2001
Australian Open
M. HINGIS/V. Williams
6-1, 6-1
Q. Nothing worked for you today: Your service, your backhand, your forehand.
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I just had an off day. She played her normal game, which is to get quite a few balls back, be a great counter-puncher. Today just didn't seem -- I didn't do the right things.
Q. The fact that you played doubles is definitely an advantage for the tennis public, but do you think it served your cause?
VENUS WILLIAMS: As far as?
Q. Maybe do you think playing too much tennis has had an adverse effect on your result?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I think that if I'm in the doubles competition, I should be ready to play. After all, I'm here to play tennis. So that's what I should be able to do. If I'm not in shape, it's my problem.
Q. Any reasons that you can come up with that it wasn't your day today, or it just wasn't your day today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It just seems that I wasn't really prepared today to hit as many balls as possible.
Q. Was it the heat, humidity, or just generally?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Uhm, yeah, I just played a lot of matches. Yesterday was a long day. I guess I just didn't have what it took today, and Martina, she did. She came out, stepped up to battle, and now she's in the final.
Q. How long would you have to go back in your tennis-playing career to find the last time you lost like that on a tennis court so comprehensively?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. She's beat me before 6-1, 6-2, when I was like a baby, my first year on the tour. I don't think every game was like 40-Love. When it was time to get the important points or if she was down a breakpoint, she got those points back. A lot of times I'd be in there and I'd just miss a shot, you know, just giving it back to her. That's something you can't do, especially in a Grand Slam semifinal.
Q. How well do you think she played today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she played very well. I think she played her normal game.
Q. Was it better than some of the matches she'd played against you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she played about even, and that's important to do, be ready to play.
Q. Did you feel any pressure before the game?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I didn't feel any pressure at all. I've been in this situation quite a few times now - I guess five or six, which is enough. No, I didn't feel any pressure.
Q. How frustrating is it as a professional athlete to know that some days, regardless of your preparation, you can wake up and things just aren't clicking?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It happens every now and then even to the best of us. But maybe sometimes it happens for a reason, sort of a wake-up call, get out there and start practicing harder.
Q. Do you think this will be a wake-up call, or do you think the score was so out of whack with your previous matches that you just chuck it up to a fluke?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't understand the question. Will it be a wake-up call?
Q. Will you internalize this and really go back and work hard, go back to the drawing board, or was this match such an aberration that you won't take it seriously?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think that this can happen again, but you never know. Things happen all the time for no apparent reason at all. Normally I wouldn't expect this to happen again. But, sure, I'm going to go back and work hard, everyone will, I guess who's lost here.
Q. Will you reevaluate your approach to Australia for next year on the basis of this year's performance?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm not sure. Depends on how I feel next year.
Q. Yesterday was kind of a stressing day anyway because 8-6 against Coetzer, then your sister's match, then doubles. Which one of those three different moments in the day has been more demanding on your concentration?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. They all were pretty tough. Myself out there yesterday, I wasn't playing my best tennis, a little bit out of control at times. Then Serena, there's nothing I can do in the stands. In the doubles, we lost the first set, but we went on to play a little bit better after that. I'll have more just different points in my life.
Q. Over the next three months, how much and where do you plan to play?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Three or four tournaments. I'm in Europe, some in the States.
Q. Do you know which ones they are, please?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I plan on playing in Nice, Indian Wells and the Lipton -- the Ericsson.
Q. Are you coming to play Rome?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm supposed to, yes. As long as I'm happy and healthy, I'll be there.
Q. Will you and Serena sort of keep away from one another as much as possible, except the Slams, again this year?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know, just depends.
Q. On what?
VENUS WILLIAMS: On where we decide to play.
Q. Who will make that decision?
VENUS WILLIAMS: We do.
Q. Your preparation for this tournament, do you regard this tournament as highly as the other three Grand Slams? Do you intend to play next year?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I regard it very high. Naturally, I would have loved to take this title home. I traveled a long way to get here. It's a sad thing not to go home with the title. But hopefully I'll be back next year, probably take it home, who knows.
Q. Lindsay Davenport said after her match that the heat made the balls float, she had trouble controlling them. Did you have the same problem?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not at all.
Q. What was your best match of the tournament?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think they were all about the same (laughter). I don't know, maybe the doubles match yesterday.
Q. Can you put a finger on why we haven't seen the sort of tennis we expect from you in this fortnight, haven't seen sort of the consistency, accuracy?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, it hasn't been normal. Ever since last year at Wimbledon, I've been working really hard to play consistent tennis. I did do that until my last tournament last year. And this year has been very erratic, the Australian Open. I just think I needed more preparation time. Maybe you guys should put the tournament a little later for people like me.
Q. How much do you think you lose from your game when you take the fall off and go to school and everything?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, not too much. Just as long as I have enough preparation time for the beginning of the year.
Q. What do you consider preparation time? Is that actual match play or just practice?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Just practice time.
Q. How much school have you got, how many more years are you going to try to fit in?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I have about 45 more credits.
Q. Different system in America.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Each class is worth three credits, so I have 45 left, maybe a little less.
Indian Wells
March 14
V. WILLIAMS/E. Dementieva
6-0, 6-3
Q. This is what they call a local angle question. Because you're coming to Boston on Tuesday to visit the kids at the club, I remember Billy Jean King telling me that she met you at a clinic that she gave in Los Angeles.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.
Q. She said she thought you were about ten years old.
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I was definitely a lot younger. I was like six, seven, like Domino's Pizza League.
Q. She said you were as tall as she was then. Does that seem right?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Might be a small exaggeration.
Q. It's a good one, though.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.
Q. I'm thinking of these kids in Boston. They're going to be so star struck when you walk in. Is that the way you felt when you met Billy Jean?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I don't really know. All I remember, I was just really so happy to be hitting the ball. They had little drills, you got to hit four balls, moved on to the next court. I was really so excited. I was doing my best. There was free pizza at the end.
Q. You're going to be hitting some balls on Tuesday, right?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.
Q. What are your thoughts on playing Serena?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It ought to be a good match, you know.
Q. How do you get yourself up for a match against your sister? There haven't been that many of them.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean, it's pretty easy because she's really a great player and a tough player. If I don't bring my best game, I'll be defeated. So it's not very hard to get up against her.
Q. Were you surprised at how easy the first set went, considering the battles that she's given you before?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I just really went out there, hopefully try to take every point. The first set was relatively easy. It was very hot out there, so I guess that made it a little bit harder.
Q. How much of this result was you playing very well, and how much of it was what seemed like some jitters and unsteady play on her side?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she didn't have her best day today. I'm not sure why. I've had those kind of days, too. As she gets older, she'll learn how to pull through those kind of days.
Q. What's your opinion of her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she plays very well. I think she's very determined. She moves well. She just has the potential to just keep getting better and better. It's all up to her.
Q. Does she seem to have the right kind of temperament?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely, she's very motivated. She works hard. Looks like she's willing to always do a lot better, take the next step forward.
Q. Will you have to up your level to beat Serena from today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely always would like to play better, sure. I definitely think I have to play a lot better than I did today.
Q. Serena said she found herself copying you all the time, that it was ridiculous for her to do that. Could you comment on that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, when we go to restaurants, she'll ask me, "What are you getting? " "Why?" You know, I feel happy to be the big sister. I do what I can.
Q. Does it ever drive you a little crazy?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I love it.
Q. Is she a good little sister?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah -- no. Well, yeah and no. She takes a lot of my things. I can't find things and I know she has them. I guess she has the right to do that, though, the little sister.
Q. Most little sisters sort of know how to get to their older sister, press their buttons. Does Serena have that quality?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think so. She doesn't do that.
Q. She also mentioned she called her mom, her coach. What is your opinion about your mom being like a coach?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, definitely. I called my mom on the phone before I played my match, too.
Q. What did you ask her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I didn't ask her anything. I just waited to see what she would say.
Q. And?
VENUS WILLIAMS: And she just said, "Stay focused."
Q. Do you think you and Serena are moving close to a point where you'll be so much better than anybody else in women's tennis, it will cease to be competitive?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I seriously doubt that. We're great players, but there's a lot of other great players on the tour also. Because we're human, we're going to have some mistakes every now and then. Tennis is a sport that it takes a little longer. It's not like a track and field race where it's 30 seconds, one minute. It can go on and on. I think that we definitely want to improve our games. I think we definitely have a lot of room to improve. I think you just always have to be watching behind you to make sure that, I guess, even to get new ideas to get better.
Q. Are you edging ever closer to the concept of you being 1, 2, that your dad talked about two, three years ago?
VENUS WILLIAMS: None of you guys believed us anyway.
Q. That was the goal. I'm just interested, now that you are a veteran of the tour, kind of know more what it's about, and on the other hand, Serena has made such great strides that we didn't foresee, is it closer to being a reality or are you backing off?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, we're always going to put our best forward. Hopefully our best will be 1 and 2. That's what we think we can do. So far we haven't done very bad. We just plan to do better. It will come. We haven't always been the fastest at everything. We always take things at our time.
Q. How do you stay focused on the ball going point by point when playing your sister? Is it possible or are you going to know she's across the net?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, it's definitely possible.
Q. Do you feel like you've done that successfully almost every time you've played her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Uh-huh, I definitely think so. At the Wimbledon semifinal, I really wanted to win Wimbledon, so I guess I played a little better that day. She played me in a final at the Grand Slam Cup. That day I really just was scraping to get that one set that I got from her. She was playing well that day. So definitely it's easy to focus because if I don't, the result will be terrible.
Q. She's had a tougher time doing that against you, wouldn't you say, especially Wimbledon, was so emotional?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't know. I think maybe I put a lot of pressure on everyone that I played at Wimbledon last year. I guess she became another victim.
Q. Martina has talked before about the difficulty of beating both of you in one tournament. This time it's the other way around. You might have a tough match. Does that give the survivor in the other bracket an advantage?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think so. I think you have to approach every match as a professional. We're both professional players. Whether or not I play the No. 1 or No. 2 player in the world, that should be no excuse whether I win or lose, because professionally you have to be ready to do anything that comes my way.
Q. Will you practice with her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.
Q. Before your match?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.
Q. That's not a problem?
VENUS WILLIAMS: (Shaking head negatively.)
Q. From the time you debuted many years ago, you and your sister have gotten tremendous press, in my opinion. What is behind your thinking now that the press didn't believe that you would become dominant players? Are you serious about that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah, all you have to do is just go back and read the articles. But in my opinion you have to believe in what you're doing because if you don't believe in what you're doing yourself, why should the next person? In the end, I have to have confidence in what I'm doing. We have to have confidence in what we're doing. That's the most important thing because, you know, no one's going to get us out of bed and make us go practice. We have to do that ourselves.
Q. You guys understand that unless you play a full schedule all year, it's pretty tough to become No. 1.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm lazy (laughter).
Q. So do you see maybe this year or next year that you're going to put the school aside a little bit, the other activities, play the full schedule and attain No. 1?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I don't know, sure, who knows. Just depends on how I feel at that time.
Q. How much does being No. 1 mean to you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I guess it should start to mean a lot more to me so I can work a lot harder to be there. I did okay last year. This year I've had a slower start. Definitely I'd like to do a lot better, do a lot more. I think I would love to play well at the Grand Slams. I think when do you that, as a result you are able to have No. 1 ranking, usually.
Q. You talk about going to school. You're studying fashion. How long have you been studying fashion?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Two years now.
Q. Tell me, what in the world is a dart.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't have a dart right now. A dart is used to shape the areas that are round on the body.
Q. Girls have more darts than guys?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Let's hope so. If you look at the back of your pants, maybe you'll see where you have a little seam line about this long. That's a dart. You can put them for styles. You can put them to shape. Serena applies very good darts.
Q. Did you design the dress today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I did not. Normally, Reebok does their designing because they know what they want for their markets, they know what they're shooting for. Normally they'll do the line. Maybe now and then I'll do a dress. But I really leave it up to them because they have their own goals as far as how they want their product to look.
Q. Do you have approval?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.
Q. Is your stuff available in stores, retail? Serena's, there's very little of it.
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think mine is just yet. I didn't sign my deal until later in the year, so I don't think they had the opportunity to sell the clothes to the stores.
Q. If somebody sees what you're wearing, they want it, it will be a while?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think maybe in August.
Q. When you're playing Serena, does there come a point in the match when you're not conscious it's your sister you're playing or are you always thinking, "That's Serena across the net"?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I'm always conscious of everyone that I'm playing. I'm not really thinking if this is Serena out there or not at all.
Q. Martina was No. 1 last year without winning a major. Is there a part of you that respects or even admires her ability to go out week after week and play the tournaments?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, that's really admirable because I haven't done it. She goes out there and plays consistently every tournament. Normally everyone has a bad loss every now and then. That happens to everyone. She plays well every tournament. She really doesn't have any ups and downs. Maybe she'll have a tough set every now and then. As the No. 1 player, she should be able to do that. I'm looking to get there.
Q. You mentioned after your first round match that you had this laziness problem. Is that something that has to be overcome or will you overcome it?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm lazy in certain aspects. I think everyone needs their own lazy time. Too much laziness can really bring you down, I guess.
March 15, 2001
Venus pulled out min. before match against Serena
Q. I saw what happened out there. What was the name of the trainer, I saw you went to her and talked immediately? What did she tell you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't quite understand.
Q. While you were practicing.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I was just doing my best to warm my knee up, to stretch, to do what I could to compete. She's my trainer. She knows what's best for me.
Q. What's her name?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Carey Brooks (phonetic).
Q. What did she say while you were doing the stretch?
VENUS WILLIAMS: She just said, "Stretch." I was stretching my shoulder out and my arm, my quadriceps, a normal routine, then a little bit more.
Q. When did you first start hurting?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I've been really having some knee problems since I played in Nice. I got a lot better. I took a week off after Nice. I've been playing with it taped since then. You know, it's been sore. Finally got to a point where I just couldn't continue, not confidently and not effectively.
Q. So when you went out to hit today, you just couldn't move very well?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I was moving like a grandma.
Q. It's your right knee?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, my right knee.
Q. Every time you're moving to the right, you're getting a shooting pain?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm having a difficult time bending. At my height I have to, if I want to compete well. Just stopping and changing directions. Movement is one of my strengths. I just don't have a chance against Serena if I can't move.
Q. Was that something that got worse as the match went on yesterday?
VENUS WILLIAMS: As my match went on yesterday?
Q. As your match went on, did your knee feel worse and worse?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel a lot worse after matches usually, especially if I have to extend myself in a match, do a lot of running and bending, then I do feel a lot worse. But yesterday, I didn't have to run and bend as much as normally, as I would have.
Q. What have they said you need to do to get rid of it now? How long might it take?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Just strengthening.
Q. How often?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I have to strengthen my quadriceps and my hip muscles, and ice. I have a new pair of orthotics. You know, it's really sad because it's kind of a setback. I used to have knee problems with my left knee. I finally got rid of those. I thought that after Nice, you know, I was moving on. Hopefully I'll be able to compete at the Ericsson.
Q. Did you think about just trying to get through it and get through the pain, how much did you think about that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Normally that's really not an option for me because I really don't like to play through pain. I think it just makes the problem a lot worse. You know, I did everything that I could do, different tape jobs, to be able to play tonight, but .
Q. Why wait so long? Why wait until right before the match to make the decision?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I made every effort to be on the court, you know, like stretching, warming up, taping, seeing the doctor. He didn't have a magic pill.
Q. When did you make the actual decision that you weren't going to play tonight, how long ago?
VENUS WILLIAMS: When did I make the actual decision?
Q. Yes. At what point in time did you inform the tour that you weren't going to play?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know what time it was. It was very close. I would say 10 after -- 10 before, maybe 15 before. I'm not sure because I didn't look at a watch.
Q. Did you take that decision or did the doctor say, "I don't think you should play"?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I take the decision. The doctor, he didn't know me. I guess he didn't know what my injury was like and what I could do and what I couldn't do. So I guess he wasn't in a position to tell me whether I could compete or not. I've had this injury before, so I knew what I could do and what I couldn't.
Q. Do you think you would have played had you been scheduled to play somebody other than Serena?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think so.
Q. You and Serena often don't play non-Slam tournaments together. Elena yesterday, and a number of people before her, made the charge that your dad decides the matches. Some people putting these two things together are saying that this was something decided within your family. What would you say to people who would make that comment?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Everyone has their own opinion.
Q. Is that opinion a false one or otherwise?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, it's not a true opinion at all. Everyone makes their own comments. That's how rumors get started. I guess rumors are more exciting than the truth.
Q. And the truth is?
VENUS WILLIAMS: The truth is I'm suffering from an injury and I'm really looking to get back for the Ericsson. Once Wimbledon comes around, the rest of the year, I have a lot of points coming off. For me this is really the prime time to get some points and really to move up.
Q. Is this going to keep you out of the Ericsson?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I hope not. I'm just going to ice and rest and tape because I love playing down there, my family's down there, I live down there. I missed it last year because of injury also. I'm going to do my utmost to be there.
Q. In the back of your mind, you've had a problem with the other knee, now this one, does that concern you long-term?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I just think I have to work a lot harder as far as just strengthening weaker areas in my body. I think everyone has weaknesses. Especially when you're playing an abusive sport like tennis, I'm more visible, everyone has some injury they're going to deal with.
Q. Will you need surgery?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I'm not going to get surgery. I'm going to pray.
Q. Why do you think there's a perception amongst some of the other players that when you play Serena you guys aren't always giving a hundred percent against each other?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I have no idea.
Q. What do you say to them? Do you say, "That's not the truth. We play as hard as we can. Whoever wins was the best woman on that day."?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't say anything to them. For me it's not an issue at all. I don't even think for them it's an issue. I just think they come in here and you guys ask them a question.
Q. The crowd in the grandstand was pretty vocal when they made the announcement you weren't playing. Pretty angry response. If you never pulled out of any tournaments before, I don't think there would be that kind of response. Do you think you're getting a reputation with the fans as somebody who doesn't always show up?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think so. It's very disappointing for me and most of all for the fans. I'm scheduled to be there at 6:00, and I can't. What more can I do? I can't send Venus No. 2.
Q. I understand some are down at the ticket office asking for their money back.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't have any money to give them back.
Q. Did you have any idea this would be the case when you finished playing yesterday, "I might not be able to play tomorrow"?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. There's always a measure of soreness after any match. Your back gets sore, especially if it's a tough match. If you have an injury, you always get sore. But, no, I didn't expect this at all.
Q. After you withdrew, did you talk to your dad at all?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. He wasn't here. I think he left around a couple hours earlier. I haven't talked to him yet.
Q. What did Serena say when you talked to her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: She started telling me something funny that happened to her. She's supportive.
Q. What do you think your dad will say?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Nothing. Nothing at all. He just wants us to be happy and to be healthy. That's one of the main reasons I didn't play a lot last year is because I was just ready to come back earlier. He gave me a choice to come back, but I just never did because I guess I felt it was better to --.
Q. He made some statements last year during the Chase that some of your problems and Serena's were more in the mental line. Talking about TV revenues. Do you see how this flows into questions about what you're doing?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't.
Ericsson Open
March 29
V. WILLIAMS/M. Hingis
6-3, 7-6
Q. With everything that is going on in the last week or so it would have been easy for you to get off track. How have you been able to maintain the focus on your tennis?
VENUS WILLIAMS: For me, it is really not very difficult because in my opinion all these things going on around me are not very important because I have more important things in my life, so many more important things and most of all because tennis is not all and everything for me. So I really been able to really keep my game under control. I haven't been overhitting really, that is the most important thing. I have been serving alot better this week too.
Q. With the wind out there, were you trying to simplify your toss a little?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, definitely brought my toss down a little bit which was sometimes a little bit detrimental. I hit some balls really long, but other than that I was okay. Serving my second serve halfway decent but the wind was a factor. I don't know if it will be windy on Saturday, but I will definitely take that into consideration in my next practice.
Q. Do you think your fast start made all the difference in this match?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely. It is a lot easier when you win the first set. Because I feel a lot more confident going into the second and because you don't really have to claw and fight to get back into a third.
Q. Against a quality player like Martina, have you ever had an opening three games as strong as the three you had today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. Quite a few times. I didn't always back it up but today I did. I guess I am a lot older and more wiser, but I have had some starts against maybe Martina like that before. Actually, the first time I played her at the Lipton in 1997, I had 3-Love and lost it, but --
Q. Did you just make up your mind. I am going to come out in this match, I am going for winners on every opportunity?
VENUS WILLIAMS: That is my game, to hit the ball. Any time that I try to play otherwise I become an average player because my game is to hit and any other thing I don't really know how to do because I don't practice that. So, it is important for me to go out and play my game and not be convinced that I have to play a different way because I am playing a certain player.
Q. Do you approach a match with Martina any differently than anyone else, Do you feel a different sense of rivalry with her, or is she basically another excellent player that you are playing against?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I approach every match differently depending on who I am playing. If I have never played the player before or if I am playing Martina, then maybe I will be a little bit more focused going into the match because she is a good competitor and really try not to give her too much room to get back into the match because she is very good at that.
Q. What are your thoughts of making another final and playing either Dementieva or--
VENUS WILLIAMS: I am really excited. If I could play every tournament like I do the Lipton, I would be undefeated-- I am sorry, the Ericsson. It is hard for me, guys. It is hard for everybody. But if I could just do this every time I'd be No. 1.
Q. Have you played either of them that much, I mean, Capriati?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Capriati only once back in 1997. Dementieva quite a few times. Well, three. And I think my odds are good against both of them and I think they are evenly matched going into tonight's match for them because I played Dementieva last week and I saw Capriati play yesterday, so I can't say who is going to win-- looks to me like they are hitting quite a few over the net but I would say Dementieva is a little more powerful.
Q. Did Martina seem more pre-occupied with the trial coming up?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know-- I think she maybe had a slow start, but I had a fast start, that could be part of it. And it was windy, and it seemed to get more windy as we went on, so it was a little weird out there with the ball turning into you and on your serve. Also, we were serving in the sun for at least half of the match so there were a lot of outside factors today.
Q. Did she seem any different than any other time you have played her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. No. Not at all.
Q. When Martina was asked to explain her comments about racism on the Tour and then why African Americans had an advantage in her opinion, she said it was because people were afraid to say the wrong thing about African Americans and that the media took it easy on you and Serena.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't quite understand.
Q. Her comments-- this is Martina's comments. She said that people were afraid to say the wrong thing about African American players on the Tour. That was one. She also said that the media took it easy on you and on Serena?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't understand, though, the question, why would she say that in conjunction with what question she asked.
Q. The other day she said in a press conference that there -- it was nonsense that there was racism on the Tour and that African Americans had an advantage being on the Tour. She was following up to those comments.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think anyone has an advantage on the Tour. I think as far as the WTA Tour and also the Grand Slam events, they are very fair. And if anything, I have been a marquis player all my life. I have had an extra advantage, I would believe, I haven't had to come from the bottom as an unknown scrub, so I couldn't tell you how that how that would be. But as far as outside of tennis. People are afraid to face the reality. No one wants to see bad things; no one wants to see the dark side. They want to be happy. And I don't blame that. But we have got to face our fears and go head on to any problem that we might have in America, that is how I believe.
Q. People have to look at their attitudes?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It is hard. It is hard to change. Especially if something you have been taught - your parents taught you mentality of a country is hard and it takes time. That is all I have to say.
Q. Venus does it give you a special satisfaction to defeat Martina Hingis and mainly in the way you did today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I had quite a few unforced errors, so if I could just get myself somehow -- maybe I need to go an 11-step program for unforced errors.
Q. Can you talk about the two times that you faced problems today, 5-4 she was serving for the second set and also when she had a set point in the tiebreaker, what was going through your mind each time?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, at 5-4 I don't know. She made a few errors, but I think I hit a few good deep shots and when I was down in the tiebreak I said Venus, this is your advantage, I was serving, so hit a nice first serve and took my time on my overhead and it was 6-All.
Q. Did you think about a third set?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Not during the second set because I was concentrating on the second and really doing my best to take that one.
Q. Two bandages on your knee that don't go all the way around, what are they designed to do?
VENUS WILLIAMS: They are designed to keep me out of pain basically.
Q. I don't understand how.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, they are preventative measures so that way I can continue to play tournaments like the Ericsson.
Q. I don't know if you have heard yet, but a judge ruled today that you are not going to have to testify?
MODERATOR: Due to legal and security reasons they are not answering any questions on this matter. Next question, please.
Q. What about her own security concerns?
THE MODERATOR: Next question, please.
Q. Venus, I am wondering about Jennifer Capriati. You played her once. You were talking about the 1997 Lipton match. Do you have any memories at all from that match and how much has Capriati changed or progressed?
VENUS WILLIAMS: She played great that night and I played pretty good too and I just remember at the end I was just very calm and pulled the match out.
Q. You said that you wanted to play the higher ranked player when they asked you --
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I like to play the higher ranked player. It is more to my advantage for my ranking purposes; that is how I feel.
Q. Dementieva, if you play her she is going up to No. 8 on Monday, I believe, how has her game progressed since you just played her a couple of weeks ago compared to when you first did?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she hits the ball a little bit harder. Maybe -- she's always been very consistent but it just seems like she has just taken her game up a step in her serve, return, groundstrokes - volleys she just doesn't come in that much. Seems like she has just taken her game to another level.
Q. Seems like you defeated her pretty easily at least by the score; that was your last match at Indian Wells. Was your knee hurting in that match pretty much?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I know the match before I played Rachel McQuillan, I was sore, moving pretty slow, and against Dementieva fortunately enough I didn't have to work that hard. But I was moving slow and moving faster this week.
Q. You said you didn't have to work that hard?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I didn't have to work too hard.
Q. Why is that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: She made a lot of errors. I think she didn't play her best that day.
Q. Venus hits a 68 mile an hour serve. Does she have to improve her second serve to play at your level, especially on big points?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think she has to improve her second serve because until someone really threatens her or everyone threatens her every time and says -- and makes a lot of winners, then she doesn't have to improve it. Occasionally she play someone like me or Serena or Lindsay or maybe Clijsters who is going to maybe take a chance, but most people are just happy to put the ball in play.
Q. You said that you were very focused throughout this entire week. Did you ever say to your dad, gee, just let my tennis do the talking; try not and say too much to the press?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I never tell him what to do. I am not in that kind of position. I am just a kid.
Q. Did you ever wish you could tell him to do that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No.
Q. Venus, you were raised -- if you meet Jennifer in the final you sort of come at it from two different ways being tennis prodigies. You remember when you were wanted to play and your dad was holding you back, was she ever mentioned as don't burn out quickly, don't -- look what happened to Jennifer?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think when Jennifer -- she's an isolated case as far as what may have happened to her. Maybe she was tired. Maybe she decided I am going to layoff and play tennis a little later in life. Maybe it is not for me. Maybe that is what happened to her. I don't think it was anything exactly so tragic. Maybe she needed time.
Q. You said that you felt you were a wiser player now than you were before. Can you tell us in what ways you think --
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just play a lot smarter. I don't always try to kill the ball. Give myself a chance. I still like to hit hard because that is my game and it keeps people on their toes and it keeps them pushed back, but I think in general I make a lot better decisions.
Q. Davenport said she believes your father likes to just say things to stir up the media and leave you and your sister to deal with the consequences. Do you and Serena feel that way?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, we don't.
Q. Did the leg hurt today? Is pain something you just -- you are just going have to deal with or did you feel -- (inaudible)
VENUS WILLIAMS: Actually I am happy that the final day is coming up for me because I have all of April off, so I can just kind of relax and just get off of my legs and my arms and everything. It has been a tough month for me actually since February. So it has been a tough two months.
Q. Is your knee hurting now?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I am okay. If I was hurting too much then I wouldn't play. But I just really have to -- really start an hour earlier whereas in the past I would maybe take 15 minutes to warm up, now I take an hour so it is hard for me to be so disciplined.
Q. Do you think too much is being placed on Indian Wells and what your father says rather than on your tennis?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I haven't placed too much on it. Really life is just about moving on and learning from everything that happens to you.
Q. Is it a possibility, you know, Serena was hurt, hurt her knee was hurt and there were, you know, can this be getting in a position where if even if she wanted to stop because she is hurts -- is there a danger of this whole injury thing whether it is you, Lindsay getting out of control, whereas if you are hurt you have got to stop as opposed to just playing through because of what people may say?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't understand the question.
Q. The question is Serena was hurt and I am wondering if, you know, there could be a point where maybe you will want to stop because you are actually in pain but because of the Indian Wells thing or whatever you figure, well, let me play through this, where maybe you should stop, do you think there could be a danger of playing through pain when maybe you should stop and not play?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think it is a danger because I think the person has to decide whether or not they can endure it or whether or not they can continue and if it is good for them or not so everyone has to make that decision for themselves. Only the athlete knows that for sure.
Q. This past week it seems that there has been this suggestion again that maybe your dad has a great influence on you and Serena greater perhaps than he should, can you address that issue?
VENUS WILLIAMS: He does have a great influence on me. He is my dad and I like when he is happy with me. And I do my best and he has given me everything that I have right now or else I would be somewhere struggling in college and I guess in California, I don't know where I would be. Who knows, maybe lots of bad things could have happened to me. Maybe because of tennis I have stayed so focused in my life. So I am really, really thankful and I have nothing to say badly against him because he loves me. He want the best for me, and he has done everything that he can and he'd really -- he'd give his right arm.
Q. Because of this perception do you feel that you and Serena that you have to declare your independence from him or not?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I do everything that I can to -- because I realize, especially now, I think about, you know, I am not always going to have my dad around, hopefully we will all keep living as long as possible, but, you know, I really try to start visiting my dad more too and my mom because I have to realize that they are not always going to be here, so I should make the best of it and like learn things that happened to them in the past and learn more about me too, so that is what I try to realize these days.
Q. How has your mother dealt with all of this last couple of weeks?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think we have anything to deal with. Because when you know the truth, the truth sets you free. So we have no issue at all.
March 31, 2001
V. WILLIAMS/J. Capriati
4-6, 6-1, 7-6
Q. Did you ever win a match saving 8 matchpoints?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I haven't. This-- I guess there is a first for everything. She missed a few shots. I was able to stay in there.
Q. When she hit that passing shot on one of the matchpoints, when you let it go, you were thinking it could go in or --
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well I don't think I really had a really great play on it. I had some play on it but not all the best and it went long, so, I was back in it again. I just kept getting back in it some way or another. Then, I had breakpoints and kind of ruined those, but I was just really trying to just take advantage of my opportunities and eventually I was able to.
Q. Earlier in the tournament, Venus, you said I think we have learned a lesson how people can be. Two days ago you were jeered by most of the stadium. Today you got tremendous applause and held up the winner's trophy. What lesson can we learn or you learn from the two different days?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think both Saturdays are exact opposites. But I don't think there is anything to learned to be honest. Just a nice match.
Q. But it felt good after all you went through before to emerge the victory here today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think it had anything to do with it. That was two weeks ago in Indian Wells. It was a different crowd and I can't expect people to like me just because I am a good person. They don't know that. They don't know me. And most of them will never have the opportunity to even meet me. So I have got to like myself, that is how I feel.
Q. Can you remember the last time you played Jennifer in 1997, how do you think she has changed and how do you think you have changed?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I play a lot smarter. I played more percentages I think. But even then it was nice not even to play smart because you go for broke and that kind of makes you even a greater player. I think she is playing a lot better. She adds a lot more spin on the ball. She has always moved very well and she has even stepped that up some. So I think most of all mentally she is a lot tougher.
Q. How physically and emotionally draining is a match that long? I am sure you get a little perky when you win -- but...
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.
Q. Talk about that process.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think the heat was a major factor today because it was so hot that I think it took a lot out of both of us. If it had been a cooler day it probably would have been much easier to go out there and run, run, run. I think most of all it was the heat but we both pushed each other to the limit.
Q. Was there ever a point you thought you were going to lose?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Not really, no. I just didn't feel like that. I just-when I was facing my matchpoints I just kept telling myself what to do at the right time, everything that my dad had told me to do, that is what I tried to do. And I never really felt like I was going to lose. I felt disappointed when I lost serve those two times to go down 5-4 and 6-5. That is the only time I felt badly.
Q. What sort of things has your dad told you to do when you are matchpoint down?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really just the basics, look at the ball, stay down, hit your topspin, turn your hips, all those little things that are really important under pressure.
Q. The dropshots seemed to keep her a little off balance as well. Then she tried to hit you with a couple of them. How much did that help to get you past those match points?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I have a really good drop shot especially off the forehand side and really I had her on the run and on the rope and she was far behind the baseline. It just seemed like a good idea when I hit them to hit the dropshots because she was far away, and she really -- she ran most of them down. I actually had to hit a shot afterwards, so.....
Q. You have had a quite a bit of success here. Is there an advantage -- have you ever been sleeping at home first of all?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No.
Q. Do you consider this your home tournament; is that why you feel so good here?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel good here because I feel like I have all the conveniences of home even though I am not exactly at home. I do stay in the hotel because it means about hour an 45 minute drive for me. It is too far. It is too exhausting to drive so far. Plus if you run into traffic it could be longer. The way Miami is, normally I take the turnpike because I95 is not just reliable anymore.
Q. Serena was asked to summarize last week's tournament in terms of just one term or phrase and she did a good job. If you had to summarize this week and the results here in just a word or a phrase what would that word or that phrase be?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think I was just able to hang in there through it all, through all my tough matches, through any ridiculous comments or questions that I had to face and things move on. Time moves on, things pass. So that is how I feel.
Q. What is your schedule look like in the next couple of weeks?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Home. I am a little tired, little broken. (Laughs) I am tired of taping because it really pulls your skin off. It is irritating and it is tough to get the spray off and I am -- I don't like the tape. So I am going to go home and train so hopefully when I am playing my next tournaments I won't have to -- I don't really like have to go out there and rely on my tape to get me through the matches. So I am really happy that this has been the last day of my competitions.
Roland Garros
5/28
Barbara Schette stuns Venus
4-6 4-6
Q. Don't like those Austrians.
VENUS WILLIAMS: You're right, two losses here to Austrians.
Q. What is your summation or view of this match?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just had a rough day, very rough day. I wasn't playing normal.
Q. Bring us up to date. You won in Germany. You haven't played since then. Why is that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, well, I played as much as I needed to, as much as I wanted to.
Q. There wasn't any injury involved?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No.
Q. She got you on the defensive a lot of the day. Was that her play or was that partly you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it was her. She was able to step up. But I also hit quite a few short balls. Naturally when you hit some short balls, you do have to expect to run.
Q. Did your serve let you down?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not necessarily. I think it was my groundstrokes. I couldn't keep a ball in.
Q. Where does this stand? I think you felt you could win this tournament. Is this a big setback?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, nothing's a setback. It's just a loss.
Q. Just a loss?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. What else can I do? It's too late to turn the tables. I've done all I could do at this point. I can only move on.
Q. Where do you move? Going to England now?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, sure, later on, but not at this point.
Q. You'll go home?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm in the doubles.
Q. Good, fine. Stick around. We'd like to see you in it.
VENUS WILLIAMS: (Smiling).
Q. How disappointing would you say this is for you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, it's not the happiest day of my life, but what can I do at this point? Hopefully I can learn from this and be able to move on. Sometimes you learn more from a loss than from a win.
Q. People say you should play more. What do you say to that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I played a lot already this year.
Q. What did you do to prepare over the course of a couple weeks? Did you do a lot of intensive practice before coming over to Europe?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah, I was practicing.
Q. When you went away from the tournament in Berlin, somebody spotted you with your right arm with a kind of tape. Although you said there wasn't any injury involved today, what happened there? Did you go away with any injury from Germany?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I did not.
Q. When you take the elite group of women on the tour right now, especially at a Slam like this, one of them gets knocked out. For example, you did. Mauresmo did today. Do you think that makes the rest of the camp thrilled? For example, Martina Hingis can sit back and say her road is that much easier today.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think so really, not for her. Just like I was defeated today, she or any other player will have to watch out and play their best every match. Also whatever happens on my part of the draw has nothing to do with the top. She still has to make it through whoever is up there.
Anytime you sit back and relax, then you have a problem.
Q. Are you surprised that Barbara played so well because she lost her first round matches?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I wasn't surprised.
Q. What would you change in terms of strategy, the way you played today? Would you change something if you had to play again?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I would move forward a lot more than what I did. Also I would have just tried to get my feet in better position.
Q. When last we saw you, for me anyway, it was at the Ericsson. You were coming in and volleying brilliantly. I don't think you came in once of your own volition today.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Maybe once or twice, but not nearly as much as I should have.
Q. Now that you are out of the singles, what do you think of Serena's chances? How well do you think she's prepared for the tournament?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think her chances are very good. Anyone who's focused and willing to put it all on the court.
Q. If you play the same match again, will you change your tactic, and what exactly would you change?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I think I'd move in a lot more and I'd get my feet in better position.
Q. In the last year, especially with the Grand Slams that you've won, when you've had important games like you did in the last game, but today you had breakpoint chances, a number of chances to get on top of her, and you didn't. Were you not mentally in the space where you wanted to be?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Not mentally. I just think my groundstrokes were just off. I was just making quite a few errors for no apparent reason at all. So for me today it was quite difficult to control that aspect.
Q. When you saw her name in the draw beside yours, did you sort of think that was a little bit tougher than you could have had? Maybe the average-ranked player would have been an easier --?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely she's in the Top 30. I had no problem with it at all. If anything, I thought it was an opportunity. I never dreamed it would turn out like this.
Q. Venus, when you say, for example, your groundstrokes just weren't there today, how much of it is waking up on the day and feeling that it's there or it's not there? How much of that can you control?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I try not to play on feelings, if I can. It's just if I feel good or if I'm feeling good, "Spin today." That doesn't really count for anything. You really have to go out there and do the right thing at the right time. That's what really lacked today.
Q. When it's a situation like that, is there anything you can do to try to turn it around?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Normally I do turn it around. But today it just wasn't there.
Q. How would you assess your year right now? Are you satisfied with January through June?
VENUS WILLIAMS: As far as the Grand Slams, not too well. This is my fourth loss of the year. Four too many losses maybe.
Q. If this were a faster surface, do you think you maybe could have hit enough winners, kept enough pressure on her? Did it have something to do with the fact that you do have to be steady and grooved on this surface, you do have to have your game in order to beat someone who is playing well?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Who's to say? I can't just tell myself, "Sure, if I was on a hard court, I would have won." I don't see it that way.
It's on a clay court, and I would have liked to have won on the clay.
The Championships at Wimbledon
7/05
V. WILLIAMS/L. Davenport (Semi final)
6-2, 6-7, 6-1
Q. Turned into a much tougher match than it started out for you. What happened?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really, I just think she started to play a lot better. She started to hit a lot of penetrating balls. I felt really like I was on my back foot. Then I made a few loose shots, too. But I think really it was her.
Q. How did you turn it around in the third set after that breaker?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, I really just didn't feel like I was going to go home without the win. I just think it was how I was feeling. So I really think it was just that. And basically she had played well. I had missed a few shots. I think the third set I had about one unforced error. So I think that helped a lot.
Q. You talked a lot the other day about really wanting this title last year. Can you talk about how much you really want it this year?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I'm just playing well, maybe even better at this point in this semifinal than what I did last year in the semifinals. So for me that's really exciting.
Q. What about your desire? Is it still pretty strong?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah, for sure. I don't like to go home without carrying a plate or a trophy or a title or something. So I think that's motivation enough for me. I love winning here. Once you win here, it's pretty addictive.
Q. What about you personally, do you really get a rush from winning?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Sure, I love to win. But I don't think I get a rush.
Q. Could you talk a little about facing Justine in the finals. Were you expecting Jennifer?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really, I thought the match could go either way. Justine's a very good player. Everyone wants to get to the finals these days. Everyone wants to win. So really you have to watch out for every player. For me, it wasn't very surprising.
Q. She's beaten you in your only meeting. What is it going to take to reverse that result?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, the last time we played, I was just really moving kind of slow. I don't think I was playing as well as maybe I could have, really as well as I did today. And, you know, I feel comfortable going into the final. I've been there once or twice before - in a big final. So I think that my chances are good.
Q. Lindsay was saying that your serve was particularly effective today. Have you served better than that? Is there any reason why it's so on lately?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, it just seems that when it comes time, to the larger matches, I'm just able to raise the level of my game to really a high degree, which makes me think, "Why didn't I play so well in the first rounds?" But maybe I didn't have to play that well. In the beginning of the tournament, I really struggled a lot with unforced errors. No matter what I did, I couldn't stop making them. Really, I started cutting them out, finally. And today I knew I'd have to serve well. Really, any match, when I serve well, it's just so much easier for me. And I think it makes my opponent think a lot about having to break me. So if I can serve well, then it's really important in the match.
Q. Do you think you have to play against a big player to show your true form?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I just think I have to play a big match. But it's nice playing someone like Lindsay, especially in a big match like this, because it really proves to yourself what level you're on, where you need to improve. For me, I think I've done my homework.
Q. You're one win away from back-to-back Wimbledon titles, which hasn't been done since Steffi Graf. What would it mean to you to be in that same breath with a champion like her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm just doing my best. I'll just have to do whatever it takes. For now, I'm just, you know, putting everything behind me because, now that I've been able to be victorious today, I have to look forward to the next day. I did play well today. I'm just trying to move on. And really for me it's not about making history; it's just about trying to win Wimbledon 2001.
Q. I think Jennifer suggested she perhaps underestimated Justine a bit. Any danger that you might do that? If so, how do you avoid that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think so. My mom told me never to underestimate anyone. So I take that good advice. You have to be playing pretty good tennis to get to the finals of a Wimbledon. That says a lot. So I'm going to be out there hopefully rowing like I did today.
Q. Do you plan to come back for many years? There was some talk earlier in the week about thinking very early - you're very young -about early retirement. Is that something that ever really crosses your mind?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not at this point. I'm too young to be thinking about retiring.
Q. You said last year when Martina was up, everyone was talking about her coming back here at 43; you didn't ever see yourself coming back here at 43. When do you see tennis ending for you and what would you do later in life? Do you ever think about those things?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it's too early to be talking about the end. I'm not there yet. As far as what I'd do at the end of my career, I want to do something that I enjoy, but I don't want to do too much. I don't want to work too hard, so... Maybe I'll be a couch potato (laughter).
Q. On a scale of 1 to 10, how hard have your first six matches been?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Sometimes they've been very difficult because, not only was I playing against my opponent, I was also playing against myself. And really it was all I could do sometimes just to keep the ball in play. You know, as the tournament went on, kind of -- I naturally raised the level of my game. For me it's nice to have that kind of built-in ability. But my last three matches have been a lot more easier for me. Even though I played better opponents, they've really just been a lot easier because I've been executing a lot better on my shots.
Q. Is it hard for you to go out and practice, do all the things that it takes for you to keep this high level?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I think that if I practice more, then maybe I would have had a better part of this year. But that's okay. I had a good time whatever I was doing. I guess it was worthwhile. Sometimes it is hard to practice because I get a little bored with practicing. It's not always fun. I think, you know, some of the champions like Steffi Graf or Ivan Lendl, that's where they really excelled, because they excelled in practice, and they were able to do well in their matches because of that. Maybe I have to get the same attitude.
Q. Last year at this same stage obviously you were thinking about the final. How do you prepare for the final? Do you repeat the same preparations this year?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't remember at all. But it's like I knew I was going to win last year - after the semifinal, I just knew it. I don't know, I just felt that way. Hopefully I'll have that same feeling this year.
Q. Are you going to practice? Are you going to drive around London? I heard you've been trying to work out the roads in London, roundabouts.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I do drive, but only if I have to get somewhere. I don't drive leisurely, and I don't go to London. I hit the grocery store, drop a few people off. I'm a designated driver now.
Q. Is it strange not having Serena here?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, it is. I was sad because on my day off the other day, I woke up early, went for a walk. Normally I have my dog with me when I was doing that, or Serena. You know, I was sad that we couldn't do our little shopping together. You know, I've got to do it for her now. But, you know, she called me, and she said, "Bring the title home." She was very serious about it. So I feel pressured now to bring it home.
Q. Was that after your match with Lindsay?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I really don't talk too much with my phone, I've tried to cut it down.
Q. What was that last phone bill?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't look at it anymore. I've now put it on my credit card so that way I can still get points, so I don't really have to look at it.
Q. You said you hoped to have that same feeling that you were going to win, but you don't yet?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, it's so close after the match now. But last year, I was kind of going home in the car, I just felt like I was going to win. This year's totally different. New year; new opponent; new game. So, really, I just think I have to just play well, serve well.
Q. Does it surprise you to see someone her size generate that much power off both sides, but especially the backhand?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it's good for her. You know, when you have power, I think that helps you out a lot, especially in tough situations. You don't have to hope that the next person miss. Maybe you can make something happen. So that's good for her.
Q. If you play 100%, would that be enough against Justine Henin? Will you decide the final?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I hope so. If I play a hundred percent, I can't do more. So if that's not enough, then too bad for me.
Ladies Champion
7/08
V. WILLIAMS/J. Henin Final
6-1, 3-6, 6-0
Q. What does it feel like to emulate Althea Gibson?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Am I trying to emulate Althea?
Q. She won twice.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I can't say I'm trying to emulate her. Really, I was just trying to make my own success.
Q. Your celebration seemed much more subdued than last year. What was the reason for that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it was the fact that I was up 5-Love, and last year, you know, I won in a tough tiebreaker, so it was two different circumstances.
Q. Does this one mean as much to you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, I think it means more to me.
Q. Why?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Because I had to work a lot harder to win this one. In my first rounds, I was really not playing very well. I really just kind of had to force myself to play good tennis. So for me it was a real effort.
Q. Was that third set one of the best you've ever played?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Maybe yes and no. Yes because I played a very good set, in important situations, which is super for me. I was really relaxed at that point - really just ready to take it all. You have different feelings that you go through when you're playing. At that point I was really ready to go.
Q. You look at this in a newspaper or something tomorrow, you say, "What a strange match." You lose one game in the first and third sets combined, then she beats you in the second set. How did it go so up and down?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I think in the second set, we were on serve. It was just one break toward the end. Surely if you're going to get broken, it's better to get broken maybe in the beginning and not the end. And I didn't play as many good points as maybe I should have, and she played better points than me. But maybe it was just experience that came through, or maybe she was a little nervous in the third - I don't know. But I'm happy it went my way.
Q. You seemed to whisper a few words immediately after the match. Can you convey what you said to her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I just didn't want her to be upset because she'll have her chance. She plays very well. She plays a lot of gutsy matches. If she just keeps playing the way she is, good things are bound to happen.
Q. You've won three of the last five majors, which is an extraordinary accomplishment. Martina Hingis hasn't won for over two and a half years. Do you feel you're now the best player in the world?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm the best player today (smiling). I really am happy about this whole two weeks because for me this is the first time where I've served very well every match that I've played. For me, that's a good breakthrough. I always served well at the important points - no double-faults or any of that stuff. So for me that's a good thing. Really just moving forward. Last year I don't think I worked as hard as maybe I should have after my wins. I was just tired. So when you're tired, there's not a lot of motivation to get better. But this year I'm going to take it a little differently, I'm going to work a little harder.
Q. People are always interested in who the best player is overall. You obviously are the best player today. Overall, in the big picture, are you the best player?
VENUS WILLIAMS: In my mind, I'm always the best. I can't see anybody better than me. If I walk out on the court, I think the next person is better, I've already lost. In my mind, sure, I'm best. On paper right now, I'm No. 2.
Q. Could you tell us about your feelings once the match was over, immediately afterwards?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I was really excited. You know, I love Wimbledon. It's great not to have to lose here. I haven't lost 14 matches in a row - plus the doubles, I guess. So for me that's really sweet. It was good because, sure, it would have been nice with the crowd, maybe nice for you writing to have a tough third set. But for me, it was nice just to kind of run through it. And that was sweet. This means just a lot more to me this year because I hadn't played as well in the other Grand Slams as I would have liked, especially with my French Open. And I really wanted it.
Q. You said you're going to do something different, take this win differently.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Last year in between Wimbledon and Stanford, two weeks from now, I didn't practice at all. I won that tournament.
Q. You didn't do so badly.
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. And I won San Diego. I didn't practice that much for the US Open either - then I won two tournaments after that. At the Olympics, I didn't hit hardly at all. I'd get out there, I'd be practicing, I'd just be fooling around. Really, if you start fooling around, your game gets worse, you walk off the court. I was a major pin collector at the Olympics. I didn't do too much practicing. I didn't really practice. I had about eight wonderful days of practice before Wimbledon, that lasted me the whole year.
Q. And this year?
VENUS WILLIAMS: This year I'm going to practice more.
Q. You're ready to do that? You told us the other day you don't like it so much.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I can capitalise better, just really work on more things in my game - moving forward, taking the ball early - just some new strategy that I can add to the next year coming. I didn't really do that last year. A lot of things happened. I went to school. There wasn't a lot of time . A lot of sponsors, things to do. But I'm going to make time to practice.
Q. You talk about taking the ball earlier. You were moving in today so aggressively and consistently. How much was that part of your plan going in?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely I want to move forward because no one's going to give you a Grand Slam. If you take it, you've got to move forward, or at least be willing to move forward a little bit. Even if you're not going to the net, attack the short balls, something. That was my plan today. I didn't even want to think about it. If I see a short ball, I'm moving in. That's how I like to play.
Q. With your serve, now that you've won two of these, do you get the feeling that Centre Court is yours now, that this is a place you're going to dominate for years to come?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it's going to be a great place for me years to come. I've really been serving well this past two weeks. Really, everyone I played couldn't return my serve. So for me that was a plus because I have very easy service games. If I get in a tight area, then all I have to do is serve it out. For me, that was a real plus. It's a real plus to your game to have that ability. Serving like this on the grass makes it even more difficult because the ball is coming so fast, and it stays low. I think that was really important these past two weeks.
Q. Do you think about the record number for single's titles here and think, "I can get that"?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It will be tough because, you know, I'll be older. Some people started when they were younger winning titles. My first title is at 20. If I could have started winning at 16, maybe the story would be different.
Q. Bill Clinton yesterday said that on the court you move like a gazelle. First of all, do you agree with that? How does that make you feel?
VENUS WILLIAMS: People have been telling me that for years - actually, ever since I was nine. Actually, I've been working on my movement because I notice that I'd really slowed down and I wasn't concentrating on really getting every ball. So this past two weeks - everything's happened in the past two weeks - really started trying to move a lot faster. That's frustrating for your opponents too. They can't get a ball past you. Once I put my mind to it, I got a lot better.
Q. (Inaudible) the crowd transferred their allegiance to the underdog?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I've had a lot of experiences like that with the crowd. Doesn't seem like that often that, you know, I'm the player that the crowd wants to win. For me, it's not as important because I want to win. Even if the crowd's on my side, I still have to win for me. I still have to hit the ball. They can't do it physically for me. Who knows, maybe there will be a day when they root for me.
Q. They were last year. But were you aware of it today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, for sure they wanted her to win. I guess it's always nice to see the unexpected happen. But for me it's not an issue. If they don't agree with a call, it's not an issue. I don't function this way, where I have to have approval.
Q. "The Death of the Salesman" you were talking about the other day, being liked and liking yourself?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I guess it fits into that theory.
Q. Will you play more next year and try and become No. 1 or where does being No. 1 sit in your list of priorities?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It's on the top list now. Maybe in the past, it wasn't. Grand Slams definitely are No. 1. Then No. 2, for sure, is No. 1 (laughter). Oh, boy, like a Dr. Seuss book. Really, that's all. I have to make it a priority. I have to play more. Either that or I have to win every Grand Slam, which is not easy, so I'll play a little bit more.
Q. Earlier this tournament you said you were just getting over being a kid. Does winning three out of five Grand Slams and two Wimbledons in a row make you feel like you're growing up, or you are grown up? Does it make you change feeling like you're just getting over being a kid?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't feel changed. I'm still a kid, and I don't want to grow up yet - but I have to in some things, but not everything. So it's a happy medium.
Q. Will you go to school again in the fall?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I'm not going to say what I'm going to do. I like school, but then I miss the tournaments. I do. Because there's a lot of places that I like to go. For me, I judge a tournament whether I have good memories there. For me, I'd miss all the places where I had good memories. I'm going to miss it this year, but we'll see.
Q. When you stood up out of the chair, walked to start the third set, what words were in your head?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't remember exactly. I was really ready to serve it up. At this point I was very confident in my serve. If I could return a little bit better, that's all that counted. By that point, I was just very relaxed, very loose, just really ready to compete. Maybe when you first get out there, you're a little bit nervous or a little tight. By the time you get to the third set, you've got to be loose. I just felt very loose.
Q. How tough was the rain delay for you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It wasn't tough at all. I'm used to the rain. I expect it. If it happens, it happens. I still have to play.
Q. You got introduced to that your first year here? Wasn't it five days before you played a match?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I don't recall playing that year.
Q. How about yesterday, had to wait and wait, of course never got on court? Were you here? Did you finally realise you weren't going to play?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I was here for a few hours. I went home, then I came back. Really, I was ready to play any time. But I think the delay helped me a lot, just to think things through, kind of make it more simple in my mind. Maybe if I played at 2:00 or whenever I was supposed to, maybe things would have went differently, I don't know. But by the time I got around to today, I was very calm. This time I did a lot of thinking before the final - maybe more than what I needed to. I think that helped me to stop thinking as much.
Q. Is tennis a passion for you or is it just something you're really good at?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think tennis is something I'm really good at. I like playing. It's a great job. Sometimes things get really complicated, especially if you're having a really bad time in your career. But right now, things are quite simple.
Q. Do you like kind of the celebrity that comes with it?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I like the upgrades, special privileges and things like that. But other than that, no. I'm just trying to be me.
Q. When is the time when it's been very hard for you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really, just every day, you know, going to the supermarket. If I want to get an ice cream, if I want to go to the health food store, if I want to go to the mall, or if I want to go to Blockbuster, just things like that. I just like to be solitary, just me and my little dog, we go everywhere.
Q. You say there's been times in your career when it gets complicated.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Like after the Olympics, that was a really tough time. Everyone was thinking about the Olympics, I guess. But as far as when things get complicated, when you have tough losses or you're not playing very well, then tennis seems really complicated, just with the technical aspect maybe. But when you start to play well, it's not as hard.
Q. When you look back on today and this fortnight, what will stand out most for you years from now? Obviously, it's different than the first experience of winning.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. Maybe the finals will because it's different playing someone like maybe Capriati in the finals than playing someone who's there for the first time. I think that will stand out. Maybe it's more difficult.
Q. More difficult in what way?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really, you know, she had had the win before, the one time that we had played. But that time I didn't play well, so... This time I had a better plan.
Q. Your approach to this sport has been so unconventional, and I guess continues to be, like when you don't play as much as some of the other players. Is that something you take pride in, kind of don't want to fall in line with everyone else with a full schedule?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't like to be like everyone else. It annoys me. That's what I mean about fashion trends. Like I'll be doing something, and all of a sudden it's trendy, so I have to put it away. If I want to pull it back out, suddenly I'm out of style. I don't like that. But with tennis -- that was irrelevant (laughter). Really, I like to do things that make me happy. That doesn't mean I have to do everything the way maybe the next person does it. Everybody has their own way of doing things. For me, if I want to play, I'll play. If I don't, I won't. If I want to go to school or if I want to retire, for me, whatever is important for me at that point, not for what's conventional.
Q. Justine Henin today said she thinks it's going to be hard for anyone to beat you here for quite a long time. She acknowledged the other players. Do you start to sense that, that the other players now fear you maybe the way they feared Sampras here?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Ooh. I don't know. We'll see. I just have to keep playing well. I think I have a good combination because I return very well on the grass, in my opinion, especially maybe my semifinal, and I serve very well. I hit my groundstrokes well, of course. Plus I'm willing to move forward when I get to Wimbledon. At other tournaments, maybe not as much. But at Wimbledon, I will move forward. I think it's a good combination.
Q. What do you think of the Duchess' outfit? A bit like Serena's dress at Roland Garros?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I have to tell her.
Pilot Pen 2001
8/24
V. WILLIAMS/J. Henin ¼ Final
6-3, 5-7, 6-2
Q. How is your back, Venus?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm okay, thank you.
Q. Can you talk about the resolve you showed in the third set, coming back after dropping the second set like you did?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I just think the whole match I played inconsistently. I played, you know, some nice points, and I played three or four bad points. And I'm just looking to play more consistently at this point.
Q. Is it a serious hardship to have to play day and night like that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, normally you don't want to play like this. It's not a normal circumstance. So it's unfortunate, but it has to be done.
Q. Have you done it before, and how many times has this happened to you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I've never done this before in professional tennis.
Q. What will you do between now and tonight?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Eat, stretch.
Q. Sleep?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. (Smiling.)
Q. Are you upset with the way you played?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I wasn't too happy with the way I played because I just feel I can play a lot better. But in a way, it's good for me to have a match like this so that way I at least get more of a rhythm.
Q. How much difficulty did you have serving into the sun playing on that side of the court?
VENUS WILLIAMS: At times it was a lot harder to hold in the sun, but I changed my positioning and my toss to get around it the best I could.
Q. Mentally, how are you going to feel for tonight taking on Jennifer? Physically, we know your story. But will you be able to come out with the same intensity tonight?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I definitely think so because if I'm going to compete, I have to compete as a professional. I have to be ready for all things, so I can accept my responsibility as a pro.
Q. What about the crowd? I noticed they almost sort of turned against you when Henin got hot. Did you get a sense of that at all? What was your reaction to that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know what, half of the time I don't even hear a crowd. Especially in a match like that. So mostly I'm focusing on my game or my shot or what I did wrong or what I did right. So a lot of times I don't hear at all.
Q. What happened at the end of the second set when she won four games in a row, 11 to 12 points? Was it because she came on so strong, was playing so well? Did you lose focus or what?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I guess I had a matchpoint at 5-3, and then at 5-4 I was serving into the sun which was difficult. And she just played well. She did play well. And I made a lot of errors, so that never makes it too hard for your opponent to play even better, to feel better, so (inaudible) started hitting out more.
Q. Did you have a problem with your wrists?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I'm feeling okay.
Q. Does this schedule interfere with your plans for the Open at all?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I still plan to be at the Open on Monday. (Laughing.)
Q. But your preparation, did you have to alter your plans at all?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not at all. That's why I'm here - so I can play a tournament and feel good before going to the Open; hopefully, win the tournament and be at my highest going into a Grand Slam. So for me, I'm here to have the competition.
Q. Did you change anything at all in the third set? You went down 1-love, and then I think you won four of the next five games to take control of the set.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, yeah, I just stopped missing as many shots. I really just tried to string together a few good points, at least stop making errors for three points in a row. If I could just do that, I'd be okay.
Q. If you should go on and win tonight, does it give Lindsay a big advantage, not having to play today because of Clijsters pulling out?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm in good shape. I should be able to play tomorrow if I'm able to win tonight. But most of all, I have to focus on this match, and I've done some amazing turnarounds in my time. (Laughter.)
Q. In some ways is it a good thing you're able to go back on to the court tonight and maybe put this match behind you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I prefer to play one match every day, but... At least in doubles it's kind of you're doing half the work. You don't have to even move in doubles at times. So...
Q. You said it's good to have a match like that. Could you elaborate on that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, if I'm not playing well, then maybe it is a good thing for me to have a longer match so that way I can just get my groove, just play a little better, start making better decisions.
Semi final 8/24
V. WILLIAMS/J. Capriati
6-4, 7-6
Q. You played really well. Just assess, in your own words, how good you played.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, really in the beginning of the match I think that, you know, for the first two games maybe I tried for a little too much. But that's okay. That's much better than trying for too little. So I was able just to make a few more shots and break it even. And more than anything, I think it's a great match for me because my game is more in tune. And also because, you know, it's always great playing a power hitter. I like playing the players that are faster and better because it challenges me to raise the level of my game.
Q. Are you tired after two matches in one day?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Maybe it will hit me tonight, but I'm just riding on a high. I don't know. (Laughter.)
Q. You looked like you had a lot of energy in that match. Did you rest up between them?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.
Q. It seemed like you gained momentum.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I just went home and threw on the ice and did some stretches. A short nap. I don't know. I just think that I have to be ready for anything. More than anything, I did want to play because I really need the practice. And to play well in this tournament, especially with the player field, would be a good way to enter the US Open in my opinion.
Q. Winning here the last two years, do you almost feel like this is your place?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I dropped my first set today. So I didn't like that too much. (Laughter.) But, you know, I'm in the finals again. I like playing Lindsay. We have a lot of fun when we play each other. So I'll just come out tomorrow and serve big, return big, run fast, do my usual thing.
Q. Talk us through the tiebreaker. Tell us about the tiebreaker. It was like you pressed the gas pedal at that point.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, when I play a tiebreaker, I just want one point, I just want the first point. And then after that, I just want one more point and a second point, just one point. And that's how I play my tiebreakers. And especially in a tight situation, in my opinion, it's important to get the first serve in. If I'm really hitting my second serve well, then I'll go for more on the first. But today I was hitting it quite well, but still I thought it was more important to get the first serve in and not to miss. That's what I tried.
Q. Were you thinking, "Gosh, I got to win this tiebreaker so I don't have to play yet another set tonight"?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I like to win at all costs. Of course all costs being fair and within the rules. But I do whatever it takes. If I'm out there, I'm competing. I'm there by my choice and I like to compete. I don't want to, like, shy away from competition. So I was living in the moment in the tiebreaker. And if it went to a third set, so be it. I would try just as hard.
Q. Did you feel more comfortable tonight and feel you played better? You seemed to play better tonight than this afternoon?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, the level of my game raises, the higher the level -- the higher the player that I play. So I just seem to play better and better, depending on who I'm playing. And I guess it's a good thing about me. Maybe in the past I didn't play as well when I played important matches or, you know, the better players. But at this point, I'm having a great time in my career. Whereas when I get to those important matches, I'm just making it happen.
Q. The crowds haven't been, in the years previous that you've been here, they haven't been like this. Do you sort of take that all in at all?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Take in what?
Q. The size of the crowd.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, I think they probably came to see Jennifer. (Laughter.)
Q. What makes you say that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean, they love her, and they're happy to see her doing well. So, you know, I can't say it was me that they came to see.
Q. Can you understand that, the fact that they're cheering for her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Understand what?
Q. They're cheering for her. The crowd was pro Capriati?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Half the time I don't hear it. It's just -- if you've ever been in competition or if you've played sports or if you're competing, a lot of times you just don't hear anything. I can hear line calls, things like that. But other than that, I don't hear anything. If I'm really playing well, it's like a game of chess. I'm just moving it here, moving the ball here, putting it where I want. And at times I don't hear the crowd.
Q. Early in the week you talked about your matches with Davenport. You talked about a couple years back when you played here you had a nice win against her. Now it's more even. Talk about the competition that you have with her now.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Nowadays, I've won quite a few matches - the majority of the last matches since the last two years, I suppose. But they've been close and they've been good matches. And I've had to play. It's not like she gave them to me. So I think it's just that I'm playing better; I'm raising the level on my game and she's not able to expose weaknesses where she was in the past. I'm just getting older. I have to get better; I can't go backwards.
Q. Are your wrists okay?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I'm playing. So if I wasn't okay, I would have to call it a day. But I'm here and I'm healthy.
Q. Why do you think the amount of injuries to top players has increased over the recent years?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It's hard these days. I don't know why other players are injured. And half the time, I don't know why I'm injured. (Laughter.) It just happens. With the amount of practice that goes into everything and the amount of tournaments that we do play, and the top players, we are always advancing to the final rounds so we play more than the average players especially if we're playing doubles also. So I guess you could take that into account. But maybe we all need to go to the gym more and build muscles to protect ourselves. I don't know what it is.
Q. Do you lift weights?
VENUS WILLIAMS: When I'm forced to. (Laughter.)
Q. It seemed one big key tonight was your ability to handle her serve and to break her serve. Do you agree with that, or was there anything else that you thought was the difference in the match that went in your favor?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm pretty confident on my return of serves. It's one of my best parts of my game. A lot of times I don't even have to practice it because I know it's there. But on the times that I did lose serve, I think I rushed and I tried to do too much. And I should have just slowed down a little bit and get my serve in and play the ground strokes. But, you know, she's a good player. And if you're not ready to compete, it might be your day to leave the tournament.
Q. So many people focused their eyes on the miles per hour. How much attention are you giving to that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I look at it every time. (Laughter.) I do. And, for example, if I'm serving, then I like to see what I'm doing. Or if the other person is serving, and they throw in a serve at 65 miles per hour, then I have to see that as an insult and I have to put it away. So that's how I try to see it. But no one -- unfortunately, no one's hitting those little puff balls anymore. People are smoking it.
Q. What impact is the mentality as far as seeing you up in the 115, 110, 120 this afternoon?
VENUS WILLIAMS: What's the mentality?
Q. How are you reacting to seeing your numbers compared to your opponent's?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I don't know why I serve it so big, to be honest. I'm not especially muscular, and I am tall but it doesn't look like I should be able to serve so well or so hard. But I do. I just hit it. And there it goes. (Laughter.)
Q. Can you talk a little bit about your preparation going into last year's Open versus this year's Open? Is there a major difference, do you know?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, I was lazy last year. I left, like, the California tournaments and I went home for two weeks and I barely hit. And I came here and I guess I got a couple of good days of practice. When I go to the tournament, I will practice. At home is where I guess I don't do my job the way I should. But this year I did practice more, and I just -- I just like to win. I don't like losing, so if I want to keep winning, I know I have to practice.
Q. Did you think immediately after last year's Open that you knew you were going to change your schedule?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I practiced even less. I went straight to the Olympics. I was tired and I had a few strained muscles. And I had a lot of fun there. But a lot of times I'd be on court and I would just -- when you go out on court you have to practice right. If you practice bad techniques, it shows up in your game. So I wasn't serious about practicing, so I'd just have to leave the court. Then I'd go trade pins. That's what I was into then. Those were good times, but I should have practiced more.
Q. You said the level of your game raises when you play a better player. Did you start thinking about this match with Jennifer a half hour, 20 minutes after your match with Justine? When did Jennifer start climbing into your thoughts for tonight?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I mean, I expected myself to play well enough hopefully to advance to the semifinals and I expected her to play well so to advance to the semifinals, too. So, sure, it was in the back of my mind. But it really doesn't matter who I play.
Q. I meant after you finished beating Henin, did you start thinking about Jennifer right away or did you allow yourself a couple hours to relax?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I already knew what I was going to do. So I -- there's a certain mindset for me, when I play. I'm not as talkative, maybe not as nice either before a match. So... Everything has to be just right and just perfect. If it's not, then it's a problem. But normally that's about two hours before the match, not the whole day before or anything like that. But I knew what I had to do and I was serious, and now I can joke.
Q. This afternoon you told us you were disappointed with your game.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I was just disappointed with the unforced errors and with -- that I was just playing one good point, three bad points, and I was doing all I could do just to stay level. But for whatever reason, I couldn't. But tonight, I had to stay level and I had a great practice with the afternoon. So I was ready.
Q. What do you think about the fact that women earn less prize money than men do?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think in three of the Grand Slams we do. Hopefully, we'll be able to get the same kind of prize money. It's hard to change minds. And hopefully we can change minds. But as far as our tours, we have a separate tour and a lot of the tournaments, I believe, are equal or sometimes more than the men. But we're getting there. We're worth it. So I think it's gonna be a matter of time.
Q. Regardless of tomorrow, win or lose, how do you feel going into next week with the US Open?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just feel that I've just got to focus. It's probably not going to be an easy route; it never is. Especially in a Grand Slam people come out and try to take you down. But that's part of the fun. And I'm really just looking forward to hopefully playing well. I just want to serve well. As long as I do that, things are very easy for me.
8/25
Championship match
V. WILLIAMS/L. Davenport
7-6, 6-4
Q. How do you think you did today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I guess when it counted, I was able to get the point. So that's a good thing in a match.
Q. Physically, did you feel any effects from yesterday, late in the match maybe?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Maybe I was just tired of running. Not necessarily that I couldn't run, but just tired of doing it. But other than that, I'm okay. I was okay. Normally, under normal circumstances, you don't want to have to play that many matches in such a short time period. But it happens, and I'm really happy to have won the tournament. And I just hate to lose. I don't like to go home not having won.
Q. Do you think it turned out better that you played so much?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I don't know. She hasn't played since Wednesday, I suppose. And I guess in a way it's a good thing. But in a way maybe it's a bad thing I played a lot, and she didn't hardly play at all. But I don't know, to be honest.
Q. It looked like your back tightened up in the second set. You squatted down, your serve velocity lessened a little bit.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really, I was just trying to stay loose. Then on the serve, less power, more placement. I'm going to get a measure of power no matter what I do in my serve, but I was really just trying to throw the racquet. And a lot of times you just throw it where you want the ball to go and it goes there. So I use different kinds of methods on my serves.
Q. So you were fine?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.
Q. Any frustration in that second set? You missed a lot of break point opportunities.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. She played well. She served well. And I don't get angry out on court, really. I -- if I lose a point or a game, there's nothing I can do at that point. But it's not like I gave up. I did do my best. I might not have done the right thing or I might have made a mistake, but I did do my best, and I look forward to the future in matches. So I don't get angry. Hopefully, I'll capitalize on opportunities, but it doesn't always happen.
Q. You don't dwell on that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not at all. Except there was one point where I didn't like, I had a break point, an easy backhand, and I kind of missed it. You know, that was sad. But...
Q. Walk us through matchpoint. Can you talk about it a little bit.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Matchpoint, I hit a slider up the T, which is when you -- on the ad court, if you're hitting a serve, you want it -- I don't hit it as hard, about 100, 102. And when I hit it, it slides. It goes -- it changes direction. So my plan was to hit a slider up the T. That's what I call it. What happened? What did happen?
Q. (Inaudible.) You had some great reach there.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah. I hit my slider up the T, and she returned it a short ball. Hit a forehand approach. I do remember now. She hit a great passing shot. And I guess if it wasn't for my height and my one inch extra on my racquet, I wouldn't have got that ball. (Laughing.)
Q. You only lost one set here. You've won three straight titles. What is it about the court or New Haven or whatever that brings out the best in you here?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I guess I don't like to go into the Open with a loss. It seems that I manage to play my best here, and I don't know what it is. I just have good play at this tournament. I always serve really well at this tournament also.
Q. Lindsay was saying that you're considered to be the favorite going into the Open the way you're playing right now. Would you agree with that? Do you think it's wide open?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think that really with the way I've been playing the last year, year and a half, that I'm one of the favorites because of my past record. But you just have to -- I have to be serious going into it and play every point, and that's what counts I guess.
Q. How about your sister winning last week, you winning this week, is that kind of neat going in back-to-back?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, it is. It's quite nice.
Q. Given the atmosphere here, the size of the stadium, the crowds, and the fact that the court's the same as it is at the Open, is this the perfect place for you before the Open?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, actually it is. This week was very tough with all the top players here. It's wonderful for the tournament, but for me it was -- it was tougher than normal. The last two years I would meet a top player in the final or semifinals, but not always every match. So it was a real challenge for me to stay focused the whole time. But as far as courts, I'm not picky. I'll play on anything.
Q. Yesterday you talked about rising to the level of your opponent. What did you do today differently against Lindsay that maybe you weren't doing yesterday?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yesterday, or last night, I believe I played a lot better than maybe today. Normally, I like playing Lindsay. Normally I play a lot better. But today I was not -- I was just -- it seemed like I was hitting the ball and it would be just out. I didn't see it out, but the linesmen saw it out. (Laughter.) It was quite bright out there also, and when she was serving it was hard for me to see the ball at times - it was so bright with no clouds in the sky. So that was a tough factor.
Q. (Inaudible).
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Not at all.
Q. Why do you enjoy playing against Davenport so much?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I just have fun against her. Because we just hit the ball and we get some good points in there. Hopefully, I win all the long points but that doesn't always happen. But I guess I just like returning serve. I like -- I guess I just like playing against her style of game.
Q. That mental toughness you talked about, the not wanting to lose, not liking to lose, when did that start with you? I mean at an early age here, playing against your sister perhaps, as a little kid, or...?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I never liked to lose, I suppose. But as time has passed and the better that I've gotten, the better my results, the more I just hate to go home a loser. So maybe it's that. And maybe it's just that I win a lot more and I'm used to winning. When I lose, it's just a foreign idea. Maybe that's what it is; I don't know.
Q. Is that in anything you do, any kind of game or anything you do? You hate to lose?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, on the SATs, I lost very badly. (Laughter.) But one math test I did so bad, honestly, I didn't even bother to look at the result. I think I got like a 20. I was not good at math.
Q. Can you tell us about your clothing line.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I design for Wilson Leather.
Q. Is this like your own business?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, no. It's not my own business, but I am designing for a company. So this is my first time as a designer, so I'm hoping it will go as well as my tennis.
Q. How often do you do it?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, basically there's two terms - the fall and then the summer/spring. So basically, there's one line for the fall. Later on in the fall it's kind of a holiday where we introduce a few more items on the rack. I design leather products so it's mostly outerwear.
Q. Does it have your name in it?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's -- my name's in it. It's been fun. I don't have the same kind of confidence in my designs that I do in tennis. And it's just a different market. Tennis is like you can go out there and you can work hard and you can make it happen. But with designing, other people have to like it. It has to sell. So it's different. It's kind of like being judged. In tennis, I make my own thing happen. So it's a new idea. And plus, it's different also because I have to work with people. And in tennis, I'm on my own, I do my own thing. So this is nice being able to work in a different setting.
Q. I saw something where they said you're focusing more on the color than the different cuts.
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, primarily I focus on cut.
Q. Okay.
VENUS WILLIAMS: The lines and how the lines are formed. I like to play with my lines, and then just add a little color. For the first time, I didn't want to be too flashy the first time around. So just I'd like to see people wearing it. That would be exciting for me.
Q. Where are your dolls? I can't find them.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really? A lot of people have said that. I have no idea. Somebody told me they got some at Wal-Mart. I know they were at the big toy store in New York.
Q. I went there. I think they were sold out.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really? I have no idea. I'm sorry. (Smiling.)
Q. Getting back to that mental toughness we spoke about, was there ever a match or an incident that you recall where you lost the match and thought you had a chance to win and said, "I'm never going to let that happen again"?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Too many. The last time it happened was at the US Open in '99 really. I just gave away the match. I just refused to win, basically. And it was disheartening from my performance, that I wasn't competitive enough just to step up and take a chance. That was the last time I've ever done anything like that. These days if I lose, I lose hitting the ball. I lose hitting out. I lose like a winner.
Q. Have you ever won three times in a row at the same site?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I guess at the Ericsson. But I had one year off because I was injured. But I've won three years in a row, the years that I've played. But three successive years, only here.
Q. You played so well when you came into the net today. Have you thought about trying to come into the net on a more regular basis?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I was coming a lot more last year. I haven't been practicing as much. If you don't practice it, it just doesn't come out in the match. So I need to get in there and make it happen. But it seemed like I was successful at the net. I hit a few terrible drop shots. You know...
Q. I was talking more about your volleying.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I'm pretty good at volleying, because I was like a doubles champ before I was a singles champ.
Q. It seems like if you ever add that to your arsenal, it would be a real difficult task for anybody to play you. You don't have much in weaknesses.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Volleying, you mean?
Q. If you ever started serve and volleying?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'd have to want to serve and volley, and I don't want to.
Q. Want to get it over with?
VENUS WILLIAMS: My dad might want me to, but the player has to want to. I like it at the baseline. That's where he taught us to play, at the baseline, and I'm addicted.
Q. How much of a sense of satisfaction do you get when you have -- I mean, in 24 hours you beat three of the top six or seven players in the world. That's pretty impressive?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It was nice. It was a challenge for myself just mentally - sure, physically; but mostly mentally. And I feel great to come out the winner, because I didn't play any pushovers and they didn't let me win. So for me, it's nice to feel satisfied to have beaten such great players and to come out of it alive.
Q. Have to improve any of your game for the US Open?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really I think my backhand. I've been making a few unforced errors at times when I really shouldn't. Basically, capitalizing on my break points. It seems like the better the occasion, the better I do. And, hopefully, I'm gonna bank on that.
Q. Do you ever stop and think about where you might fall into line of women's tennis players some day down the road?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I haven't. I think maybe I should make some goals if I really want to be in the record books. I guess I am already, especially with the sister thing. But... I don't know. More than anything, I'm just playing tennis because I like it. It's a great career for me and I'm happy to be here.
US Open2001
Venus defeat Kim Clijsters(¼finals)
6-3 6-1
Q. Do you have any plans for Saturday night?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I'm hoping to be in the final (smiling). 8:00 sharp at the dance, so... Yeah, I still have the semifinals first.
Q. How happy are you with today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: My unforced errors count was just really high. I wasn't stringing together the points the way I'd like to exactly. I did a few good points, and then I missed a few easy shots, too. But, in general, a win is a win, and I'm happy to have won.
Q. I think Clijsters pushed Serena two years ago to three sets. You guys have never met before. Was it easier than you thought?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I've seen her play quite a few times so I knew what to expect. You know, I was disappointed that I lost serve in one game, but I was able to hang on the rest of them. I think I only lost serve once. That was a nice stat for me.
Q. Is there something going on with the conditions that was affecting your serve?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It was a little bit windy with the toss. I feel that I'm accustomed to the wind at this point. Have to get my first serve percentage up. Really I'd like to have a few more aces. Some service winners would be nice too.
Q. You said your service game the other night was dismal. How would you describe today's?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It was definitely much better. I think she was returning my serve well. You know, I hit a fast one, she would get it right back, so that was nice for her, I guess. For me, I would be a lot happier if it was a service winner. You know, I think I served better. I was in the 50s, so that's definitely bringing it up from the other day.
Q. Now that you played Clijsters yourself, what do you think about her game?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she's a very strong player. I could see exactly why she got to the French Open final. She's very fast. She has a lot of power. I guess she just has to use it to her advantage every time that she plays.
Q. But she was not strong enough to beat you today.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, it wasn't today. Today wasn't her day. There will be other days, just like there were for me. Sometimes it wasn't my day. But there will be other opportunities.
Q. What does it say about your game where it was somewhat uneven, but you had a relatively easy straight-sets victory?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think it's experience. Really, I was just doing exactly what my dad told me to do, so that helped out a lot, when I was listening. When I wasn't, it was tougher.
Q. What did he tell you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'll keep that for myself. But everything that he told me always works out.
Q. How much confidence does it give you having successfully defended Wimbledon, coming into the US Open?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I wasn't trying to defend Wimbledon; I was trying to win Wimbledon. For me, it's a totally different thing. I'm not trying to defend here; I'm trying to win. So it's a great big difference. I don't have any pressure to defend because I'm here to try to take the title home.
Q. Your sister said last night that you gave her some very good advice about champions not getting nervous in tough situations. How did you come up with that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't really remember what I said. I talk a lot sometimes. I guess I did tell her that champions will hit over the net and not into the net. If you hit in the net, there's just no chance at all. The opportunity is finished. If you get it over, it might drop in.
Q. Have you guys talked at all about possibly meeting in the first prime time final?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, you know, I guess just one more match to go for each of us. But we're against some pretty good players, No. 1 and -- Capriati has to play yet. If I play Mauresmo, you know, she's not a joke either. I guess I have to wait and see who I play.
Q. What went through your mind when you got broken in the opening game?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, she played very good. She was trying to force me, you know, to play. But I was pretty confident, especially in my return game. Really just haven't been broken before in an opening game. That's happened before. Wasn't anything for me to get nervous or shaky about.
Q. If it is Jennifer who you play in the next round, what's the key to the match-up when you face her? Obviously, this would be the only Grand Slam left that neither of you has won this year? She won the first two, you won the last one. What would be at stake against her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I suppose getting to that prime time final. A lot of people have been vying to get there. It hasn't been an easy road. I guess whoever comes out and plays superior. I believe it will be a good match, a tough match.
Q. What would it mean to you in a couple weeks' time to be on the cover of Time Magazine and then be on prime time at night?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I guess I have to win the next round first. But if I'm there, I'm going to take the full opportunity to try to make it happen, take another title home.
Q. Tactically, what are the keys against Jennifer for you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: She's a very strong player. She does everything well. In my opinion, you just have to come out there and play good tennis, be ready to compete on that day.
Q. What about styles of play? How does she compare with yours, for example?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I think she plays very well. She hits the ball quite hard. Nowadays, I don't really try to hit every ball hard anymore. When I have to, sure, I like to force it if I have the opportunity. I think maybe I don't have as much pace on every shot as she does.
Q. Did you feel it was confusing Kim today? She was expecting you to hit every ball hard. When they weren't, she was a little confused.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I believe I had a few free points on the serve because of that. Maybe she was expecting a hard one, and I would hit it just at a medium pace. She was thrown off. I threw up some high ones. But I feel I'm able to mix it up. Maybe that was to my advantage today.
Q. The governor was here today talking about the First Serve program. I was wondering if you ever had an occasion to see him play or hit any tennis balls with him?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No.
Q. Ever even met him?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No.
Q. Have they enlisted you with this First Serve program, to be a part of it?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. But I get letters from him when I win sometimes.
Q. Do you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.
Q. What do they say?
VENUS WILLIAMS: "Congratulations." Things like that.
Q. Did you even know he was a tennis player in college?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I didn't know that.
Q. You were saying you don't feel the pressure of defending. There's this beautiful ad of you with all this grace and serenity on television. You're on court, you look so graceful and serene now. Could you talk about your growth, this image that has come to develop around you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, when I first started, I was a beginner, everything was exciting. Things are still exciting - even more exciting now because I'm winning. But back then, I played a few good matches. Burn-out. Fall to the wayside. It was very exciting because I was doing things for the first time, stepping up to the occasion. But nowadays, I expect to do these things. I expect myself to hit those shots. If I don't, then that's a surprise. So maybe that's why I'm more calm now. If I win a big point, I've expected to do this. That's what I expect of myself. So that's the difference, I think.
Q. Some of that first-time stuff is gone. What makes it fun now?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, the first times I didn't win. But now what's fun is that I'm actually able to take titles home.
Q. Given the ebb and flow you were talking about of your career, is this surprising? This is your fifth Open and your fifth semifinal appearance here?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It is?
Q. Yes.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, that's nice (smiling).
Q. It seems like in the last two, three years, more entertainers and athletes are coming to see you and Serena specifically, especially at the big events. Is that great to see? Does that give you a sense of pride? Do you think you and Serena are Tiger-izing the game?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I guess they come because they've heard a lot and they want to see what's going on. Thank you. You guys wrote it. You know, I think it's nice. I think it's very exciting that people are coming out from all walks of life to come see us. It's not only us, it's other players, too, in my opinion. I think it's especially exciting, especially here at The Open, the place to be during these two weeks.
Q. In a sense, you have movie stars and music stars, it seems like you're making tennis very cool.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I thought it was cool. That's why I kept playing. So, you know, I thought it was always nice.
Q. When you played Capriati in New Haven, it was really close. The crowd probably would have gotten behind whoever ended up losing. It was Jennifer that day. You said that they were probably sad to see her lose because they have come to really like her. Can you talk more about that, given the year that she's had?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I just think in general the fans have always loved her from the very beginning, you know, when she hit her first ball. I remember. I was like a baby, but I was following it, too when she hit her first ball. Everyone has been watching her and following her story. They feel like they watched her grow up. Maybe that's what it is. So she has a lot of fans and a strong fan base. They really come out and root for her and want her to win.
Q. Are you getting over your cold?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know what's going on. Whoever said I had a cold?
Q. Sounds like you have one.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Really?
Q. We have pretty good ears. Considering you haven't dropped a set yet in the tournament, is this the perfect way to go into a big match like you have coming up? Is this part of you that wishes you had a chance to be tested more?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, I think I tested myself enough. Today I had quite a few unforced errors. So, I think that I'm ready to play, ready to compete. If I'm not, I've just wasted 12 years of my life practicing. Here's my chance.
V. WILLIAMS/J. Capriati( semi final )
6-4, 6-2
Q. How do you feel?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel real good. Yeah, just happy I got the win and I guess maybe the significance is just settling in still.
Q. At what point in the first set do you feel that your forehand ground stroke really locked in, you really felt you could hit anything?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It was just windy. I was having a tougher time with the wind today and, you know, if anything, I feel like my forehand was better than my backhand these two weeks. If anything, I was struggling more on my backhand really. So once I got in touch with the wind, it was okay.
Q. What do you think? Around the sixth game?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I knew I was only down one break. I just didn't feel like it was my day to leave the tournament. A lot of times you can feel your demise. Today I just didn't feel it.
Q. This is an historic afternoon. You and your best friend, sister, two African Americans, into the final of the US Open. Could you comment on the significance of this in terms of tennis history.
VENUS WILLIAMS: It's sweet. It's sweet. Just real nice. Had a lot of blessings from God. And we're happy that we're healthy and we're happy to be here.
Q. Is it possible for you to want to win against your sister as much as you do against anyone else?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely. I'm still trying to take the title home. I know that she won't be giving up anything tomorrow, too. It's been like two years for her since she's won. It's been a year for me since I won here, too. So...
Q. When you took the court knowing that Serena was already at the final, is it more motivation or is it more pressure to go on the court?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I didn't feel any pressure because, more than anything, I wanted to win my match. So I didn't take into account that she had won. I was really happy she had won, for sure. The way she closed it out was impressive. So I think maybe I had a little motivation to close mine out, too.
But today I wasn't so much into the score. I was more or less like into keeping those points for me. Finally, it was finished.
Q. So what happens tonight? Do you see your sister? Is it like all war until tomorrow, it's all over?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, we'll just keep on keeping on. In the end, we're taking everything home.
Q. I'm saying tonight, will you go to dinner with her? Or is it like, "I don't want to see her until this is all over"?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, definitely not. We'll probably go out and eat. That's necessary (laughing).
Q. You played your sister a few times now. On the morning of a match when you're going to play her, do you actually still hit together? Maybe a half hour or so?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I guess it depends on if I choose a different practice time, then I won't hit with her. If we choose the same time, then we'll hit together. Sometimes we choose different times.
Q. Why do you feel the nation is so avid to see you and Venus play tennis? I ask that, when you have played, the matches haven't been considered all that enthralling?
VENUS WILLIAMS: A lot of matches we played haven't been considered championship, heroic matches. I think that tomorrow will be different, especially since the fact that I'm going to be returning, you know, a serve very similar to mine and I haven't had to do that in quite a long time. So that's going to be an experience, too.
Q. Why do you think in the past your matches with your sister haven't necessarily been of the same quality that your individual matches are?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just that in general I just rise to the occasion with each match. I wouldn't say today the match I played was an epic thriller. You can't expect that from every match. The match Andre and Pete played, that was fantastic. That doesn't happen every year, every tournament.
Q. Are you and Serena capable of playing a match like that, do you think?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I hope so. We come out there, compete, and just play well.
Q. Do you think you're mentally stronger on the court than Serena?
VENUS WILLIAMS: We're just two different players, two different persons, react to situations differently. I think -- I hope at least tomorrow that I'll be.
Q. Given what happened the last time you were supposed to play each other, do you feel like you have to prove anything to anybody tomorrow?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I have nothing to prove in my life. All I have to do is live and pay my taxes. That's all (laughter).
Q. Your dad said both you and Serena are injured. Is that the case?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Everyone has injuries, you know, every player. It's hard. Especially toward this point of the year, because all the hardcourts, all the matches, your body gets worn down naturally. You strain muscles easier. So actually I'm in better health physically this year than what I was last year.
Q. Are you both in good enough health to play a match tomorrow that's not influenced by injury?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm okay. I haven't asked Serena.
Q. Has some of the criticism been unfair about your previous matches, where people would hint that there's fixing going on? Was that unfair?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think that anyone would have wrote that or said that was very unprofessional. I take pride in my sport and my performance. You know, I'm just appalled that anyone would hint something like that. But I don't think that has ever been the case and that it ever will be.
Q. Can you talk about one of your epic practice sessions, one of the more memorable ones with Serena, kind of what goes on there when you're going all out?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, one time we had to hit from eight to three in the afternoon. But that was a long time ago, when we were kids. We didn't want to be there.
But it happened. Finally, we left.
Q. Why did you have to hit from eight to three?
VENUS WILLIAMS: When you're little, those kind of things happen. You just keep hitting and hitting. You're ready to go, but you just keep hitting. When you're young, you put those hours in. When you get older, the time's less and less.
Q. What is the most competitive match you guys have played? Not necessarily here on the tour, but LA, Florida?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Maybe the mixed doubles we played in '98 at the French Open. That was pretty competitive. No one seems to remember that (smiling).
Q. Your dad said it was the happiest day of his life. What does that mean to you that your father would say that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think he's put a lot of work into this, a lot of hours, a lot of sacrifices on his part. I guess he's just proud of both of us.
Q. I'm guessing you may have dreamed what it would be like for you and Serena to play here at the US Open in the finals. When was the first time you imagined this happening?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Basically, it was my dad's dream, my mom's dream. They told us we'd be here playing each other in the finals. That's why we believed it. If they had told us we would never make it playing tennis, I don't think we'd be here today. So it all started with my parents giving us positive reinforcement.
Q. Opponents talk about how physically demanding it is playing against yourself and your sister, how it's different playing against you guys. What do you expect tomorrow? What kind of a match do you expect when you put those two powerful players against one another?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, a lot of times when you put two powerful players against one another, it's more difficult because the unforced error count can become high because of both players. If you put a powerful player and a less powerful one, they both have to adjust to each other's games. I guess we'll have to keep the unforced errors down.
Q. I know you're used to seeing your miles per hour clock being higher than your opponent's. What will it be like tomorrow when it's a much closer miles per hour on the serve? How will you react to that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think Serena and I, we both mix it up. Should we go for our speed, because it's easy to get points off a short ball we can move in on. Then also we do hit some kick serves and some sliders. So it's variety that's the spice of life. That's what keeps our opponents on their toes.
Q. Do you have any sense of how difficult this is for your mom and your dad, too, because they're helpless to control the match; they want both of you to succeed certainly?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think in their minds we've succeeded already - not really with just tennis, but just with being people and good citizens. That's all they wanted for us, is for us to be happy in our lives and to do what we want.
At this point, we've done what we wanted, we've been successful and we're healthy. That's all they wanted from us.
Q. Were you at all bothered by the booing at the end of the first set?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No.
Q. Over the line calls.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm here to compete. I couldn't be too bothered. I won the first set. Things had went my way.
I was feeling pretty good at that point.
Q. If you could step back and get one of Serena's either strokes or one of her qualities as a tennis player, what would that be?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I did take one of her qualities. You know, just her will to fight. That's how I became a fighter, too.
September, 9.
V. WILLIAMS/S. Williams
6-2, 6-4
Q. Congratulations, Venus.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Thank you.
Q. How do you feel?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel okay.
Q. Are you a mean big sister?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I think I'm one of the best out there. So... I don't know.
Q. Do you consider tonight a win for the Williams family? What's the significance?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, for sure, because this is our first Grand Slam final together, and really that's the way we'd like it to be. Because then both of us win in a way. And, also, I just hate to see Serena lose anyway - even against me. So I think that's the harder part. For anything, it would be easier for her to beat me, then I'd maybe be, I don't know, happier.
It's kind of strange. But when you're the big sister looking to take care of the younger one...
Q. If that's true, do you think it would have been easier for you tonight if it were Jennifer or Lindsay? Would you be more joyful now if you had beaten one of them in the final?
VENUS WILLIAMS: If I was the younger sister, maybe I'd feel more joyful. When you're younger, (inaudible) you're used to finding a way to get in and out of things. I don't exactly feel like I've won.
Q. That's what I mean. That's why I'm asking. If you were playing a different opponent, would you be a little bit more joyful?
VENUS WILLIAMS: If I was playing a different opponent, I'd probably be a lot more joyful. But I'm happy I won the US Open again. There's nothing like winning a Grand Slam. Serena and I, we both know that when we come out there, it's going to be two competitors competing against each other. That's just the way it is. When you walk out on the court, if you're not a competitor, you just got to go home. And we both understand that.
Q. How did you and your sister spend the day today before you got here?
VENUS WILLIAMS: We practiced, had lunch, took a nap, headed over.
Q. Your mother said that you took a nap. Serena went out and did some shopping with mom.
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I think Serena -- I don't know. I don't think she shopped. I hope not, because then she probably got some things I didn't get (laughter).
Q. You got some sleep, maybe that helped?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I love sleeping (laughter). Nothing like getting those zzz's on. Always try to take a nap before a match if I get the chance. A lot of times it's hard to get up for me. Today it took me about an hour and a half to get up.
Q. There's much talk about the dream. Often, you have told us that this was your parents' dream. At what point did it become your dream? Secondly, the dream of both of you playing together in a Grand Slam tournament, when did that happen?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It's tough to say. When I was younger, I played tennis because my parents wanted me to. I was happy doing it. I never thought twice about it. And I suppose later on, as I got older and was able to understand and I kind of understood what was going on around me, that's when I decided or I understood that, "Hey, I wanted to be a player, too."
From the beginning, it was just a lot of positive reinforcement from my parents. Again, I understood I'd be a good player, I guess.
Q. There are a lot of sisters, brothers. What has happened today is really so unusual in tennis. So many things could have gone one way or the other. Because of the development, how do you see this, both of you together, in terms of the historical perspective of this event?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, boy. Well, I don't know how we ^ both had to be two good sisters together. We're both good athletes, that helps a lot. Then we worked hard and we believe in ourselves. That helps a lot more. Then we kind of stepped up and made it happen. That's what counts.
I guess, you know, years from now we'll look back and laugh. We still laugh. But now we look back at the times that we've had before and we laugh and say, "Boy, if I had known, I would have done better here and there." I suppose we can keep the memory for ourselves.
Q. So many figures from the world of sports, from entertainment, celebrities of all kinds came to this match. What does that mean to you, that all these figures came to see a little tennis match between two women?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, actually, I was looking at the screen, too. I don't deny myself a look on the screen when I'm on the changeover. So I look and see who's here, too.
Q. Could you tell us a little bit, some of the celebrities you saw, what went through your head.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I saw all of them - all of them that they showed on the screen. I was thinking mostly about the match for sure. But I like watching the screen.
Q. In the past, your matches with Serena have been filled with a lot of unforced errors - one way or the other. Were you surprised the way she came out? Was she a little rattled in the beginning? How do you describe that first-set dominance you had?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think we were even until I got the first break, and it could be that I'm really used to playing these Grand Slam finals now. That could be it. This is my fifth one so far, my fifth Grand Slam final. So I think maybe that played a factor.
Q. You didn't drop a set this whole event. Is this the easiest Grand Slam you've won? I mean, are you just playing beyond, you know, any skill level you played before?
VENUS WILLIAMS: In terms of the scores, I suppose so. It has to be my easiest Grand Slam. But it's been a hard week, or two weeks. I'm a little tired.
Q. Are you at the top of your game? Can you move up?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't feel I played my best. I don't feel I did. But I guess it's not always the best that counts. It's how you play the important points. And I'd like to, of course, improve my game.
Q. Do you still have the goal of being No. 1 in the world?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Sure, I do. It just hasn't happened (smiling). When I'm deserving of it, I suppose I'll be there. But it hasn't worked out just yet.
Q. You said you've been in five Grand Slam finals now, and you think that that's helped your comfort level, confidence in the match. There are certain points you might have been down Love-30. Can you explain how being in the finals helped you out.
VENUS WILLIAMS: It's really just that maybe I understand the plays more, more than Serena does, which is putting the ball where I want it to be or trying to draw an error. So that could be it, too.
But I don't know. Just, you know... I don't know.
Q. Do you think that women are overtaking sport? If so, what role do you think you and your sister have in that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: The sport of tennis?
Q. Yes.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think definitely right now we're the top story in tennis. It's real exciting because every time I go out there, especially if I'm playing someone like Lindsay, Martina, Serena, Jennifer, Monica, I'm going to be in for a battle. And I think that's exciting. And what we've all brought to the game, we've worked hard, and I feel that we deserve it - and the sport does, too.
Q. Martina's pretty much acknowledged that she's not the best player in the world this year. Jennifer has two majors. You have two majors. If you had to realistically assess it, would you say you were the best player this year?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I guess I've had the most amount of titles. But for me, I've almost done my personal best. I would have loved to have won some more Grand Slams, but that wasn't the case. Someone else was more deserving of the first two (laughing). So it wasn't me.
I've done my best. And the year isn't over yet. I'm still looking forward to hopefully improving my ranking. Who knows?
Q. Just sort of eradicating tonight's match and everything, can you understand how people in the media particularly look at matches between yourself and Serena with a very sort of critical eye, almost waiting to see if there's any sign that one maybe is sort of slumping at such a time, sort of a suspicion, almost? Obviously something that you abhor. But can you understand why they're saying, These two sisters, how hard is it for them to play each other? Do you understand that, or do you just find it complete nonsense?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I rarely try to understand. When you spend too much time trying to understand things, then that takes too much time, in my opinion, energy. I develop my own theories and beliefs, and that's how I go.
Q. A few years ago you said you'd like to travel to Africa. I was wondering if you ever envisioned yourself playing a tournament there?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I suppose we had one tournament in Egypt, but it's not there anymore. But I sure would like to go. It's hard, because when we do have time off, we have to also spend that time practicing and training so we can play as well as we do. Isn't a lot of free time in our schedules. We have full-time jobs, actually. So when I have the opportunity and the time, I'd love to.
Q. There were times when she wasn't playing too well. As a sister, did you feel yourself feeling a little bit sorry for her? If you did, how did you deal with that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I always like to see Serena play well and do her personal best. I was happy to get free points, that's for sure. But then on the other hand, I was, you know, being like -- kind of like if I was sitting in the stands and Serena was playing someone else and I was saying, "Come on, Serena, just do this or do that." When I'd find myself doing that, I'd lose a couple points.
So I just want the best for her in the end.
Q. How did you overcome feeling sorry for her?
VENUS WILLIAMS: When I lost a couple points, I wasn't sorry anymore (laughter).
Q. There were people, Venus, who were thinking ahead to when you're 1 and 2 in the world, you and Serena, and that you could be playing more Grand Slam finals. Do you think that gradually will cut through the difficulties you feel maybe emotionally now about playing sister against sister, and that it will become, "Okay, you've won Grand Slams, I've won Grand Slams, let's go for it"? Mentally, emotionally, there won't be any problem whatsoever playing your sister. Do you think that time will come?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think pretty much today, I don't think we had a problem playing each other. Sure, I wanted to win more than anything - and Serena did, too. We understood that.
But I think we played an okay match today. I think that when I had some opportunities like to break serve, I was able to capitalize on those more than what she was able to. So that was the key, the difference in the match.
But we both went out there competing, trying to win this tournament. Hopefully, there will be better matches. I mean, after that Andre and Pete match, no one can live up to that again in this tournament - maybe not ever.