WIMBLEDON NOTEBOOK

updated 4:36 p.m. ET June 25, 2008

WIMBLEDON, England - Serena Williams would vote for Barack Obama if she could. Don't even ask Venus Williams what her political leanings are.

The Williams sisters, vocal on so many issues from fashion to gender equality and equal pay for women, say they're not allowed to vote because of their religion. The sisters, who have 14 Grand Slam singles titles between them and are among the most recognizable athletes in sports, are Jehovah's Witnesses.

After their first-round wins at Wimbledon, both were asked about the Nov. 4 presidential election.

"I feel that what I do in tennis isn't really political,'' Venus said after her 7-6 (5), 6-1 win over British wild card entry Naomi Cavaday on Tuesday. The work she does for UNESCO and other agencies was about helping people, she said, "I don't see it as political. I don't vote.''

Younger sister Serena said she was "excited to see Obama out there doing his thing.''

"I'm a Jehovah's Witness, so I don't get involved in politics. We stay neutral. We don't vote,'' she said. "So I'm not going to necessarily go out and vote for him. I would if it wasn't for my religion.''

Bye, bye Bjorkman
Jonas Bjorkman's 15th and last Wimbledon singles campaign was among his shortest. The 36-year-old Swede lost in the first-round Tuesday 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (4) to Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

Bjorkman made the semifinals here two years ago at 34 before losing to eventual champion Roger Federer, equaling his best run at a major. He made the U.S. Open semis in 1997, the year he reached a career-high No. 4 in singles.

Bjorkman plans to play until the Stockholm Open in October. His more immediate plan is to add a 10th Grand Slam doubles title. He has three at Wimbledon among his nine.

His favorite moments involved the three Davis Cup titles he helped Sweden win.

"To win it three times, it's something very special I think - it's something we're very proud of back home in Sweden,'' he said.

Bizz buzz bees
There's a buzz going around Wimbledon about the birds and the bees.

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Two days after having to deal with a swarm of bees around the player locker rooms, Wimbledon organizers received a letter from an animal rights group condemning the treatment of pigeons at the All England Club.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said it had seen newspaper reports that army marksmen were being used to shoot pigeons around the club.

PETA sent a letter to Tim Phillips, chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and members of the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit to outline Wimbledon's "apparently illegal action.''

"We believe that the club should be prosecuted for cruelty to animals,'' said the letter, which was released to the media Tuesday.

PETA urged Phillips to call an immediate halt to the eradication plans if the reports were correct.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, a property owner can only use lethal control as a last resort if it can demonstrate, in a court of law, which non-lethal methods had been used and only if the target species presents a demonstrable risk to public health and safety.

All England Club spokesman Johnny Perkins confirmed contract pest controllers had used marksmen to shoot at pigeons on Sunday, and defended the club's policy.

Major moment
Japanese player Ai Sugiyama set a record for most consecutive Grand Slam main draw appearances - by a woman or man - when she started her 57th with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.

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"I'm very happy. When I heard the number of Grand Slams I played it's actually really huge numbers,'' said Sugiyama, who will turn 33 next week. "Even here I came 16 times - this is my 16th Wimbledon - it's been great. I just don't want to just be here but I want to perform well as well.''

Sugiyama said she has never had a serious injury, and travels with a trainer and has a massage everyday to prolong her career.

"I still need to play good. I need to feel that I can keep going, not only being in the first round to participate,'' she said, giving no hint of retirement. "Tomorrow is the only day that I can think of. I never thought I could play this long. ... I would like to play the next U.S Open for sure.''

Sugiyama played her first major at Wimbledon in 1993. Her unbroken stretch of majors started at Wimbledon in 1994, before she had graduated from high school. Her best results at Grand Slam events have been quarterfinals, in 2000 at Australia and in 2004 at Wimbledon.

South Africa's Wayne Ferreira previously held the record at 56 straight.

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