Day 2  - An interview with Venus Williams
Monday, May 29, 2006


 Q. You had a lot of success at the net today. 19 of 25 net points. Was that
just taking advantage when she gave you short balls or were you planning to
come in?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I was definitely ?? that's always important to come in on the
short balls. I got quite a few of those today. Definitely had even more
opportunities to come in.

That's a very good stat. It's encouraging, thank you.

Q. For those of us who haven't seen you in the past few months, update us on
how you are feeling physically, mentally? Talk about the last few months, the
process of getting back on court.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, uhm, you'd know, I definitely had some disappointments,
not being able to play Antwerp obviously, going for that racquet, then not
being able to play Miami was disappointing because I love playing there.
Obviously, seeing your ranking going down, down, down. It was unavoidable.
But very happy to be back. At least once I was able to meet the goal of being
able to play these clay courts, the red clay.

I've been seeing myself progress, playing better and better each round. I'm
fit and strong, pretty healthy.

Q. Are you used to it now mentally, because you're going through it annually,
playing well, injuries, trying to come back, coming back again, playing,
injuries? Is it something you can get used to?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Not really. Not really. I don't like to see myself like
floating randomly outside the top 10. It's not where I belong. So obviously
I'm extremely motivated to always get my ranking back up and those kinds of
things.

In a perfect world, I'd love to not be injured ever. For sure, it's hard
coming back. It's a lot of work.

Q. The last player you faced here last year, Karatantcheva, became the first
woman to test positive for steroids. Looking back, do you feel cheated by
that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I don't know the circumstances of her testing positive. I
would feel reluctant to comment on that because I just don't know.

It's the past. It was a well?contested match at that moment. I'm looking to
improve on that this year, move farther than the third round.

Q. Can you keep coming to the net on higher?seeded players on red clay?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think so. I think so. At this point, I feel like I
understand how to approach the net. I do have a heavy ball, good volleys, lot
of reach. It's hard to get one over my head, too. That's definitely an
advantage for me to be moving forward ? for anyone.

Q. Your breakthrough at Wimbledon last year was extraordinary. You're coming
back again. Do you have a freshness? Do you feel a freshness and eagerness
right now? Do you feel some kind of fatigue in a way?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I shouldn't be fatigued. I should be pretty fresh compared to
some other players.

It's like my fifth week in Europe. Definitely making sure I'm doing the right
thing to stay fresh mentally, for sure, coming into the French Open. This is
definitely a tournament where you have to be fighting and grinding every
point.

But I feel pretty fresh, yeah.

Q. Let me ask you in a straightforward manner. There have been some voices
saying, hey, the Williams haven't been using their gifts, their resources,
taking advantage, not taking it seriously. What are your thoughts on that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: My thoughts are that life is good, I'm happy. I've been so
blessed with a great career. I relatively have nothing to look back on with
regret. I feel like I've learned from my losses, will hopefully learn from my
wins. The whole thing is about staying healthy pretty much. That's the name
of the game for me.

Q. Is there anything you would say to people who make that criticism? Do you
feel they're off base?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I would say each person's entitled to their own
opinion. It's all good to me, though. I'm running this.

Q. You said you're not where you want to be, you're floating outside the top
10.

VENUS WILLIAMS: What am I ranked?

Q. 14.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Am I? What am I seeded?

Q. 14.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, man. Exactly.

Q. 13.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Am I? Well, I'll work on that. It's bound to go up.

Q. My question is, in your own gut, where do you think you should be
ranking?wise?

VENUS WILLIAMS: In my head I'm always feeling at the top for sure. In the
rankings, I am exactly at No. 13.

Q. You played a lot of tournaments where a lot of the other prominent
American women have been in the draw. This might be the first time you're
playing a Slam where Serena is not here, Lindsay is not here, Jennifer,
Monica. You're kind of out there all by your lonesome. Does it feel that way,
it's Venus, the American, she's the one who has to put up at Roland Garros?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't necessarily feel that way. In a way, I do feel like,
wow, it would be nice to have some more Americans, especially for like Fed
Cup, because there's some times where you can't really play ties. Last year,
I had to play the tie after Wimbledon, it was brutal, pretty tough. It would
be nice to have some strong American players.

At the end of the day I should be at least grateful that I can play pretty
good tennis. I'm happy for that.

Q. Last year, before you won Wimbledon, you said you were putting a little
bit too much pressure on yourself performance?wise and you were pressing a
bit. Coming in here, you've only had two tournaments coming in. You've played
sporadically. Are you saying to yourself, just play well and don't worry
about results or are you the Venus of five or six years ago saying you're
still good enough to win this tournament?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I always feel like that, for sure. I think it's the truth. At
this point, it's definitely round by round. That's the best way to take it,
especially if you've been off a little bit. Just round by round. The first
round is nice, definitely.

Q. But you're hitting the ball at what percentage would you say the last
couple weeks? Are you playing as well as you're capable? Are you B? B plus?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely not playing as well as I'm capable, but definitely
moving up. Just playing solid. Really mentally pretty good. Sometimes, you
know, lose a bit of clarity. That comes with a few more matches.

Q. The world wants to know what it is up with Serena. Is she really hurt? Is
she going to come back?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, what I will say is that never count a Williams sister
out. I think everyone knows that at this point. Second is that, yes, I do
know when she's coming back. Third is, I'm not telling (laughter). If you
want to know, try to get an interview with her, but it will be pretty tough.
I found out that the other day. I don't ask her what she's going to do. I ask
her how her day was, how was your weekend, who did you meet, that kind of
thing. I don't pressure her for tennis.

Q. It's so hard to stay in shape when you're off the circuit. Is she in shape
or not really?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think the hardest part, at least for me at this time, is,
you know, a tournament would come and I'm fighting to play it. Then I realize
I can't. You're just ready not to go to the court. I felt down, so I'd have
to get up, try to go to the court, go to the gym, do the things I needed to
do. I'm not sure if she's experiencing that. For me, that's what I
experienced. Like when I couldn't play Nasdaq, I was like, Oh.

Q. Now that you've come back after a long layoff, when you come out of the
tunnel with your opponent, do you sense she looks at you with the same fear
that traditionally people have had for you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think anyone wants to like, say, yeah, I definitely
want to play Venus Williams. I don't think that at all.