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Tag: Venus Williams

  • Roger Federer celebrates career with exhibition matches at Australian Open kick-off

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    The Australian Open’s first formal opening ceremony became the Roger Federer show on the eve of the season-opening major.

    The band Crowded House played a hit-filled setlist to a capacity crowd in the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena. Laver himself, 87, sat courtside. Record-setting champion Novak Djokovic watched from the stands. 

    Federer, a six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, partnered with past champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program.

    It went to script, with Federer winning the first point despite framing a forehand and then emphatically finishing off the victory with a leaping overhead winner.

    Rod Laver, centre, waves ahead of a doubles match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andre Agassi of the United States, left, and Lleyton Hewitt, right, and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.

    Dita Alangkara / AP


    Federer was back in Australia for the first time since 2021, making the trip now because he retired from competitive tennis before he could do a farewell season tour. He said, “It’s super important to be grateful” to earlier generations of stars. 

    “It really truly means so much to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up,” Federer said.  

    This year, the Australian Open is a three-week festival of tennis. Over 217,000 fans have attended exhibitions and qualifying events in the past six days. The main draw singles competition will begin on Sunday. Djokovic will play his opening match on Monday. Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams is set to play, becoming the oldest woman ever to compete in the Australian Open’s main draw. 

    Australian Open organizers turned the 2026 event into a three-week festival of tennis, with 217,999 fans attending across six days to watch exhibitions, qualifying and the 1 Point Slam before the main draw started.

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  • Venus Williams is back at the Australian Open 5 years after her last appearance, 28 after her 1st

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    Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning Jan. 18 in Melbourne.The tournament said Friday that the 45-year-old Williams would make a return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.Venus had announced in November that she would play in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild card, two weeks before the Australian Open. The Australian Open said Williams was also entered to play a tournament in Hobart, Australia a week later and just before play begins at Melbourne Park.She last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has finished runner-up in the women’s singles twice, losing to Serena in the finals in 2003 and 2017.”I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” Williams said. “I’ve had so many incredible memories there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”Williams’ record at Melbourne Park is 54 wins and 21 losses. This year will be the 22nd time she has appeared in the main draw.The tournament said Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record previously held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2015.In late December, Williams married Danish-born model and actor Andrea Preti at Palm Beach, Florida.

    Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning Jan. 18 in Melbourne.

    The tournament said Friday that the 45-year-old Williams would make a return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.

    Venus had announced in November that she would play in Auckland, New Zealand, where she also received a wild card, two weeks before the Australian Open. The Australian Open said Williams was also entered to play a tournament in Hobart, Australia a week later and just before play begins at Melbourne Park.

    She last appeared in Melbourne in 2021 and has finished runner-up in the women’s singles twice, losing to Serena in the finals in 2003 and 2017.

    “I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” Williams said. “I’ve had so many incredible memories there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”

    Williams’ record at Melbourne Park is 54 wins and 21 losses. This year will be the 22nd time she has appeared in the main draw.

    The tournament said Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record previously held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round at Melbourne Park in 2015.

    In late December, Williams married Danish-born model and actor Andrea Preti at Palm Beach, Florida.

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  • Venus Williams Calls Out Serena After Her Sister Misses Her US Open Matches: ‘My Message Is…’

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    It’s all sisterly love! Venus Williams playfully shaded her former doubles partner and sister Serena during the US Open. The 45-year-old tennis champ dominated the court with her new partner 22-year-old Leylah Fernandez, but she had some words for the tennis retiree.

    After advancing to the quarterfinals the Sept. 1 match, Venus was asked about her sister’s attendance at the US Open and how she reacted to her new doubles partner. “She’s so happy for Leylah and I and she’s given us advice,” she said during an on-court interview with ESPN. “We just need her in the [player’s] box. My message is: Serena, you need to show up.”

    Days before the matches started, Serena made a playful TikTok where she showed off her sister and Leylah playing on the court. In the video, she sarcastically rolls her eyes at the TV and makes a grinning face. The champ captioned the post, “When you see your sister @Venus Williams has a new doubles partner @leylahanniefernandez  and you are really happy she’s winning with someone else…”

    Related: Serena Williams’ Husband Had a Telling Response to Her Super Bowl Cameo Shading Ex Drake—See Who Else She’s Dated

    Though it’s always sisterly love. Serena posted a carousel of her sister playing on the court on Instagram, “Strength, courage, determination, class, perseverance, inspiration… there’s not enough words to describe how proud I am of you @VenusWilliams P.S. I hope to be like you.”

    The 23-time Grand Slam winner retired from playing tennis in September 2023 to focus on her family. “I’d travel to tournaments with Venus as her hitting partner, and if there was an open slot, I’d play,” she wrote in her retirement essay in Vogue. “I followed her around the world and watched her. When she lost, I understood why, and I made sure I wouldn’t lose the same way. That’s how I started to move so fast up the rankings, because I learned the lessons from Venus’s losses instead of the hard way, from my own.”

    She continued, “But if I hadn’t been in Venus’s shadow, I would never be who I am. When someone said I was just the little sister, that’s when I got really fired up.”

    Meanwhile, Venus had a steady rhythm with her new doubles partner. “Our energy really matched each other in terms of determination, in terms of not giving up, in terms of really still just focused and dialed in in every single thing,” Williams said of her partnership with Fernandez. “That felt amazing because I never really played with a partner — outside of Serena, obviously — who had that kind of mentality, so it was really fun.”

    Venus’ run on the US Open came to an end shortly after her remarks. On Sept 2, she and Leylah lost their quarterfinal match to the No. 1 seeds, Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova.

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    Lea Veloso

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  • Venus Williams picks up first win against top-20 opponent in four years | CNN

    Venus Williams picks up first win against top-20 opponent in four years | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Venus Williams rolled back the years with a vintage performance to secure her first win against a top-20 player in four years.

    The 43-year-old Williams defeated Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 7-5 in the first round of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Monday.

    Kudermetova is seeded 16th in the tournament and would have been expected to ease her way past Williams, but the seven-time grand slam winner had other ideas.

    “Definitely satisfaction from today is (from) all the work that goes into just being here at all,” the veteran American said after the win.

    “I did my best to be here as soon as possible in the best form possible I could bring in that amount of time. So that makes it satisfying, to be able to get a win with very little time to prepare.”

    In both sets, Williams found herself 4-1 down and on the back foot, but, as on so many occasions throughout her career, she found a way to battle back.

    “I think at some point when you’re down a double break, you start to think, ‘Well, I at least want to just hold serve for the rest of this set,’” Williams said. “Simple thoughts like that. Then you get a little bit closer. You’re like, ‘Okay, maybe I just want to win another point.’

    “Definitely some big holes today that I usually don’t play from … But that’s tennis. That’s what’s so exciting.”

    Williams will now wait to see who she faces in the next round in Cincinnati as she continues her preparation ahead of the 2023 US Open.

    Her previous victory against a top-20 opponent also came at the Western & Southern Open in 2019 when she defeated Kiki Bertens in the second round.

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  • Pregnant Serena Williams Shares Sister Venus’ Hilarious Response To Sex-Reveal Prank At Baby Shower

    Pregnant Serena Williams Shares Sister Venus’ Hilarious Response To Sex-Reveal Prank At Baby Shower

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    By Brent Furdyk.
    Published:
    Last updated:

    Serena Williams loves a good prank, especially when it’s at the expense of sister Venus.

    On Tuesday, Serena shared a hilarious TikTok video taken during her baby shower, when she announced she was going to reveal the sex of her baby.

    “The greatest part of the reveal was watching #venuswilliams in the background,” Serena wrote in the caption.


    READ MORE:
    Serena Williams Reveals The Sex Of Baby No. 2 With Epic Light Show

    In the clip, Venus is seen excitedly jumping around as Serena cuts into a cake, expecting to see either blue or pink inside to indicate a boy or girl.

    “Is Olympia going to be a big sister to a boy or a girl?” Serena’s husband Alexis Ohanian is heard saying. “Once and for all, the colour is … ”

    Venus then leans forward to get a good look, only to become puzzled when the colour inside is revealed to be yellow.


    READ MORE:
    Pregnant Serena Williams Jokes About Her Growing Bump: ‘Trying To Figure Out If The Baby Is In The Front Or Back’

    The camera then zooms in on Venus’ hilarious expression of confusion before realizing her sister has just pranked her.

    @serena

    The greatest part of the reveal was watching #venuswilliams in the background. #genderreveal #funny #comedy #fyp #foryou #tiktokviral #shocking #foryoupage #funnyclip

    ♬ original sound – Serenawilliams

     

    Click to View Gallery

    All The Celebrities Expecting Babies In 2023




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    Brent Furdyk

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  • Venus Williams Is Back At Wimbledon At Age 43 And Ready To Play On Centre Court Again

    Venus Williams Is Back At Wimbledon At Age 43 And Ready To Play On Centre Court Again

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    WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Asked two days before her 24th Wimbledon begins whether she’s still excited to play tennis at this level, Venus Williams quickly answered: “It’s so much fun.”

    The next question Saturday was about being on tour without her younger sister, Serena, who wrapped up her career at last year’s U.S. Open. The reply: “Not as much fun.”

    There is still a big-swinging, Grand Slam-winning member of the Williams family in women’s tennis, and it’s 43-year-old Venus, who recently returned to action after about five months away with a hamstring injury she called “a nightmare.”

    That followed a 2022 in which she participated in just four contests — all in August or September, meaning she missed the season’s initial three Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon — and a 2021 in which she accumulated only a dozen.

    “I haven’t played a lot of matches in the last few years, and not by choice. I wanted to be here and I couldn’t,” said the elder Williams, who will meet two-time major semifinalist Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at Centre Court on Monday, Day 1 at the All England Club. “So I just put my head down and put even more work in and got myself in a much better position — and that’s life. And you’ve got to deal with life. And I’ve dealt with my life and, most of the time, I come out on top.”

    In tennis terms, that means reaching the No. 1 ranking, winning seven major singles titles, the most among active women — and five came at Wimbledon, the first in 2000, most recent in 2008 — and another 14 in women’s doubles — all with her sibling. Away from the court, she learned to live with Sjögren’s syndrome, an energy-sapping auto-immune disease that can cause joint pain; she announced her diagnosis in 2011.

    “The most inspiring thing about her is the love that she has for tennis. I don’t think that love has swayed over the course of her career. I think you can see players who are older now (and) you can have a feeling they probably don’t love it as much as they did when they started it. I don’t have that feeling with Venus. I hope I’m the same way,” said Coco Gauff, who burst onto the scene at age 15 by beating Williams in the first round at Wimbledon as a qualifier in 2019.

    “Obviously, just her grit for every match, every ball. I watched a couple of her matches last week,” Gauff said. “Just the will to want every point is something that’s inspiring.”

    Monday’s match will be Williams’ first in Wimbledon’s main stadium since 2017, when she reached the final before losing to Garbiñe Muguruza.

    Williams made her debut at the All England Club in 1997, shortly before Svitolina turned 3.

    “Venus loves to play here,” said Svitolina, who returned to the tour in April after having a baby last year. “It’s just really impressive. She’s a great champion. She achieved so much in her career. I don’t know if I will be playing at (that) age and would be in this great shape, playing with such a passion. So lots of respect to her in so many ways.”

    The lack of wins in recent times dropped Williams out of the top 500 in the rankings; Svitolina has been as high as No. 3 and is now 75th.

    Both women received wild-card invitations for Wimbledon.

    The inevitable questions arose Saturday about whether Williams has planned when she might walk away from the sport (“If I did, I wouldn’t tell you,” came the reply) and whether she could see herself on tour at age 50 (“It’s never been done before, so if there was one to try it, it would be me,” she said).

    One more try: Might there be the sort of announced farewell a la Serena’s, allowing for a collective goodbye?

    “Like I said: If I knew I wouldn’t tell you,” she answered with a hearty laugh.

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  • The 7 Pieces We Want from Venus Williams’s New Collection

    The 7 Pieces We Want from Venus Williams’s New Collection

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    Amazon

    It’s no secret that Venus Williams is a multi-hyphenate—talented at all sorts of things beyond the sport where she made her name. The icon has style to spare, resulting in business extensions that bring her good taste to others, including EleVEN by Venus Williams, the line she launched in 2012 after getting an associate degree in fashion design (true story!).

    It’s landed on Amazon by way of The Drop, and the current range—available to shop only through the end of the year—is defined by both fashion-forward workout pieces and items that you can wear with jeans on the weekend. It’s not hard to imagine that it’s in line with how Williams dresses, with a schedule and lifestyle that requires pieces that work for all sorts of situations.

    See the seven pieces that caught our eye below.

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    1

    EleVen by Venus Williams

    Weekender Knit Pullover

    2

    EleVen by Venus Williams

    Iconic Sports Bra

    3

    EleVen by Venus Williams

    Eleven Legacy 7/8 Leggings

    4

    EleVen by Venus Williams

    Courtside Jacket

    5

    EleVen by Venus Williams

    Ace Tank

    6

    EleVen by Venus Williams

    Ace Leggings

    7

    EleVen by Venus Williams

    Super Fly Skirt Skort

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  • Sabalenka stuns Swiatek, faces Garcia for WTA Finals title

    Sabalenka stuns Swiatek, faces Garcia for WTA Finals title

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    FORT WORTH, Texas — Aryna Sabalenka stood stoically ever so briefly, before crouching for an emphatic fist pump to go with a scream.

    Yeah, the seventh-ranked woman in the eight-player WTA Finals couldn’t hide the emotion, because she knew exactly what she had done.

    Sabalenka ended world No. 1 Iga Swiatek’s 15-match winning streak against top-10 opponents, taking a 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 victory in the semifinals of the season-ending event Sunday night.

    The stunner puts Sabalenka in final Monday night against No. 6 Caroline Garcia, who streamrolled Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-2 and can become just the second Frenchwoman to win WTA Finals after Amelie Mauresmo in 2005.

    Swiatek, the French Open and U.S. Open champion and runaway leader with eight tour victories, cruised through three round-robin victories, losing just 13 games to give her the longest winning run against top-10 opponents since Steffi Graf won 17 straight in 1987.

    Just like that, it was over when the 21-year-old from Poland lost the last five games against a player she had beaten in all four meetings this season.

    Sabalenka was No. 1 when she beat Swiatek in round-robin play at last year’s WTA Finals, but neither player made the semifinals.

    With that much out of the way for both, Sabalenka showed how comfortable she was on the temporary indoor hard court at Dickies Arena. Nine of her 10 career victories have come on hard courts.

    “I just want to make sure that every time she plays against me, she knows that she really has to work hard to get a win,” said Sabalenka, whose fourth loss this year to Swiatek was a three-setter in the U.S. Open semifinals. “Only because of this thinking, I was able to play at this amazing level tonight.”

    Swiatek fell behind one break in the final set with two wide forehands before another one put her down two breaks. Sabalenka gave herself a match point with her 12th and final ace, then hit another serve so good, Swiatek’s lunging return was wide and long.

    After a tour-best 67 victories and a 37-match unbeaten run from February to June that was the longest in women’s tennis in a quarter-century, this wasn’t quite the ending Swiatek had in mind.

    “In the third, I just started making mistakes from shots that I wouldn’t make mistakes usually,” Swiatek said. “At the beginning of the first set, I just wanted to be kind of focused. Maybe I didn’t realize soon enough that I should be more pepped up.”

    Garcia was playing just 24 hours after beating Daria Kasatkina in a tense 80-minute third set to secure the last spot in the semifinals, but needed just 74 minutes total for a career-best fourth victory over a top-five opponent this season.

    Garcia never trailed, dominating the fifth-ranked Sakkari in winners (21-8) and aces (6-0).

    “I don’t know,” Garcia said when asked where she found the energy to dominate after the quick turnaround. “Yesterday, I was a little bit tired, but it was nothing unusual after such a big match.”

    Garcia has advanced out of group play in both WTA Finals appearances. The 29-year-old lost in the semifinals in the eight-player event five years ago, which also was the most recent time a player older than Garcia reached the semis (Venus Williams).

    “I guess I’m five years older, maybe five years wiser,” said Garcia, who was No. 74 about this time last year. “You try to learn from everything. I’ve got a good team behind me, supporting me when I was a little bit doubting myself.”

    Sakkari also was among the five players who have reached the semis their first two times since the round-robin format was reintroduced in 2003. She lost in the semis last year.

    Garcia used a 120 mph ace to help erase a break chance for Sakkari and extend her lead to 4-0 in the second set.

    Garcia’s sixth and final ace answered a double fault that gave Sakkari another break point. Garcia closed out that game for a 5-1 lead on the way to a 3-0 career record against Sakkari.

    Sakkari had three straight-set victories in the tournament after coming in with just one win over a top-10 opponent this season.

    The 27-year-old from Greece never recovered after dropping her first set of the week, finishing with 11 more unforced errors (19) than winners.

    “Not taking away anything from her, I played a very average match from my side,” said Sakkari, who didn’t qualify for the WTA Finals until the final event of the regular season. “I wasn’t sharp. I wasn’t energized.”

    Defending doubles champs Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova advanced to the title match with a 7-6(5), 6-2 semifinal victory over Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko.

    The Czech duo will play Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, 6-1, 6-1 winners over Desirae Krawczyk and Demi Schuurs.

    The event was moved to Texas from China over concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former government official there of sexual assault. Coronavirus restrictions also played a part in the decision. It’s the first WTA Finals in the U.S. since 2005.

    . ———

    AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase: A Celebration of Black Business Curated by Daymond John Streaming Live From the Apollo Theater, Thursday, Oct. 27

    Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase: A Celebration of Black Business Curated by Daymond John Streaming Live From the Apollo Theater, Thursday, Oct. 27

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    Spike Lee, Venus Williams, Tracee Ellis Ross, Shaquille O’Neal, Killer Mike, Big Sean, and More to Headline; ‘NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant’ Submissions Are Now Open — Awarding $150,000+ in Black Business Grants


    NEW CITY, N.Y., October 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Daymond John, the founder and CEO of FUBU and co-star of ABC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning show Shark Tank has announced the third annual Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase. In conjunction with Medium Rare and The Shark Group, Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase is an annual celebration of Black business, aiming to empower and celebrate entrepreneurs everywhere. Focused at the intersection of Business & Entertainment, Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase has quickly become one of the largest and most awarded Diversity & Inclusion events in America. Last year’s event attracted over 6.5 million viewers and won its third and fourth Webby Awards as the Best Remote Business & Finance event on the internet. This year’s free global live-stream will air on Thursday, Oct. 27, beginning at 7 p.m. ET across the Black Entrepreneurs Day website, Facebook, and more.

    Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase will feature Game Changer Conversations presented by The General Insurance®. The thoughtfully curated segment includes one-on-one discussions with Black businesses leaders and cultural icons including Shaquille O’Neal, Tracee Ellis Ross, Spike Lee, Venus Williams, and Killer Mike, moderated by Daymond John. Musical superstar Big Sean will cap off the evening with a live performance. All new for 2022, The Build Black with Shopify’s Pitch Competition will be a highlight of the program as budding entrepreneurs pitch their businesses live.

    Since its inception, Black Entrepreneurs Day has provided guidance and inspiration to the next generation of rising entrepreneurs as well as over $500,000 in business grants via the “NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant,” created by Daymond John. Black entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country can apply now for a $25,000 NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant on the event website through Oct. 12, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

    “Being in year three accomplishes one of my original goals of making Black Entrepreneurs Day one of the most fun D&I events of the year that brings icons of the Black community to participate in important conversations and moments. I want to thank Chase for sharing my vision to make this possible and help bring in an incredible lineup. Black Entrepreneurs Day will once again inspire, educate, learn from, and celebrate those that are hustling, pushing forward, pursuing their dreams and, in many cases, thriving. It is truly my honor to return to Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater and bring BED to a place near and dear to my heart while ensuring audiences throughout the world can stream the show for free,” said Daymond John.

    Black Entrepreneurs Day is excited to welcome its A-list guests and business leaders to the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem in front of a live studio audience. The legendary Apollo Theater plays a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding in 1934, the Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world.

    “Black Entrepreneurs Day provides an invaluable resource to a community that is historically overlooked when it comes to resources and funding. It is truly economic inclusion for us, by us. As we work to improve every aspect of the Black community — from education and health to building generational wealth — we know Black entrepreneurs and an inclusive, thriving economy are key. The NAACP will continue to ensure economic growth and sustainability for Black people. For the third year, we’re looking forward to seeing the ways that Black businesses are changing the landscape in industries like tech, beauty, travel and retail, and helping them scale through the NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP.

    Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase Show Program:

    ●  Game Changer Conversations presented by The General Insurance featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Tracee Ellis Ross, Spike Lee, Venus Williams, and Killer Mike

    ●  Live Musical Performance by Big Sean

    ●  “NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant” Celebration & Showcases

    ●  Build Black with Shopify’s Pitch Competition

    ●  Building Generational Wealth Featuring Tiki Barber presented by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

    ●  Fulfill Your Dreams: A Small Business Roundtable Featuring Metta Sandiford-Artest presented by Alibaba.com

    ●  Elevating Access presented by Lowe’s Featuring Lowe’s Chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison

    ●  Historically Better powered by Pepsi Stronger Together

    ●  Empowering Entrepreneurs presented by Chase

    ●  Innovating for Health Equity Roundtable presented by Johnson & Johnson

    ●  Magenta Edge Roundtable presented by T-Mobile for Business

    ●  #FundBlackFounders presented by Google

    ●  The Breakdown presented by The General Insurance

    ● Build Black with Shopify Roundtable

    For the third year in a row, Daymond is honored to partner with JPMorgan Chase to power the Black Entrepreneurs Day broadcast. Through Chase resources, the firm offers financial tools and guidance to support business owners who want to start, run and grow their businesses. Through its Advancing Black Pathways (ABP) initiative, JPMorgan Chase is striving to strengthen the economic foundation of the Black community globally. In 2020, ABP partnered with Chase for Business to launch Advancing Black Entrepreneurs (ABE), an educational program that offers practical advice and resources to help business owners navigate challenges and prepare for long-term success. Brian Lamb, Northeast Segment Head of Middle Market Banking & Specialized Industries for JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking, will discuss ABE during the Black Entrepreneurs Day program and will be joined by Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., President and CEO, Black Enterprise, and Mindelyn Anderson, founder of Mirror Group LLC. Additionally, during Building Generational Wealth presented by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, Tiki Barber and Daymond will speak about how clients can become financially savvy and Barber’s career from a famed athlete to successful entrepreneur. “The journey of Black entrepreneurs can be a mosaic of highs and lows, but that journey can serve as an inspiration to generations. As a firm, we’re committed to helping Black entrepreneurs get access to the critical resources they need to be successful, and we are proud to be a part of Black Entrepreneurs Day, which seeks to support and celebrate this inspiring community,” said Byna Elliott, global head of Advancing Black Pathways at JPMorgan Chase.

    For the third year in a row, The General Insurance will power the event’s “Game Changer Conversations” featuring Daymond in inspirational one-on-one conversations with Black business leaders and cultural icons. Prepare for game-changing conversations featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Tracee Ellis Ross, Spike Lee, Venus Williams, and Killer Mike. In addition to this year’s Game Changer Conversations, The General Insurance will also present a conversation entitled “The Breakdown,” featuring Morgan DeBaun, founder and CEO of Blavity, Inc., Ryan Wilson, CEO and co-founder of The Gathering Spot, and EJ Reed, co-founder of Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria, alongside Daymond John, focused on the importance of overcoming adversity and scaling Black-owned businesses.

    PepsiCo is committed to addressing inequity and creating opportunities for Black communities and consumers through its various teams, programs, and initiatives including Historically Better powered by Pepsi Stronger Together. Historically Better is a platform that celebrates HBCU talent and culture, elevates and engages HBCU students, alumni and fans, and inspires the next generation of Black leaders. From highlighting industry trailblazers to awarding scholarships and internships, Historically Better utilizes the power of PepsiCo’s diverse brand portfolio to address inequity and level the playing field for HBCU students with an end-to-end experience celebrating Black excellence in all its forms. This year, Historically Better will host an exclusive conversation between Daymond John and Kenny Thompson, Jr., Vice President of External Affairs for North America at PepsiCo, on the importance of inspiring the next generation of Black leaders, live from Howard University amongst a select group of undergraduate and graduate students. “Historically Better powered by Pepsi Stronger Together celebrates the Black excellence that lives and thrives at our nation’s HBCUs. I’m proud to bring this program to Black Entrepreneurs Day and to highlight PepsiCo’s work to confront inequity and empower Black communities and businesses. By nurturing the next generation of cultural changemakers and supporting Black business owners as they grow and lift up their communities, PepsiCo can help drive change,” said Kenny Thompson, Jr., PepsiCo.

    The future is now with Shopify. Through initiatives such as Build Black and its support of the 1MBB movement, Shopify has continued to reshape the ways in which minorities are supported and businesses, especially Black-owned businesses, are given a platform to be seen. Together with Daymond John and Black Entrepreneurs Day, Shopify will introduce an exciting new component of the show — Build Black with Shopify’s Pitch Competition. A live pitch competition taking place at the Apollo in front of a panel of judges, this year’s Pitch Competition will feature three Shopify merchants from their Build Black Community who are looking to win $25,000 and exclusive mentorship from Daymond John to further their business journey. In addition to the Pitch Competition. Shopify will also present a Build Black Roundtable featuring the three Black women who are actively working towards supporting and amplifying the thousands of Black businesses that come into the Build Black program, custom content and Daymond John’s BED Picks — a hand-selected list of Black-owned Shopify brands from the Build Black Community that we can’t get enough of.

    Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is proud to partner with Black Entrepreneurs Day for the second year, as part of its Our Race to Health Equity initiative, a bold aspiration to help eradicate racial and social injustice within public health by eliminating health inequities for people of color. One of the ways the company is working to change the culture of healthcare is by investing in and supporting care models and solutions that drive healthier outcomes. During the Johnson & Johnson Innovating for Health Equity Roundtable, Daymond will host a dialogue with Vanessa Broadhurst, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Uché Blackstock, founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, and Barbara Rhoden, PhD, Head of Marketing, Primasun and Johnson & Johnson Innovation Board Fellow, to discuss how Black entrepreneurs are aligning business acumen and purpose-driven passion to address racial health inequities. The conversation will also cover some of the tools and resources that the company has put in place through Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures, a fund within the Johnson & Johnson Foundation, to empower early-stage innovators to drive more inclusive healthcare solutions created for the community by the community.

    Lowe’s has remained committed to supporting Black entrepreneurs through various programming and initiatives. Live from the Apollo Theater, Daymond John will sit down with Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s chairman and CEO, to discuss the unique ways Lowe’s has supported diverse communities and minority-owned businesses.

    Alibaba.com, one of the world’s largest B2B e-commerce marketplaces and a business unit of Alibaba Group, is proud to partner with Black Entrepreneurs Day to present a groundbreaking conversation entitled Fulfill Your Dreams: A Small Business Roundtable centered on Alibaba.com’s innovative initiatives to support small businesses. Featuring past Alibaba.com Grants Program winners Eva Jane Bunkley and Matt Jones, as well as Alibaba.com’s Alex Tsai and renowned Metta Sandiford-Artest (formerly Metta World Peace), this conversation will further inspire entrepreneurs globally. Alibaba.com recently launched the Alibaba.com “Manifest” Grants Program, which aims to celebrate the innovativeness of U.S. small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enhance the competitive edge of their products. Entrepreneurs can now apply for the Alibaba.com Manifest Grants Program HERE, which will provide monetary funds and procurement resources to small businesses that have innovative product ideas and go-to-market strategies. In addition, one lucky winner will receive one-on-one mentorship from Daymond John.

    Google‘s dedication to supporting Black communities and entrepreneurs is unmatched through various initiatives such as the Google for Startups for Black Founders Fund and so much more. During this year’s Black Entrepreneurs Day, Daymond John and Melonie Parker, Google’s Chief Diversity Officer, will host a conversation entitled #FundBlackFounders, focused on the Black startup founders who are building great companies yet are locked out of access to the funding that is critical to their success. At its core, Google is on a mission to support diverse startup communities globally — and that’s precisely what Melonie and Daymond will dive into in this impactful discussion.

    As a returning partner, T-Mobile for Business and its small business content destination Magenta Edge have joined forces with Daymond John for year three to present an exclusive Magenta Edge roundtable. Featuring three savvy, successful small business owners, this year’s Magenta Edge Roundtable unpacks how Black entrepreneurs can raise the odds of running a thriving business over the long run. They discuss the value of strong connections, how to better access capital, and the role the community plays in the staying power of a business. Magenta Edge is an initiative created by T-Mobile for Business on a mission to help American small business owners navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. With a foundational focus on minority-owned small businesses, Magenta Edge has a growing library of original content, educational programming, real stories, and insights to help teach and inspire all entrepreneurs.

    An avid supporter of Black-owned businesses and organizations as well as a returning partner of Black Entrepreneurs Day, Facebook will be the preferred streaming partner of this year’s event. Tune in to Daymond John’s Facebook page on Oct. 27 to watch for free.

    The one-of-a-kind historic live-stream will take place on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, at 7 p.m. ET, live from Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater. The studio audience will be made up of NAACP groups, HBCU students, and those lucky enough to get a free ticket to the event taping on BlackEntrepreneursDay.com — Apply Now. For the millions of viewers watching at home, Black Entrepreneurs Day will be completely free and available worldwide beginning at 7 p.m. ET on the Black Entrepreneurs Day website, Facebook via Daymond John’s page and across all other social media channels.

    Final Event Flyer — CLICK HERE

    ABOUT DAYMOND JOHN

    Daymond John is CEO and founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales. John’s marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands has made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. John is also an author of four best-selling books, including his New York Times best-selling books The Power of Broke (2016) and Rise and Grind (2018). A Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship under the Obama Administration, John is celebrating his 14th season on ABC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning show Shark Tank where, as one of the original Sharks, he demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.

    ABOUT MEDIUM RARE

    Focused at the intersection of Sports & Entertainment, Medium Rare partners with athletes, celebrities, and brands to build iconic media properties. Medium Rare is the creator and producer of Webby Award-winning brands including Shaq’s Fun House, Daymond John’s Black Entrepreneurs Day, Guy Fieri’s Restaurant Reboot, The Sports Illustrated Awards, Rob Gronkowski’s Gronk Beach, SHAQ vs GRONK, and more. Medium Rare was founded by Joe Silberzweig and Adam Richman, who were recently honored with 4X Webby Awards, Forbes 30 Under 30, and Pollstar’s Next Gen Impact. Learn more at www.Medium-Rare.com.

    ABOUT SHARK GROUP

    The Shark Group’s team of expert communicators, strategic analysts, and creative heavyweights excels in propelling brands into the fabric of pop culture. Founded by award-winning entrepreneur Daymond John, the agency’s culture is deeply rooted in thinking like entrepreneurs to create value for its partners and clients. Some of its clients include Chase, Shopify, T-Mobile, AARP, Daymond John, Carlos Santana, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and many others. Learn more at www.TheSharkGroup.com.

    Source: Black Entrepreneurs Day

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