NAIROBI, Jul. 6, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Sadili Oval Complex, the tennis playing facility in Kenya that Serena Williams visited and conducted a tennis clinic for upcoming players during her three-day visit to the country in November 2008 is in ecstasy following her weekend win of the Wimbledon Championships tennis title.
The center's fraternity has exhibited much love and adoration for Serena ever since she visited the place and was keenly following her progress at the championships.
"The children were closely following her progress throughout Wimbledon and they all voted that her match against Dimentieva was for them a most amazing experience," said Dr. Odera the director of the center who was Serena's host.
"They are convinced that her coming to spend time with them at the edge of Africa's largest slum gave her their blessings that she needed to win."
Serena arrived in Kenya on November 13, 2008 and had her official commitment in the dusty Eastern Province district of Makueni where she opened a school in a remote part of the country that has been named after her.
"Some are saying she should come back again for more blessings. The kids were over the moon for sharing a court with Serena and are very excited about her Wimbledon win," Odera said.
"Some did not believe that the person they were playing with is the star they have been reading about in the papers and watching on TV. She was very humble."
The school, The Serena Williams Secondary School, Matooni was constructed through funds provided by Serena together with computer accessories company Hewlett Packard. (NYSE:HPQ)
The newly opened school boasts of a modern state-of-the-art computer laboratory that runs on solar power (OTCBB:SOPW) supplied by Hewlett Packard.
The tennis icon also met Prime Minister Raila Odinga who hosted her in his office and presented a memento to her for remembrance.
However, the climax of her tour was a visit to Sadli Oval Complex on the outskirts of Nairobi where she conducted the clinic and gave motivational talk to the youngsters.
For most them, it was an occasion that still remains etched in their minds and a dream come true.
Richard Ooko, one of the young players who shared a court with Serena hopes that the experience will rub onto him and make him a superstar likewise.
"Serena gave me tips during our encounter that have since improved my play and I am very happy for her to have won Wimbledon because she is someone we can say we are familiar with."
During the clinic, she toured five courts where players were assembled according to their age groups and also played a demonstration double where myriad of eyes kept track of her strong and powerful body.
It also dawned on the youth that a famous person does not have a private life as Terry Odera, who found the limelight too intimidating remarked then; "If that is what it means to be a superstar, I am beginning to have second thoughts."
This time she said that Serena deserves all the limelight however intimidating it might be because she has worked hard for it.
During the Wimbledon Championships, practice sessions would grind to a halt whenever Serena took to the court and the break would last for as long as the ball was in play. 2009 Kenya Open Tennis champion Sakina Nshimirimana is happy that she and he idol are on a winning streak this year.
"Serena has always been my role model and that bond was cemented during her visit to Sadili last year. I hope to emulate her and attain the highest level she has reached in tennis," says the 19-year old student from Burundi.
Serena visited Kenya the country in the company of her mother, Oracene and elder sister Isha Price.
