Rags-to-riches stories are often hard to believe, but world tennis champions and sisters Venus and Serena Williams are living proof such stories can be real. They say they started playing tennis at such a young age that they barely reached the top of the net – a net most likely bereft of tape, because their ratty neighborhood courts were in Compton, Calif., a town more associated with poverty, gangs and violence than the relative riches of Los Angeles, 18 miles to the north.

Despite the sisters' "very humble beginnings," as Serena puts it, they channeled their talent into a dogged pursuit of greatness, and greatness they achieved. By 1990, Venus was the top-ranked female player in the 12 and under category in Southern California, and by the end of that year, the 10-year-old had been featured on the front page of The New York Times and in Sports Illustrated.

At 16, Serena won the 1999 U.S. Open and became the first black woman since Althea Gibson in 1958 to capture a Grand Slam title. Then in 2002, Venus and Serena became the first two siblings to rank 1 and 2 in tennis history; that summer the two traded off the top spot.

Today, Serena and Venus are tennis champs, fashionistas, models, actors and authors. Above all, they want to share their love of tennis with child athletes everywhere.

"At the end of the day, if we could help one or two kids, I think that'd be great," Serena says. To help them accomplish this, the sisters wrote a book, How to Play Tennis: Learn How to Play Tennis the Williams Sisters' Way (DK Publishing 2004), and it's one they wish they'd had as kids.

"It would have been so inspirational," says Venus. "I would have gotten it signed. It would have had dog ears."

Tennis Trends
The timing of Venus and Serena's book is right on and may even bolster current trends. Statistics show that kids' tennis is becoming increasingly popular.

"Nearly six million people played tennis for the first time in 2003, and they are heavily concentrated among youth," says Bill Leong, executive director of the Pacific Northwest's chapter of the United States Tennis Association (USTA). He adds that 63 percent of all new players are kids 18 and younger.

A father of two children, both of whom play tennis, Leong says kids are getting increasingly wooed to the sport by school and junior programs and youth organizations. He believes the Williams sisters and their book provide added incentive to get kids into tennis (and off the couch!).

"Anything you put in front of kids would spark interest, and the book would get parents reading to kids and would get the family involved in (the) lifetime sport of tennis," Leong says.

Venus says she and her younger sister "always dreamed" of writing a book. She recalls telling Serena, who credits Venus with the idea, "We'll have to absolutely do a book that young people can read and learn how to play tennis the right way."

And not just how to play tennis – both singles and doubles – but also how to appropriately dress for it, warm up and cool down, treat your opponent with respect and stay well-nourished on and off the court, among other tips with which the sisters' book is chock-full (see sidebar).

Serena says that a book like How to Play Tennis would have saved Venus from an embarrassment she suffered and that Serena witnessed more than a decade ago.

Learning the Ropes
At about age 10, Venus competed in one of her first tournaments. Serena, then 8, was there, too. "I was just tagging along," she says.

Serena says the sisters were "complete novices," so much so that they didn't know to bring their own towel, food, anything to drink or other necessities. Looking back, the sisters realize what an important and eye-opening experience that first tournament was. Experiences like that enrich their book.

For example, the "Match Play" chapter includes two "Tennis Etiquette" pages that are easy to follow, include tons of tips and are illustrated with bright photographs of junior tennis players of all colors. On these pages, the sisters offer this advice:

"The unwritten practices and customs that make up on-court etiquette are just as important to the game ... You've got to show respect for your opponent, yourself, and the rules of the game. So, play nice! ... Good sportsmanship begins before the first ball is hit." They add: "Make sure you arrive about 15 minutes early. Bring along a can of balls."

The sisters imply that had Venus known the ropes, maybe one of her first tournaments would have gone more smoothly.

Would an upstart player from a similarly low-income background feel intimidated reading through Venus and Serena's book? The sisters say no. Serena is quick to point out she certainly didn't start out wearing name-brand tennis clothes like Nike and Reebok. "I'm pretty sure everybody has shorts and a shirt in their closet," she says.

Reaching the Next Level
Of their first days on the court, the sisters write: "Our equipment pretty much consisted of a shopping cart full of worn-out old balls. We didn't have the best rackets or the coolest clothes." Yet they flourished as young tennis players – all within earshot of gunshots.

Venus and Serena acknowledge they were born with unique talent, but they say it's mainly their drive and determination that helped propel them to the pinnacle of the tennis world. In fact, when asked what key tip she might give a junior player starting to get serious about the sport, Serena counsels staying on the court for five additional minutes at the end of a workout.

"Five minutes might not seem like long," says Serena, known as one of the hardest workers in the sport. But, she adds, you may inadvertently be preparing yourself for a very tough point, game or match and find the extra training time indispensable. "Those extra five minutes really pay off," Serena says.

Serena says one main takeaway from How to Play Tennis is the importance of keeping the game fun, especially since it's a lifelong sport. "It's not going to be worth your while if you're not having fun," she says. "I need to actually read the book [again] and take that advice!"

Not everyone will become a Williams sister, but all tennis enthusiasts should have a great time trying, say the sisters, who are only 15 months apart in age. They share how their parents kept them from competitive tennis when they were young, and that this helped the sisters to focus on school and reduce pressure. "If you're burning out or getting tired of tennis, step back a little and focus on the fun," they say.

Future Plans
How to Play Tennis has had a positive effect on the sisters' intended audience. Writes one mom in a five-star Amazon.com review: "After our family spent many hours watching Wimbledon, my 8-year-old daughter started showing interest in the sport. Now that she's got this beautiful book by Venus and Serena Williams, she is hooked."

Another reader writes: "This book is great for aspiring tennis players and for those who want to improve their game. It's such an inspiration."

Looking ahead, the sisters hope to write a series about tennis matches with an underlying message emphasizing the overall game more than winning, Venus explains. "We love books; we love writing," she says.

Venus says she realizes she's reached her dream of becoming a world-champion tennis player, yet she knows not everyone is capable of such searing success. "Not everyone has the opportunity," she says. But, adds Serena, if their book gets even one more kid onto the court, their goal will have been achieved.

Serena says she likes to take a step back from her life today and reflect on her humble beginnings. Being a world tennis champ has afforded her the exciting opportunities of world travel and meeting people of all kinds. She notes, "At the end of the day, I have a great job."