Venus: 80s party topped Wimbledon win

Venus Williams says winning her third Wimbledon title was exciting, but it wasn’t the best thing that happened this year.

“It wasn’t the highlight of my year. There’s so many other things I was so excited about,” she said in an interview in California.

Top of her list was attending a 1980s-themed prom.

“Seriously, it was the best time of my life,” she said.

“I had lace gloves. I was so ’80s it was ridiculous. I was disgusted with myself.”

Neither Venus nor her sister Serena attended public high school, so Serena threw a party with a high-school theme.

“We played all kinds of games like bobbing for apples,” Venus said.

“I don’t get to do that. It was amazing. I took it so seriously.”

Both sisters will start 2006 with an exhibition in Hong Kong before going into the Australian Open without playing an official warm-up event.

“I’d like to achieve health the whole year, stay strong and stay healthy and avoid the viruses,” Venus said.

The sisters’ season was derailed this year by injuries that allowed them to sample life outside tennis.

Since losing at a tournament in Beijing in September, Venus has resumed college classes in fashion design. Serena filmed an upcoming episode of the television medical drama ER.

They’ve also partied and evacuated their south Florida home for Hurricane Rita.

“Life is good,” said Venus during a weekend WTA Tour party at the Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills.

“I’ve been able to see the other side of life a little more, but I’m really eager to get back and I’m really eager to be travelling and doing my thing that I’m used to doing.”