Venus and Serena Williams have "helped ticket sales"
for this week's Chase Championships at MSG "soar more than"
30% over last year, "with semifinal and final-round sessions
nearly sold out," according to Cindy Shmerler of the BOSTON
GLOBE. IMG's Stephanie Tolleson, who represents the
sisters: "There is such a broad interest in them and it
spans sociological, economical, and racial boundaries. ...
Part of the attraction is that they've made it against all
odds, they're articulate, and they have a fair amount to
say. It also helps that Serena was so joyful and inclusive
in her celebration after the Open that maybe people felt
like they could be part of that bond." Shmerler wrote that
Tolleson is "attempting to deflect some of the criticism
heaped on the Williams family for occasional erratic
behavior" and controversial remarks from their father,
Richard (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/14). The Williams sisters filmed
a commercial for the Federal Department of Transportation's
"Buckle Up" campaign last week for free. FDT's Stevan
Cisneros called them "the second-most powerful force in
sports marketing next to Michael Jordan" (N.Y. TIMES,
11/14). The sisters are also profiled by USA TODAY's Doug
Smith in a Sports cover story (USA TODAY, 11/15).