Obama''s inauguration excites American players

By Julian Linden

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Barack Obama''s inauguration as U.S. President on Tuesday has become a source of pride and inspiration for African American players at the Australian Open.

The sports'' best-known African Americans, Serena and Venus Williams and James Blake, all said they were excited by the prospect of having a black president.

"This is an amazing moment for American history," Serena said on Tuesday, hours before the inauguration in Washington.

"This morning I was watching on the TV before I went out to play. I looked at my arm and I literally had chill bumps."

Venus added: "I think it''s exciting that in America we can have a (black) president or that we can have diversity.

"We''ve had a long history in America of... past racial strife. My parents grew up in the South, things like that. So it is nice to see that diversity."

Blake said he was expecting great things from Obama.

"I hope it has significance to a lot of people in the States. We''re in a time that seems very historic," he said.

"We''re looking for positive change in the States. We''re in some situations that are less than ideal in our country.

"I think if there''s any man for the job that''s ahead of him that can deal with the tasks and the pressures of being President in this tumultuous time, it''s Barack Obama."

Neither of the Williams sisters voted in last year''s U.S. elections because of their religious beliefs. The pair are both Jehovah''s Witnesses, which does not allow voting.

"I try to stay politically neutral, don''t get involved in worldly matters," Serena said.

"It''s easy for me because I was born and raised a Jehovah''s Witness (but) for me, because I am black, seeing that happen, I would be blind if I didn''t take interest in it or I would be lying if I said I wasn''t interested in what was going on."

Although they were not the first African Americans to succeed in professional tennis, the Williams have easily been the most successful, winning a combined total of 16 singles grand slam titles.

ASHE INSPIRATION  Continued...