubles since her top-ranked sister, 13-time Slam champion Serena Williams, is absent with a right foot injury that required surgery.

"I just want to play one event right now," Venus Williams said. "We don't take it for granted. Hopefully we will be able to play next year at the Australian Open or Beijing."

Venus was no more informative about the details of Serena's injury than her sister has been.

"I'm not here to talk about her injury," Venus said. "You're not going to get in with me. Sorry guys."

She does not see the US Open title as being more up for grabs without Serena in the field.

"As a player, I don't try to think of it that way," Venus Williams said. "I just try to win matches."

One thing she was excited about was unveiling her new tennis apparel designs. That will come in her first match either Monday or Tuesday.

"I had a lot of fun designing it," she said. "I missed getting to wear my summer outfit."

Venus Williams also spoke out in support of Tiger Woods, the world number one golfer whose sex scandal led to a divorce from wife Elin on Monday and has been a major distraction for him over the past nine months.

"The guy is a great player. Everyone wants to be like him, hit the ball like he does," Venus Williams said. "Maybe he has had some trying times but hopefully he is doing well.

"We all deserve some privacy in our lives."