Tennis star Serena Williams has teamed up with jeweller Erica Courtney to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina – with a pair of platinum earrings.

Last week the former Wimbledon champion wore platinum and diamond chandelier earrings during her US Open match against Francesca Schiavone.

Although she took off the $30,000 pieces during the match, she went on to win in style, and is now set to donate the winning earrings to charity so that the money they raise can be used to help aid the victims in New Orleans and other areas of southern America hit by the hurricane.

And the pieces are expected to raise a large amount of interest, not least because platinum jewellery is now more fashionable than ever.

The earrings, dubbed "Crown and Hearts" by Ms Courtney, wowed the crowd at the US Open when Ms Williams arrived on court wearing them, and fans got an even bigger surprise when the tennis ace left them on as the match began.

Commenting on the decision to donate the pieces to benefit the hurricane victims, Ms Courtney said: "Crowns and hearts—symbols that embody the spirit and romance of New Orleans—have always been an inspiration to me, and an important part of my collection."


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