Williams sisters, father sued for breach of contract

(West Palm Beach, Florida-AP) -- Tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams are accused of backing out of a deal to play an exhibition match against brothers John and Patrick McEnroe. <br><br>Women's

Monday, April 22nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(West Palm Beach, Florida-AP) -- Tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams are accused of backing out of a deal to play an exhibition match against brothers John and Patrick McEnroe.

Women's Sports Zone claims potential profits from the match were estimated at 45 (M) million dollars and the company couldn't get started without those funds.

The suit was filed Thursday in Palm Beach, Florida.

It claims the sisters' father, Richard, acted as their agent and signed a contract for the match, to be called ``Battle of the Sexes Two.'' The match was agreed to but never was scheduled.

``Battle of the Sexes'' was a 1973 exhibition match in Houston in which Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the Astrodome.

The suit doesn't specify damages.

An attorney for the sisters says they never gave authorization to do anything.