YOU would expect tennis aces Serena and her older sister Venus Williams to have a tennis court at their home.

Their home reflects that tennis and only tennis rules their lives and has done so since both young women were little girls.

But Serena once revealed: “It would be lying to say I loved tennis every second of my life. There are moments when you say, I hate this. I don’t want to be here. But deep down, I absolutely can’t be anywhere else”.

So it came as a shock to me that though tennis is their life, they do not have a tennis court at their home.

Musicians have pianos, writers have laptops and boxers have punching bags in the comfort of their pads where they practice their craft at whim.

But a peek into the Williams’ massive house at Ballen Isles in West Palm Beach, Florida, revealed that it did not have a tennis court.

Perhaps the fact that they live in an area with a clubhouse that boasts 23 tennis courts, a swimming pool, court-side café and an indoor fitness centre explains it.

After all, these are two world-beaters who have been exposed to this sport by their father from a very early age. Serena and Venus share this mansion.

The house, according to a journalist who spent a few hours with Serena, is always abuzz with activity.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect and was a little nervous about invading her space, but when I arrived to find Venus eating lunch, surrounded by a cast of characters, I realised adding a few people to the mix was nothing.

“The house was already buzzing, with everyone from the cleaning lady to the massage therapist and the sisters are used to it.

“That’s part of what it takes to make the operation run smoothly.

“The trophy room, the home gym, the Pilates reformer off the kitchen … this sport is their life … and their home reflects it. Even in the middle of a photo shoot, it was evident that the Williams’ home life is a balance of tennis practice, physical therapy, fitness workouts and massages, not to mention each of the meetings for each of their respective clothing lines. I sat down and soaked it all in,” he said.

But what’s with the five bathrooms?

Yes the home gym explains their muscular bodies and their fast-as-lightning serves.

Still, with the constant buzz that characterises the Williams’ home on any given day, one wonders how the sisters unwind in this huge residence with the tight schedule?