Andre Agassi and Serena Williams are entertained in the White House

US Open champions Andre Agassi and Serena Williams - minus the beaded braids - have received personal congratulations from President Bill Clinton.

US Open champions Andre Agassi and Serena Williams - minus the beaded braids - have received personal congratulations from President Bill Clinton.

On Wednesday, they met privately in the Oval Office with Clinton, who spent most of the day presiding over peace negotiations between Israel and Syria at nearby Blair House.

Williams, sporting straight, shoulder-length hair, excitedly told reporters about her unexpected tour of the White House and her fascination with the furniture and the artwork.

"I had a great time. I never knew the White House had so much history," she said. "Right now, I'm into interior design. Everything in the house is so nice and well-put."

As for the hairdo, the teen-ager said it's only a temporary statement.

"I can't go anywhere with the beads. I'd be recognised too much," she said. "But now it's a little better. I can at least go to the mall."

Agassi, who won his second US Open singles crown and his second Grand Slam tournament title of the year, said he already is training for next year.

"I count my blessings right now because it's been a long hard year for me," Agassi said. "I feel real fresh physically, and I'm healthy. I feel rather motivated. I'm looking to start next year in the best shape of my life and make some more good things happen."

Williams made history in September when she won her first Grand Slam tournament singles crown by beating top-ranked Martina Hingis. She is the first black American woman to win a Grand Slam tournament singles title since Althea Gibson in 1958.

She said she wants to "win a few more slams" next year. "I really have to work hard, but I believe I can do it."

But she declined to predict where she - or anyone else - would wind up in the rankings.

"Who knows? Everyone's fighting these days," Serena said. "I'm in the war also. It's going to be interesting next year to see who comes out on top."