1997

STATE FARM EVERT CUP

March 11, 1997

V. WILLIAMS/I. Majoli

7-5, 3-6, 7-5

Q. You seem like you're getting stronger after each match. You seem to be in great shape. What do you do to stay in condition?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't do the threadmill. I don't do the Stairmaster. I am forced to ride the bike for ten minutes, but usually I don't turn it on. I live in Florida, so I think that is enough. Actually, I am not too much into aerobics. I really don't know how -- it is just being 16, just playing tennis everyday, staying in shape. But I think most of all the gym. I enjoy riding the bike most.

Q. How about the whole issue of being competitive. Venus, when you are out there in an intense match like that, is some of what -- some of the fuel you are running on competing, you know, you are in the heat of competition out there?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I think that some of it is also because no one goes out there to lose or give a match away. And certainly, today, Iva didn't give me that match. I had to work for that. And the crowd was on my side today and I really wanted to win.

Q. Could you have won that match a year ago, do you think?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Probably so, yes. I wouldn't say anything negative about me.

Q. You don't think there is something -- you got more mature in the last year?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely think I am much better, but I definitely don't think I would have lost it last year.

Q. What about the year before (laughter)?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I really would have won it that year (laughter).

Q. When she came over at deuce and took off her shoe and started -- were you getting upset or --

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I mean, if she was hurt, then she probably needed some medical attention. I just needed some water. (laughter).

Q. You just went and got a drink of water and relaxed?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Actually, someone behind me yelled to get some water. I wouldn't have thought of it. (laughter) So, I went and got some water.

Q. You are going to play Lindsay Davenport next. Talk a little bit about playing her.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I am going to go out there and play my game, get more first serves in and improve the second serve a little bit. I know Lindsay attacks the second serve a lot of the times. And, most of all, I am going to go out there and have fun because when I do that I can stay relaxed. And, when I am relaxed, I can hit my shots. If I do that, then that is the recipe.

Q. This was your best match on the circuit, would you say? It is about the 26th match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: 24th.

Q. You feel good beating a top-10 player?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I feel good beating a top-10 player.

I always felt that I could beat anyone who ever came my way. I never -- I don't go out there and say that I am going to win. I always go out saying -- I feel that if I go out there and say I am going to win, I am really tight and I can't stay relaxed and I am busy thinking about winning. Then it becomes a chore and when I go out there, I don't think about thinking top-10 players; I got all these points; look at all this prestige, I don't do that. I try go out there and stay relaxed.

Q. Do you know the reason why you didn't get a wildcard in the main draw?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I didn't want a wildcard in the main draw. I feel that when I get a wildcard in the main draw I am not as relaxed. When I go out and play qualifying, it is kind of actually a real good warm-up; play some matches; get some points by different players. And I just requested a wildcard to qualify.

Q. Lindsay was saying she watched you in your first qualifying match; she said the difference between that match and then watching you play against Sugiyama was almost like watching a different player; that you didn't --

VENUS WILLIAMS: That match I was more tight. And, even in this match today, I wasn't playing anywhere near what I can play. I wasn't attacking the short balls. The high balls I wasn't taking those out of the air. And, on the return of serves, I wasn't attacking those. It was nothing near what I can do and I know that if I can go out there and just go for broke, "Venus, go ahead," it doesn't matter then. You guys will see a real match.

Q. Did you ever play Kournikova? Did you see her? She was watching you today.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.

Q. What do you think about her?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Good player.

Q. You had a bead problem today. What was that all about?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Got to get some attention for that.

Q. Just one strip came out?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Actual what happened, sometimes the rubber bands that hold the bead, it just comes loose somehow. From there the beads just come falling.

Q. Did you have a special goal for this year or what is it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: My goal for this year was to be in the top-20. And, the way I am playing right now, I believe I can do a little better than that. But, I think it is important just to have a goal because you have something to work toward and you are not blind aiming this way and stumbling that way.

Q. Are you still in the regular school? Are you going to continue with that at this point?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't to a public school. I go to a private school because it fits my schedule more and get a lot more done. Public schools teachers are always baby sitting more or less.

Q. So you are not home school anymore?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No.

Q. When did that stop, not going to school?

VENUS WILLIAMS: When did that stop? 1994, September.

Q. What tournaments do you play between now and U.S. Open and will you play the U.S. Open?

VENUS WILLIAMS: That is a moot topic. I don't know. I don't know if I am going to play the U.S. Open.

Q. What other tournaments before then are you thinking about playing?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Before then, I definitely want to play Manhattan Beach, and San Diego. I will most likely be there, good chance. Before that, Wimbledon. Eastbourne, I had that on my list, wow. Before that -- okay, then Italian Open, French Open. I really think I am going to play those, Italian and French. And, then there is Amelia Island. And, Lipton, I think I am already in that tournament.

Q. Do you know how you get into the French Open and Wimbledon if your ranking is not high enough?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I will definitely get in there.

Q. You stayed positive there in the third set when she was up; it seemed like you were exchanging breaks. What was your frame of mind in the middle of that set?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Actually, these days I stay calm. I just try to relax. I try not to get on the run too much. Because it is kind of hot out there and if you start all that running, you start cramping, things like that. So that was my main goal, stay off the highway. (laughter). I was the beginning driver. If I could have the right technique on my serve, I knew that could pull me through. In a lot of other matches against two in the qualifying and second set, when I was playing second round qualifying, my serve pulled me through. I knew that if I just stayed calm, I could do some magic, pull it out of the hat.

Q. Did you get even a little pumped up at the end there because you hit a couple of big serves?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely was. I was pumped up. I mean, it is not like I was nervous. I was extremely happy and that my serve kicked in because it went on vacation, but we met (laughter). We met after the game; got back together. So last two matches it was, you know, separated, but things are going well.

March 12

L. DAVENPORT/V. Williams

6-4, 5-7, 7-6(1)

Q. Was it a little bit of experience or did you make too many mistakes?

VENUS WILLIAMS: It could be a lot of things. Serve, could have been experience. It was a lot of mistakes. It was a lot of things.

Q. Was it fun, Venus?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Fun things?

Q. Was it fun, the match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, it was fun.

Q. Why was it fun?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Because I went out there and I played the best I could, and I played hard. I had a good match. I was really challenged. That's fun.

Q. When you're playing seeds like Lindsay, does anything intimidate you at all, any player intimidate you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I'm really not intimidated on the court, no.

Q. What are you trying to take from each match as far as like learning?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I never really answered that question before. I never really try to take anything from each match, to be truthful.

Q. We talk a lot about you, Lindsay talked a lot about you. Can you tell us something about her? How is it playing with her this night? Can you point out some of her qualities?

VENUS WILLIAMS: She hits the ball really hard and pretty deep. She keeps the pressure on. She doesn't hit the ball to you; you're always on the run. She serves some pretty good balls. She has a pretty consistent serve. Lindsay is a very solid player. She's one of those players you're not going to run through too often. Today I didn't run through her. She didn't run through me; she pulled the match out.

Q. You started serve and volleying in the second set. How come you abandoned that when it worked for those couple points?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Because I didn't want to do that anymore.

Q. Even though you were effective at it; you won those two points?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.

Q. Venus, do you go out there with a game plan or do you go out there just trying to hit your shots?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Generally I go out with a game plan, yes. I feel it would be somewhat unwise not to do so. I go out there and I try to go for my shots. Usually I make them. If I don't, just the next time.

Q. Venus, I notice you seem to have an international following. I saw you at Manhattan Beach, you seemed to appeal to old people, young people, different races. Is this about the same thing everywhere you go?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, it is. It's like that everywhere I go. Maybe I have an international name. I don't know (laughter). People generally seem to be on my side. I try to be on their side also. I try -- they're good fans, everyone is always a good fan. I like it when I have good fans. I try to be fair to them and give them autographs, whatever they want, if I can.

Q. Venus, can I ask you a business question?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.

Q. Your racquet didn't have any stencil or logo on it up till today, all of a sudden it had a logo today. Any reason for that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: To tell you the truth, generally I don't play with it because I just felt it made me play worse. But today I don't think it made me play any worse. I don't know why I thought that. I think maybe because I had some racquets before, and the strings were loose. It had like the stencil on it. I just thought "This is making me play bad, I don't like it on the strings." That's why my dad wanted the racquet stenciled. I was a little hesitant, but I went ahead and had it done.

Q. So it worked okay?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.

Q. Venus, with your success this week, are you thinking of scheduling more tournaments this year?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not at all. I might add one tournament because I missed one tournament in my schedule, but not much more than that, I don't think so.

Q. You talked about playing Wimbledon, with it's history and tradition, is that something you're aware of or for you would it be like any other tournament?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think when anybody ever goes to Wimbledon, it's a special tournament. There's a certain air over there, a certain feeling. I don't know. I haven't been there. I should ask someone else and get the information on that. Definitely, when you walk out there on that stadium court or hit the grass when you go out there, you definitely just feel probably like you can do anything. When you go to Wimbledon, it's just definitely something different. Everybody's heard of Wimbledon. That's just the premiere tournament.

Q. How do you keep yourself from getting too anxious? You say you're thinking of adding one more tournament. Some people might play as well as you did against Davenport and say, "I want to get out of there more often." How do you keep from getting too anxious?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I've been here like ten days. I missed school, I missed midterms, I missed my dogs, missed my car.

Q. Are you going on Friday?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I go to school this week. I promised myself two things if I did well in this tournament. You were asking about being anxious. No, I don't get too anxious. Actually, it's a very long time to be away from home. I was going to play four tournaments in a row, but I didn't because I was going to school. I was going to play this tournament, Lipton, Hilton Head and Amelia Island. I probably most likely can handle that. I usually am pretty calm about it, stay relaxed, but it's a lot, especially for someone my age. I'll miss a lot of school, a lot of homework. I definitely don't get anxious over all the things I'm going to miss.

Q. Do you think you'll be giving up too much to play more?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Not too much, I think it's just a lot of strain to travel, work for the ranking, where I can get that ranking next year, the year after that, ten years later. I mean, I don't plan to be on the Tour too long. It's always going to be here, so there's nothing for me to be anxious about.

Q. Do you think that given your serve and return, ability to volley when you decide to do it, that grass is potentially your best surface?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think grass definitely is a great surface for me and also I'm working on my slice. I don't hit it much. I don't pull it out of the closet very often, but it's definitely there. I think I just forget to hit that slice in the match, except when I'm on the run with my forehand. I definitely think about the slice. I think grass is a great surface for me. I have the hard strokes, on a hardcourt they stay down low when I really strike it. On the grass, it's not going to come up. Also I'm very fast, where other people wouldn't be able to get to the ball when it skids, I might be able to get there. So grass, I think, we'll get along.

Q. You started to say that you were going to promise yourself something.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Two things. At one point, I was buying too much jewelry. It was out of hand, so I just had to quit. I said if I could do well in tournaments, I could get something. I'm going to get an Omega necklace, 18-inch, six millimeters, and a green Tourmaline ring. I was going to get Aquamarine, but I'm going to wait till after Lipton. I have to keep it out of control. I know this. You have to go to a 12 Step program for that. It was terrible, though, because I was buying Serena things, buying myself things, my mom, my grandmother. I looked at this, "Wow." I had to stop. You should see the jewels on Serena.

Q. You said that you don't plan to be on the Tour very long. Why would you say that? What makes you think you might not play that long?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I can't see myself playing through pain and injuries, year after year doing the same thing. I can't see it. I can understand it would be hard to quit, especially when you're on top of things and you're the best. I'm not going to stay there that long because I don't want to say that I spent all my youth on tennis and didn't do anything else.

Q. What's been the biggest sacrifice you've made for your tennis?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I haven't made any big sacrifices.

Q. Are you planning on going to college?

VENUS WILLIAMS: College? I really can't go to college full-time. It's a lot of work, to go to college and play tennis and have high school. It's not going to be a full-time thing. Probably mostly after tennis.

Q. What effect do you think you've had on young black women playing? Do girls come up to you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think that I've had a good effect. Generally, you don't see too many black people playing tennis, not on the Tour, not anywhere you go really. It's mostly because tennis is kind of an expensive sport at times, like ice skating probably is, too, where you have to keep stringing the racquets, buying the balls, buying the shoes. Usually the most common courts are hardcourts, and your shoes wear out quickly on that. It's just an expensive sport. If the parent doesn't know how to play, they have to pay for lessons, which are very expensive every hour. A lot of times most people, black, white, Hispanic, can't afford that. Tennis, it was generally basketball or hockey -- not hockey. Baseball, football, track, things like that, which everyone does. Those are common things on the playground, all those sports. Tennis really isn't a common sport. I think I've really helped bring it. If they see me on TV. "Who is this? This is Venus? She plays tennis? I've never seen a girl playing tennis." I think so, probably.

Q. So you would follow in the footsteps of Zina Garrison and help the community in the way she did also?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes. I feel I should give back to the community because generally not everyone has a role model that is actually doing a lot of positive things, just staying out of trouble. Everyone's just falling into trouble these days. I want to be a good girl, be a good role model.

Q. Has this week been different because you played through the qualifying, all these matches in the main event, coming into press conferences, all this nonsense? This is how it is if you're a real champion.

VENUS WILLIAMS: This is my sixth singles match. I was playing doubles with Serena. In the singles I'm not nervous at all. In the doubles I am. I don't know why. Sometimes generally in the first set. Doubles is a lot of fun with Serena, because we don't talk that much. We just nod to each other like that (indicating). It was really crazy. We were losing the first set, coming back 7-6. It was a lot of fun. I played like ten matches this tournament. Usually I play about three.

Q. Do you plan to keep up the doubles with your sister?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah. We're going to play doubles. I always had a built-in doubles partner. We would probably play some mixed doubles, the Slams. It's definitely a lot of fun. We didn't practice that much for doubles. We played about maybe 15 sets, that's it. We came out here. Sometimes you could see that we were pretty much novice at doubles. Sometimes we wouldn't cross in time. We are definitely going to work on it because we saw what we needed to do.

Q. On the tiebreaks, too?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Pardon me?

Q. Work more on tiebreaks? Do you like tiebreaks?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Do I like tiebreaks? That was my third tiebreak. I won one and I lost two, so. Tiebreaks don't bother me. I like tiebreaks.

Q. Who would you like to play mixed doubles with?

VENUS WILLIAMS: A lot of people. A lot of great doubles players. I don't know. Serena and I, we don't know. There's a lot of people to play with. We really don't know. Do you have any suggestions?

Q. Do you like playing with the men here at the same tournament?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think it's a lot of fun. You get to watch the women's matches, men's matches, learn from all of them. Usually when I go to tournaments, I don't watch matches, I play my own and get out. This tournament I've been watching all the matches. It's a lot of fun.

Q. Did you watch any of Pete's match today?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Actually, I was there on and off. I was matching the Philippoussis match over there, then I would turn around and watch the stadium court match. I guess he went ahead and lost it. I don't know, maybe he was tired. I really didn't see a lot of it.

Q. When you watch the men's matches, do you pick out things that you might try to work on? Do you emulate any of the men players?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah. Serena and I are watching saying, "No way would I have gotten to that ball. We have to do this, play like a man." Especially in doubles, saw say, "This is real doubles, let's watch this, get this together." We really need to improve on our doubles. We watch the men and take up some tips, watch everyone and take up from everyone the best we can.

Q. Usually so far this tournament your top has been out. Tonight you started with it tucked in. Your clothing manufacturer putting pressure on you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Tucked in?

Q. The other night when you played doubles, your top was out.

VENUS WILLIAMS: This one right here is like a full body suit. Generally, when the top was tucked in, it didn't look nice. Plus, I'm very uncomfortable with the top tucked in. I feel very uncomfortable. That could make me lose, you know.

Q. But your sister had it tucked in.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Like when you wear this, it's like a full body suit. It goes all the way down to the leg. I'll show you. It goes all the way down here (indicating). It can't help but be tucked in unless it broke or something. Wouldn't want that.

September 5, 1997

V. WILLIAMS/I. Spirlea

7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(7)

Q. How does it feel, Venus?

VENUS WILLIAMS: When I first won, it was like I was so happy because it was a long match, we both worked so hard for it. Luckily, I came out the winner. I was really happy. I'm pretty happy now. I'm just getting over it, so. Just moving on, moving on.

Q. Did you think coming into the US Open that you had a chance to win it or even get to the final?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I'm really not sure what I thought. I mean, it's so long ago. I just wanted to come here and play well and play like I could. And today, I think I played much better. Not much better, but it's just that I was playing much more what I practice on. I was coming to the net more instead of camping out at the baseline, just holding camp. I came to the net much more. That's really something I wanted to do. If you can't do it in the big matches. I need to do that, especially with my height. I have good volleys. It's not like I didn't have any. So I was just happy about that.

Q. 4-3 in the second set, at the changeover chair, you and Spirlea bumped into each other. She was pretty upset about it when she was in here, put the blame on you for the collision. What was your view of it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I mean, I'm not having any injuries from that bump (laughter). I think we just both weren't looking. I think we both were just concentrating on trying to stay in the match and trying to win the match. I mean, I really wasn't even thinking about that. So I'm sorry she feels that way. It's not really a big thing to me.

Q. Anybody say, "Excuse me"?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, no. No one said, "Excuse me."

Q. Venus, in the third game of the third set, you double-faulted three times. You faced breakpoints. Do you recall that as a low point? Were you a little tired perhaps mentally and physically at that stage?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I wasn't tired. I think that maybe I was letting down a little bit. I said, "I just can't keep losing serve like this." So I just held strong.

Q. But it was a let down point?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, yeah, definitely. And plus, like the wind was blowing my toss around. I didn't bother to retoss it up again. I should have done that. I should have just threw up another toss.

Q. Venus, you were consulting notes on changeovers. Was that match strategy or something else?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Those are just reminders, bend your knees, someone tells me to do that. Sometimes I tend to strike a little bit flat. So I just write, "Get under the ball." Things like that. Little reminders. Plus most of all just keeps you focused on the match. In the past, I had a problem with staying focused.

Q. Venus, did you get a chance to call your dad after the match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, no, I wanted to. I just didn't have a chance to. I was going to.

Q. On TV you said the match was like a dream. What's been the sweetest part of the dream?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, it was, because, it was really a tough match, she had two match points. Somehow she just didn't win them. Somehow I didn't let her win them. Whatever way you want to look at it. I just came through. I'm going to have to evaluate these things after I leave the tennis center.

Q. What were you saying when you were match point down? What were you saying to yourself?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, actually, what I -- no, wait.

Q. We won't tell anyone.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You'll just write it, right? Won't tell, though.

Q. Was this the best match you ever played? Let her answer the question. Wait, wait.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I guess I was thinking about going home. I said, "This is not the right thing, Venus." I had to hold strong. She didn't put in a real big first serve. It wasn't like well placed. It just gave me a chance to get it back. I had to push those thoughts out of the way. "Venus, this isn't right. It's not over. She has to win a point to get the match." So I just stayed in there.

Q. What do you think about your chances against Hingis?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely think they're pretty good. I think I'm just going to go out there and play a match, just like I played today, just like I played the other days. She's going to do the same thing. You got to go out there and beat the person before you have the title. That's the way it is.

Q. Would you say that like a high-jumper, you won by half an inch? You raised one match point with your ball going on the line?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm not understanding your question.

Q. I said, do you think you won because of half an inch, just because one ball of yours on match point went on the line?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No.

Q. At the right moment?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think I won by half an inch. No, no.

Q. Venus, ever since you were a little girl, I should say, and not playing the juniors, people have been wondering about you and waiting to see just how good you are. Do you feel likee right now you've shown that You've said everybody has to worry about themselves. Do you feel at this point that you've shown everybody just how good you are?

VENUS WILLIAMS: In the past, I really didn't worry about what other people thought because it was important what I thought, what my family thought. So I really didn't focus on that. Everyone has their own opinion. They're going to have it. I'm not going to change it. So I definitely knew that one day people would see, and I would just -- it would just be a little bit of time. I hadn't played that much. So, I guess this is just a great tournament for me. Maybe a fraction of the talk will stop.

Q. Do you feel a little bit better, though, about your chances against Martina compared to the first two times you played her? You have more experience since then.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. The first two times -- I mean, the first time I played okay. I didn't play that well. I wasn't able to just stay in there. She definitely played well. She didn't try to give me any points. The second time, I just gave it away. It was just giving. It was giving. It was her match to take. I don't blame her for taking it if I was going to give it.

Q. Did you realize, Venus, during the last tiebreak in the third set the support was given to you by the former Mayor of New York, Mr. David Dinkins, that was standing and trying to encourage you when you were 2-4 down?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. Because, like, in my other matches, I would hear somebody behind me in that same area saying, "Break time, break time," things like that. Finally I looked up. Guess who it was? Dinkins. I was like, "Oh, my God." I finally figured out who it was. I would just hear the same, "Break time." I would say, "Yeah, yeah." I looked up today. "I'm going to figure out who this is."

Q. You had these two tiebreakers. If you hadn't been able to win, people might say, "She's not match tough, she hasn't put the years in on the junior circuit, she's not match tough mentally." Where do you get this from? Where do you have that if you haven't played as many matches?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think there's a lot of myths floating around. When I'm in practice, especially the last three, four weeks before the tournament, two or three weeks, whatever it was, I tried to stay focused in the match because a lot of times I wasn't doing that. I think a lot of people believe you have to be match tough and things like that. You just have to know how to play and you have to believe that you can do it. You just have to go out there and do it. So some people, they might need to be match tough. For others, I don't know. But I do agree that you have to play a little bit. I haven't had to play that much because I can tell you, like a year ago, like when I first started playing, I looked back and said, "I didn't know what to do." I just didn't know. But it hasn't taken me long to learn. Hasn't taken me many matches. A lot of people, it depends on who you are, how you look at it maybe.

Q. Your dad didn't want you to come here. Now you're in the Finals. Is that at the end of the story? You won the argument?

VENUS WILLIAMS: He didn't really want me to come, but I convinced him that I needed to be here, just like the Thursday four days before I left. So I got my practice in, worked hard, even though it was super hot and horrible. I'm glad I'm here. He's glad. It's not like I'm going to go and say, "I was right." He's not going to say, "I was wrong." Doesn't really matter.

Q. Why is your dad at home? Why did he stay home?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I answer that question like every time. I don't want to answer it anymore.

Q. I'm from Africa. Venus, do you realize what you've done for Africa today?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't.

Q. I'm telling you, my dear, you've done Africa proud. We'd love to see you in the finals.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'd love to see that, too.

Q. There's talk of waning tennis in the United States. Can you single-handedly pull together a new generation?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think about those things when I play. I don't think about pulling tennis together, holding women's tennis up, whatever. That's your job. You guys say that. That's your job. It's not mine to think about. You guys are supposed to write it, make people interested. I'll leave it to you.

Q. No pressure or anything?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I play for myself.

Q. I meant on us.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's your job.

Q. Does Hingis, her game, her record, anything about her scare you or intimidate you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I've never been that type of person who is like scared, fearful. I can't let that hold me back. I won't. This is a chance of a lifetime, a tournament of a lifetime. I've done well. I wouldn't be angry if I didn't win. But I'm not going to go out there and be afraid, because fear holds you back. I won't let it happen.

Q. How much did you enjoy the pressure, the attention, the excitement of the late parts of this match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I was just out there playing every point. I'm not the kind of player that looks back and remembers, "Oh, man, I could have closed it out," stuff like that. At one point it was actually 4-3, I was going to break. I thought it was 3-2. I looked up, said, "Oh, my God, it's 4-3." I thought it was 3-2.

Q. (Inaudible).

VENUS WILLIAMS: Irina, no. The first set, her forehand, she wasn't hitting. She was just playing, it was landing inside the service box, gave me a chance to attack it. Second and third set, she got out there and started striking it. On her slice, she'd have all that power.

Q. Venus, what are your favorite memories, one or two, from when you first started to play the game of tennis when you were very young?

VENUS WILLIAMS: My, I don't know. I don't think about that every day, so. What can I say? The first time I played a junior match, I was playing the 10. I was playing in a satellite. I was ready to play. Then I got a default. I was so sad, I think I started crying. I was like nine. Then everyone else realized how sad I was. My older sister started teasing and -- I don't know what they said. They started teasing me. I was so sad.

Q. Are any of your other siblings here?

VENUS WILLIAMS: My sister Serena is here and my other two sisters from DC, they came up on the weekends for two weekends. Now they're going to come up again to see the Finals.

Q. Most of the match, or all the match, you displayed a very mature composure. Could you likely tell us who advised you about that? Where did you learn it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think it's just the way I am. A lot of players are cool and composed. Some players are fiery and angry. It's just me, I guess. I mean, a lot of times, like in the past, if I won a point or a game, I would start smiling. Kind of got unfocused. I had to quit the smiling for this moment now. Maybe in the future I can start doing that some more. Focused people come back on you. I don't know what hit me. In the future, I'll start smiling more. I did it like three tournaments ago. It wasn't working for me. I'd get unfocused. Now I keep my straight face.

Q. You said earlier it's not a good idea to dropshot you, because you're going to get those shots. Spirlea tried time and again. Were you surprised at that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: She must not have heard me say it, I guess (laughter). I mean, I'm going to get the dropshot, that's all there is to it. I love people that hit dropshots on me.

Q. You have yet to win a set off of Martina Hingis. How different do you think you are from then and what will you do differently?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I've learned a lot of things in this Open. I've learned to put more balls in play, not to go for winners so prematurely, not to rush things. I've learned a lot of things. Things are different. Doesn't matter, I'm going to be ready.

Q. The reality of you in the US Open, has that fully sunk in yet or does that come later on tonight?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Maybe later on tonight.

Q. Venus, do you feel that Althea Gibson may have had some influence on your playing the game or wanting to play the game in any way?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I answered a question similar to this earlier this week. I said earlier that it's mostly something intangible.

Q. I must say, keep up the good work.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Thank you.

Q. Where do you get the inspiration?

VENUS WILLIAMS: From God.

September 7

M. HINGIS/V. Williams

6-0, 6-4

An interview with:

VENUS WILLIAMS

Q. How do you feel?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Feel good. Thank you.

Q. Pardon me?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Good.

Q. Glad to hear that. Were there any nerves, Venus, at the beginning of the match, on your part?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, probably so. I think so. I think it's natural to be nervous in a situation like that.

Q. What happened? What happened out there?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I went out there. Lost first set 6-0. Second 6-4. Then awards ceremony.

Q. I don't mean it like that. What were you thinking to yourself after the first set, mentally?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just felt that I should have pulled my game together, maybe slow it down, do something a little bit different.

Q. Have you figured out how to beat her the next time?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think I'll probably have to play a little better, be a little bit more consistent, cut down my number of unforced errors a little bit.

Q. What makes Martina so tough?

VENUS WILLIAMS: She's an all-around player. She's consistent. She has a lot of shots. She's doing real good this year.

Q. What could you learn from this day?

VENUS WILLIAMS: A lot of things, but I really haven't even thought about that right now.

Q. The Associated Press this morning quoted your father as saying that the incident with Irina Spirlea was racially motivated. Does your father reflect your thoughts on that? Do you have thoughts on that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I mean, I didn't even read the paper.

Q. Venus, on opening night, Arthur Ashe's widow said the most important message that Arthur Ashe had was inclusion of all people into the sport. Could you take a moment and say whether that is of importance to you and something that you'd like to achieve now and over your years?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, if someone wants to play the sport, they shouldn't be put out because of their race or religion, social status. That really is part of the American belief. It really should be part of the world's belief. I definitely think that is something representative of Arthur Ashe.

Q. Venus, the first game of the match, you were up 30-Love and 40-15. You looked very, very solid. Then you had four unforced errors. I hate to say it, but was that an early turning point in the match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, probably. Yeah.

Q. Do you want to elaborate a little bit?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes. It was a turning point in the match.

Q. Are you surprised that there were so many unforced errors?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I wasn't surprised. It was kind of maybe one of my weaknesses, maybe one of my only weaknesses, I will start hitting unforced errors. That's something I cut down a lot on in this tournament. I really improved on that. I'm just going to have to keep working hard. I'm one of the players who will just start doing that at times. Maybe in the future, six months from now, that will be something that will pass. I'm just going to have to keep working on that.

Q. Was some of that nervousness?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I think that maybe I just thought I had to do too much, maybe I wanted to end points a little bit quicker. Sometimes I'll tend to play like that.

Q. When you played at Filderstadt in a few weeks?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Am I?

Q. You're scheduled to play. Are you going to play that tournament?

VENUS WILLIAMS: If things go well, yeah.

Q. Venus, was the whole two-week experience what you anticipated, what you thought it might be like, or did anything catch you by surprise, either negatively or positively?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I mean, I never spent two weeks at a tournament. I really didn't imagine anything about it. I mean, everyone has their own ideas, but I wouldn't have imagined a lot of things that happened.

Q. Venus, what were you proudest of today? Your ability to come back in the second set after the first set doesn't go at all the way you want it to?

VENUS WILLIAMS: That's just like too early to answer. I haven't even had time to think about it.

Q. Venus, after you broke back in the second set, you were tied 4-4, up 30-Love on your serve, you double-faulted, had a few unforced errors. Were you thinking ahead at that point?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Probably just a little bit, yeah.

Q. What were you thinking?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think everyone thinks ahead. It's just natural.

Q. Venus, the few moments leading to the time you go on court, very important for every player. Happened to be next court to you when you were warming up. Were you happy with your routine to go on court?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.

Q. The first day of the tournament, Venus, you said your goal was to play the entire tournament without losing a bead. How did we do during the tournament?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I lost some beads in the quarterfinals, so I did not fulfill my goal. That's what obsessed me most of all. I was in tears. I'll have to work harder next time.

Q. You said on CBS just now that that was it for the year, you wouldn't be playing anymore. Now you just said you might play Filderstadt.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I never said that.

Q. What did you never say?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I said that I entered all the tournaments I was going to enter this year. The tournaments that I've entered, those are going to the tournament I'm going to enter this year.

Q. Venus, what's going to happen, do you think, in the next year or so with your coaching? Do you think it's going to continue with your father?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.

Q. Is there a chance that Rick Maci might get involved again? What's going on?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I have a good coach right now. I don't see any need to change. I think that all the coaching thing needs to stop because, as you could see, I made it to the Finals. I did okay. My coach is very competent. My mother's very competent. My dad is competent. They know the game. So I think the criticism and things like that has to stop because people are taking it a little bit too far and it's not part of your life. You guys are getting overly involved.

Q. Do you think it's the fact that you are so confident, when you're confident, sometimes folks feel that you are arrogant?

VENUS WILLIAMS: That my coach feels that?

Q. No. I'm saying it seems to like some degree the press here in New York City has to some degree said you are somewhat arrogant.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Everybody has their own feelings, the way they see things.

Q. I'm saying, is it confidence, does it have to do with the fact that you're an African American?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it has something to do with people are finding something to pick with.

Q. Do you have any friends among the girls on The Tour?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, Serena. I'm not really on The Tour hardly.

Q. Do you feel like they ambushed you yesterday on CBS?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I didn't feel that way. I never knew it happened. It was weird. Didn't ambush me, I don't think.

Q. Did you talk to Althea Gibson at all during these two weeks?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I have not.

Q. Venus, when you lose the first set 6-Love, is there ever a feeling or a wonder, "Gosh, am I ever going to get another game"? Is it that sort of feeling? Or is it a hacker's feeling on my part, do you wonder if you're going to get anything?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I was just trying to think of what I could do to get in the match, what I could change, what I was doing wrong. That's basically all.

Q. Did you have a sense that the crowd was behind you, was helping you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely, they were, since the first point. They were there.

Q. If there were one thing you could change about either how you prepared for the match or the match itself, what would that be?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I generally don't even think of things like that. There's nothing I can change.

Q. Venus, the only two matches Hingis lost this year were the two big hitters, Majoli and Davenport. Is it possible to out steady here or do you have to have to blow her off the court?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think whatever game you have, you just have to go out there and play your game. You don't have to have a power game or soft game. So just have to play well, that's all.

Q. Your father is also quoted by the Associated Press by saying you have experienced racism on The Tour. Could you comment on that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I really -- I don't think that's even part of it right now. I don't want to answer that question.

Q. Venus, are you disagreeing with your father then? Because he has definitely charged that there's racism. He told the bumping was a racist incident, the whole attitude here, racism. Are you disagreeing with that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think with this moment in the first year in Arthur Ashe Stadium, it all represents everyone being together, everyone being -- having a chance to play. So I think this is definitely ruining the mood, these questions about racism.

Q. Your father didn't have to comment yesterday.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You didn't have to bring it up.

Q. Yes, I did. Excuse me, who brought it up?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I said that how many times?

Q. Don't worry about it. That's exactly what you're trying to do right now.